AAP

Freight firm QR National has averted a "first strike" over its executive pay levels and received the go-ahead to change its name to Aurizon Holdings.

Myer has shrugged off the Click Frenzy debacle and says it's pleased with the response to its online sale.

Copper and gold miner Ivanhoe Australia is to tap investors for $80 million to help repay a loan and fund infrastructure and exploration projects.

Australian stocks are weaker, with falls among the major resources-linked sectors leading the broader market lower.

David Jones' first quarter sales rose by 0.3 per cent and the retailer says second quarter sales are so far following a similar trend.

US stocks have closed near breakeven, clawing back from losses after Hewlett-Packard reported a huge charge for an acquisition, offsetting fresh data signaling recovery in the housing market.

Traffic in Perth is getting a push in the right direction with the launch of padded vehicles to clear breakdowns from the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.

The Australian dollar is higher on improved sentiment around fiscal challenges faced by the US and Europe.

The consumer watchdog has launched Federal Court action against several Harvey Norman franchisees, alleging they misled consumers on their rights.

Many companies are improving productivity by making greater demands on workers without providing additional resources, a survey has found.

Australian stocks closed firmer amid optimism about the US tackling its deficit problems but underperformed offshore leads out of America and Europe.

Virgin Australia has blamed uncertain economic conditions and strong airline competition for its reluctance to give firm profit guidance for the year ahead.

Major retailers have fired the start gun on a pre-Christmas sales war, with online shopping at the vanguard of efforts to lure price-savvy consumers.

The likely inclusion of the Australian dollar in an obscure survey of central bank holdings of foreign exchange has been hailed as a feather in the currency's cap.

Engineering firm Monadelphous expects its first half sales revenue to grow by 40 per cent due to record levels of new construction work.

Productivity improvements are crucial for Australia to cope with an ageing population and declining terms of trade if living standards are to be raised, a senior Treasury official says.

 The Reserve Bank of Australia says further rate cuts could be considered in coming months.

The Australian Greens are looking to a plug a hole in the federal government's mining tax that will stop resource companies claiming credits for increased state royalties.

Rare earths miner Lynas expects production at its controversial plant in Malaysia to begin in December after long delays caused by environmental and political concerns.

Australian stocks are firmer, with gains in the resources sectors leading the broader market higher.

Despite three interest rate cuts since May, consumers aren't spending any more than they were five months ago.

US stocks have surged on upbeat housing data and hopes that politicians will find a way to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts in January.

The Australian dollar has closed higher after hitting a seven-month high against the Japanese yen during local trading.

Small businesses are calling out for another interest rate cut when the central bank holds its final board meeting of the year in December, faced with continuing difficult trading conditions.

Prince Philippe, the Prince of Belgium, has been urged to jump on board the Western Australian economic juggernaut during his first official day of a trade mission to Australia.

The Australian market closed higher after investors received a glimmer of hope that US politicians may be able to negotiate to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff".

The federal government will release information about the amount of revenue raised by its Mineral Resources Revenue Tax in its regular monthly financial reports, Finance Minister Penny Wo

Arrium's chairman has told the steelmaker's shareholders the board is willing to engage with any suitor if it is offering a fair price.

More than $1 trillion could be lost to the Australian economy in the next 80 years if education improvements are not made now, a new report warns.

China is on track to become the world's largest generator of nuclear power between now and some time in the 2020s, a senior Rio Tinto executive says.

Agribusiness and automotive interiors supplier Elders says about 30 parties have expressed interest in its rural services business.

The Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas joint venture has begun drawing on its $US8.5 billion funding facility for its massive LNG project in Queensland.