AAP

Australian shares opened higher on fresh hopes that Spain would formally ask the European Central Bank for a bailout.

Business conditions remained positive in September but softer than six months earlier, a survey of mid-sized firms has found.

US markets registered their best gains so far this month on good earnings reports from Mattel, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson, as Citigroup rose 1.6 per cent after the shock resignation of its

The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent higher, following a strong lead from Asian stock markets.

The Nine Network has reportedly staved off administration, with lenders agreeing on a debt-for-equity deal where two US hedge funds and investment bank Goldman Sachs will take a stake in the broadc

Police Minister Liza Harvey says $26.5 million for the force's annual budget has been clawed back, despite earlier saying it was "pointless" fighting public sector cuts.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher after easing back from an earlier peak, with investors encouraged by a positive lead from United States markets and prospects of another cut t

The world's second largest iron ore miner Rio Tinto increased iron ore production by five per cent in the September quarter to 67 million tonnes.

An attempt by Nigerian fraudsters to sell a Perth home has been thwarted by a real estate agent.

Perseus Mining has continued to prosper in the notoriously risky West African sector, passing the 12-month mark since it started production at its gold mine in Ghana.

Gina Rinehart's $9.5 billion Roy Hill project is yet to secure its funding as its target date for the start of construction nears.

The Colin Barnett-led state government looks set to pick up seats in the March election, which could end the Liberal-National party coalition formed in 2008, a political commentator says.

Personal finance loans fell by 3.3 per cent in August, official figures show.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has shifted its thinking and is no longer so confident of the mining sector's continued strength, economists say.

Australian shares have opened marginally stronger as a recovery in US retail sales gave a boost to cautious investor sentiment.

Businesses are taking advantage of lower interest rate cuts and seeking out fresh credit, particularly in the asset finance sector where inquiries reached the best level since the global financial

US stocks have scored solid gains as investors digest upbeat retail sales data and better-than-expected earnings from Citigroup that helped lift financial stocks.

 Jail terms have been increased for two former West Australian public servants convicted of defrauding taxpayers of more than $1.7 million.

The Australian dollar is half a cent lower, failing to hold on to the weekend gains that came after the announcement of a surge in Chinese exports, which rose 9.9 per cent in 12 months to September

The Australian share market has closed flat, with gains in traditionally defensive sectors offset by weakness among resources-linked stocks amid quiet trading conditions.

Australians are planning to tighten their purse strings this Christmas as they continue to worry about their financial security, research shows.

The strong Australian dollar and competitive finance deals have contributed to a surge in sales of new motor vehicles, with Western Australia the standout performer among states.

A push to end Rupert Murdoch's dual role as chairman and chief executive of News Corp is gaining momentum ahead of the media mogul's annual showdown with investors.

Australia could be the world's largest producers of liquefied natural gas within five years if the current boom continues, the federal government says.

The head of the federal climate change department says it is "not implausible" the European carbon price could rise to $29 a tonne by mid-2015, when Australia's emissions trading scheme begins.

Construction has begun to connect almost 166,000 home and business premises to the high-speed national broadband network, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced.

Signs of life were detectable in housing finance figures released this morning, although they were still faint.

Australian shares have opened flat after better than expected Chinese trade figures balanced weak leads from Wall Street and Europe.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has rejected arguments that the Fed's bold moves to bolster American job growth could have unwanted consequences in emerging markets.

Powered by extra-cheap money and rising company profits for months, US investors have turned cool this week as the third quarter earnings season opened amid glum analyst predictions.

The Australian dollar has moved slightly higher, but is trading in a tight range, supported by stronger domestic and US jobs data.

British Airways says it is committed to the London-Sydney route following speculation it would pull out due to the new alliance between Qantas and Emirates.