AAP

Labor's controversial carbon tax might not push up consumer prices in its first year by as much as the federal government expected.

The Australia dollar jumped in response to a larger than expected rise in inflation, but ended the session weaker.

Electricity network operator Western Power says it still doesn't know the cause of the 2009 Toodyay bushfire that destroyed 38 homes and continues to deny any liability, despite paying compensation

Global insurer QBE expects to achieve modest premium growth this financial year.Chief financial officer Neil Drabsch said QBE expected premium growth in the low single digits this year.

Australian stocks managed to avoid some of the heavy falls experienced on Wall Street, but the local sharemarket still finished 0.8 per cent lower.

Mining productivity is expected to turn around and post big gains over the next decade, but the sector is unlikely to enjoy the same rate of growth in employment, a central banker says.

China's manufacturing activity contracted in October but at a slower pace than in previous months, a sign the slowdown in the world's number two economy is bottoming out.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has attacked Tony Abbott's plan to repeal Labor's carbon tax as a sovereign risk.

Perth's local government structure badly needs to be overhauled and reduced to no more than 20 metropolitan councils, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The massive rises in electricity prices in the last five years should not have occurred and were due to a flawed set of industry rules, says the competition regulator.

Shares in Fairfax Media have gained as much as nine per cent after its executives reassured shareholders a strategic review would help the troubled media company ride out tough trading conditions.

Struggling surfwear company Billabong has reaffirmed its earnings guidance, despite difficult trading conditions.

Economists say a larger-than-expected rise in inflation for the September quarter could encourage Australia's central bank to keep the cash rate steady at its next meeting.

Australian stocks have opened 0.7 per cent lower, outperforming the sharp declines from offshore markets during the overnight session.

Businesses have received some positive news as they head into the crucial Christmas sales period, in the form of a sharp rebound in consumer spending.

Poor earnings and forecasts from major US industrial firms have added to a global markets downturn to send US stocks plummeting, with DuPont losing 9.1 per cent on its earnings plunge.

The Australian dollar is marking time ahead of the release of key inflation data.

The local head of global fuel giant BP has warned that Australia is losing investment because it is increasingly expensive to do business and the federal government is failing to tackle the issue.

The Australian share market closed almost unchanged, as investors awaited key manufacturing data from China and more news on company earnings in the United States.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has ruled out Australia pursuing nuclear energy as an increasing number of states open the door to uranium mining.

Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood says the embattled media group has investigated a breakup of its assets and found the numbers didn't stack up.

Australia is ranked 10th in the world for the ease of doing business having jumped five places in the past year.

Oz Minerals says it remains on track to meet its full-year guidance despite posting a fall in copper and gold production during the September quarter.

Clothing and homewares supplier Pacific Brands says it is too early to tell if its financial results will improve upon last year's.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum is looking to expand its operations to Israel.

Ten Network Holdings has received a reduced offer for its outdoor advertising business Eye Corp from its private equity suitor.

The defence and resources sectors should introduce a "buy Australian" policy, a union says, amid a slump in Western Australia's manufacturing industry.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

A modest tightening in the federal government's budget position adds to the case for lower interest rates, but a reduction in November still hinges on another benign inflation reading.

Australia's ability to compete internationally is under pressure as business leaders struggle to engage with Asia.

A diminished sales forecast by industrial bellwether Caterpillar has clouded stocks, but a last-minute burst of buying pushed the Dow and S&P 500 barely back into the black for the session.

Amadeus Energy has announced a merger deal with UK-based Ecofin Energy, owners of Texas-based Lonestar Resources.