AAP

Fortescue Metals believes iron ore prices will firm in the short term and the company will emerge stronger despite shedding 1000 jobs and shelving its expansion plans. 

Administrators for Gunns say answers for creditors hit by the timber company's collapse are still weeks away.

Australia's first utility-scale solar farm has opened for business near Geraldton.

A federal parliamentary committee has backed the passing of laws linking Australia's carbon market with Europe's emissions trading scheme from 2015.

Consumer sentiment has improved slightly, but Australians remain pessimistic about the national economy.

The Australian share market has opened lower after world markets fell on a downgrading of world economic growth forecasts and expectations of weak earnings from US companies.

Emirates and Tourism Australia have agreed to spend $14.3 million over the next three years to promote Australia overseas.

US stocks have skidded after the IMF cut its global economic growth forecasts and investors braced for the start of a poor third-quarter earnings season.

The Australian dollar is higher on movements in the European currency and commentary from the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has appointed actuary and Rhodes scholar Dr Ian Pollard as its chairman elect.

Explorer Victory Mines made a modest debut on the stock exchange but is hopeful of following in the footsteps of Australian rare earth trailblazer Lynas.

The struggling housing sector could have bottomed out as developers realise the need to build more homes, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

The Australian share market has closed above the 4500 level for the first time in 14 months.Energy and Resources stocks drove the gains on the back of positive price action in Asia.

Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce says the proposed partnership with Emirates has been welcomed by staff as it will help secure jobs at the struggling airline.

Global miner BHP Billiton is continuing to slash costs in a subdued environment as it meets with workers in Perth this week about likely job cuts.

Striking Fremantle Port workers seeking roster changes to give them six days off after four days' work are being "frivolous" and should stop holding the state to ransom, Transport Minister Troy Bus

The Australian Securities Exchange has fixed a technical glitch and has resumed publishing company news.

Premier Colin Barnett says he has a hard time liking Treasurer Wayne Swan, labelling him "a very nasty politician".

Flight Centre staff were told to stop selling Singapore Airlines flights after the carrier refused a request to engage in price fixing, a court has heard.

Removing or reducing penalty rates for fast food, retail and hospitality workers would hurt families, the Australian Council of Trade Unions says.

The mining boom has helped cut unemployment in regions well away from Queensland's coal mines or Western Australia's iron ore deposits, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

Oil and gas giant Total has signed five licensing agreements with Oil Search to operate for the first time in Papua New Guinea.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has hailed Australia's new standing as the world's 12th largest economy as a remarkable achievement.

The International Monetary Fund has made across-the-board cuts to its world economic growth forecasts, saying "uncertainty weighs heavily on the outlook".

Australia's experience in dealing with its challenging farming environment means it's well placed to lead improvements in global food security, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the time has come for Australia and Japan to "seal the deal" on a free-trade agreement that has been more than five years in the making.

US stocks have followed European and Asian markets lower, giving up some of last week's solid gains ahead of the third quarter earnings reporting season.

The federal government has thrown its support behind Qantas Airways' proposed 10-year alliance with Dubai-based Emirates.

The Australian share market has closed lower in cautious trading ahead of several meetings in Europe this week aimed at easing Europe's debt crisis.

The Queensland government will sell a $1.5 billion stake in QR National, saying it has got taxpayers' interests at heart.

Police Minister Liza Harvey insists that the state government is on track to boost force numbers, despite deep budget cuts and a public service staff freeze.