AAP

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan has challenged the federal opposition to prove it's ready to roll out new policies by handing them over to the parliamentary budget office.

 The Australian share market has closed slightly higher as investors digested economic data from the United States and China.

Law firm Slater and Gordon is about to launch legal action against the state Department of Environment and Conservation on behalf of Margaret River bushfire victims.

As the global economy continues to sputter, investors are once again turning towards what they always seem to in difficult times: gold bullion.

Property giant Mirvac and mining magnate Nathan Tinkler will return to court next week to continue their stoush over a multi-million-dollar agreement to buy industrial land for a new coal terminal

Striking security guards at Perth courts have warned industrial action will continue if they can't reach an acceptable employment agreement with G4S.

BHP Billiton and Xstrata Coal have separately announced they will cut up to 900 coal mining jobs in response to falling commodity prices and the high Australian dollar.

The Singaporean government has admitted that the island state will be impacted by Qantas's decision to move its regional hub to Dubai but says it can replace the lost airline and passenger flows.

The Australian Greens have proposed a five-year moratorium on coal seam gas developments so thorough research can be done to assess its impact on land and communities.

Two protesters have scaled drill rigs at the site of Woodside's proposed gas hub near Broome.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with gains among the big miners offsetting weakness among financial stocks.

BC Iron managing director Mike Young has come out in support of Gina Rinehart and accused the federal government of twisting the Western Australian mining magnate's words.

The Australian dollar has risen strongly on weak US data and positive signs of economic growth in China.

US stock market turned a weak jobs report into positive news on Friday, ending higher on expectations that the data will lead to new Federal Reserve efforts to help the economy.

The Australian dollar closed almost a full US cent higher after the European Central Bank (ECB) revealed a plan to support the region's weaker economies.

DuluxGroup says it will accelerate its payments to Alesco shareholders if they accept its $210 million takeover offer.

Australian shares finished stronger, after global bourses reacted favourably to the European Central Bank's new plan to help ailing eurozone countries.

A national land freight strategy will lead to a streamlined and integrated transport system for moving goods around Australia, Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has applauded the European Central Bank's plan for a massive European sovereign bond buy-up to stabilise markets as another step to putting the zone on a sustainable footing.

Falling commodity prices contributed to a three per cent fall in the value of Australian exports in July.

Media billionaire Kerry Stokes is expected to demand a better price for his stake in James Packer's Consolidated Media.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with resources companies leading the market higher amid broad-based gains.

The Australian dollar has pushed more than half a US cent higher after Europe's central bank unveiled a massive bond-buying program to help alleviate the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis.

US stocks have surged to new multi-year highs, helped by positive economic data and the European Central Bank's (ECB) new plan to help ailing eurozone countries in the bond market.

Shares in mineral sands miner Lynas Corporation have surged by more than 40 per cent after the rare earths miner was granted a temporary licence for its controversial rare earths refinery in Malays

The Australian share market has closed higher on the back of positive corporate news and jobs figures, and hopes for a resolution to Europe's debt crisis.

Shares in surfwear retailer Billabong are up by almost eight per cent after the company received a second takeover offer.

The High Court has expanded the number of bank charges that will be considered in a class action against allegedly excessive bank charges.

She brought the big guns - 15 senior cabinet ministers - but in the end, Prime Minister Julia Gillard rarely needed to draw on them in the Labor industrial heartland of Kwinana.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has defended $5.5 billion in compensation being paid to the country's dirtiest power stations and dismissed a report that claims coal generators will actually be

The Australian share market has opened more than half a per cent higher as investors find value in beaten-down stocks.

Qantas flights to Europe will now stop over in Dubai under a 10-year partnership signed between the Australian airline and Emirates.