AAP

Chemicals manufacturer Orica's annual profit has fallen by 37 per cent, but it expects an improvement in its underlying performance the year ahead.

The Australian market opened lower as investors waited for signs that the US would be able to avoid the looming fiscal cliff.

BlueScope Steel has scrapped a previously announced offer of $US300 million in notes to institutional investors.

The cost of a liquified natural gas project in Papua New Guinea part-owned by Santos and Oil Search has increased by $US3.3 billion to $US19 billion.

US stocks ended a roller-coaster week lower, hitting a big election-day rally Tuesday only to plunge after President Barack Obama defeated Republican challenger and Wall Street ally Mitt Romney.

The Australian dollar is higher after Chinese economic data showed strong growth in the country's retail sector.

 The Australian share market closed lower, with negative global headwinds reducing investors' risk appetite.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard stands by forecasts for the budget to return to surplus but says she is concerned about the implications for the Australian economy from the "fiscal cliff" in the Unite

Bank of Queensland's chief executive was paid $1.8 million, including a half million dollar bonus, in the same year the company made a loss.

A third of Australian businesses face a "short fuse, big bang" scenario which will offer them little time to adjust to the major changes brought by the digital economy, a new report says.

Budget projections by an independent forecaster that see federal budget deficits for the remainder of the decade are "out of whack" with the views of leading global institutions, Assistant Treasury

Health ministers from Queensland, Victoria and NSW reacted angrily when their federal counterpart gate crashed their media conference in Perth, fuelling a heated argument about state health fu

The settlement of a class action against the National Australia Bank relating to the bank's heavy losses over toxic subprime home loans in the United States sends an important message to corporatio

Analysts remain unimpressed by rare earths miner Lynas's financial position despite this week's legal win that will allow it to operate a rare earths plant in Malaysia.

Weaker commodity prices and a high exchange rate have dealt a double whammy to Australia's mining sector, making companies less willing to invest, and driving expectations for domestic growth lower

Australian shares opened lower with the mining giants and most of the major banks posting falls.

Newspaper print circulation declined further in the September quarter as Australians looked to get their news through digital products, new figures show.

US stocks have sunk in a second day of losses following President Barack Obama's re-election victory, trimming another one per cent after Wednesday's huge rout.

The Australian dollar is half a US cent lower despite better than expected local jobs numbers, as negative market sentiment took hold after the re-election of US President Barack Obama.

The Australian share market closed 0.7 per cent lower today, following steep falls on Wall Street.

The Australian stock exchange has finalised new requirements for mining and oil and gas companies to report their resources and reserves.

Qantas Airways says about 150 of its employees and 250 contractors will go as part of changes to its engineering operations.

A push by state governments to lower or scrap the GST threshold on online purchases from overseas would create a level playing field for the country's retailers, a peak lobby group says.

Mining contractor Macmahon Holdings says it has reached a termination agreement with its former chief executive Nick Bowen valued at more than $380,000.

Energy Minister Martin Ferguson says he's determined to work co-operatively with the states to reform the energy market, particularly on expanding the use of gas.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan remains unrepentant about his decision to ask Treasury to cost coalition tax polices, despite opposition criticism that he politicised the department.

Australian stocks are more than one per cent lower as weakness in the finance and resources-linked sectors lead broad-based declines.

Shares in Lynas Corporation surged in late trade after a Malaysian court paved the way for the company to begin operating a controversial rare earths processing plant.

Fewer big Australian companies are identifying risks to their business from the carbon tax than was the case last year, a new survey finds.

US stocks have tanked more than two per cent after President Barack Obama's re-election victory set up a tough battle with Republicans over the looming "fiscal cliff".

The Australian dollar rallied to a fresh six-week high on news US President Barack Obama had won a second term in office.

Australian stocks finished 0.7 per cent higher, and the Australian dollar recorded solid gains, as US President Barack Obama's victory sparked a late afternoon rally.