AAP

Australia Post will be delivering on the weekends for two months in the lead-up to Christmas as it announces plans to ramp up its parcel network and create digital mail boxes.

The competition regulator has allowed pathology and radiology provider Sonic Healthcare to buy the Healthscope pathology business in Western Australia but won't allow Sonic to acquir

Julia Gillard will seek to improve Australia's troubled ties with India on her first prime ministerial visit to the nation next week.

Shares in rare earths miner Lynas have plummeted after a Malaysian Court delayed the start of production at its plant to consider an application by opponents.

 Economists doubt a confused set of labour force figures will stand in the way of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cutting the cash rate again at its Melbourne Cup day board meeting in Nove

News Ltd's takeover of pay television group Consolidated Media is set to go ahead after the competition regulator ruled out a potential rival bid by Seven Group.

The Australian share market has opened almost two-thirds of a per cent lower.

Economists are expecting the domestic unemployment rate to have risen, confirming fears the job market has weakened in recent months.

US stocks have closed lower amid investor caution after Alcoa said that China's economic slowdown was hitting aluminum consumption and Chevron slashed its earnings outlook.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has turned the tables on opposition tactics to try and garner outrage about the impact of the carbon tax.

Alumina received no dividends from its joint venture partner Alcoa in the three months to September after the US company posted a third quarter loss of $US143 million ($A140.9 million).

The Australian dollar closed marginally lower in local trading after a weaker global growth report by the International Monetary Fund.

Some of the public anger directed at Australian banks is justified and the only way to counter this is to treat customers well, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank says.

Nine Entertainment's prospects of avoiding receivership have received a boost after a group of debt holders led by Goldman Sachs agreed to a debt restructuring proposal.

Australia's northern cattle regions could benefit significantly if animals destined for sale overseas were processed at home instead of being exported alive, a new report says.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors take profits in the wake of the market hitting its highest level in 14 months.

It is unacceptable that plans for a third runway at the congested Perth Airport appear a long way off, Transport Minister Troy Buswell says.

The first uranium mine in Western Australia is two steps away from being a reality, with state Environment Minister Bill Marmion granting final environmental approval to Toro Energy'

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.