AAP

Sharp falls by blue chips Boeing and Hewlett-Packard have helped give US stocks their worst day so far this month, amid more signs of weak growth in major economies.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she never personally benefited from a union fund which she helped set up for free, and off the books, when she was a lawyer 17 years ago.

Signs the US Federal Reserve may introduce fresh stimulus measures sooner than expected have pushed the Australian dollar higher.

Transport magnate Lindsay Fox has compared Western Australia's iron ore boom with the eastern states' goldrush of the 1850s.

The world's biggest scrap metal recycler, Sims Metal Management, wants to expand its presence in the Chinese market after gaining a foothold there this year.

The top brass of the Reserve Bank of Australia will face further grillings about scandals involving its note-making companies when they appear before a powerful parliamentary committee.

Australian stocks closed firmer as strong gains among mining and gold stocks pushed the broader market higher.

Cash Converters has posted a six per cent rise in net profit to a record $29.4 million due to strong growth in its personal loans business.

The federal government has approved Gina Rinehart's multi-billion dollar Alpha coal mine and its associated rail line in central Queensland.

Fairfax Media has posted a loss of $2.73 billion for 2011/12, driven by massive writedowns on the value of its newspapers.

The Australian share market has opened higher following mixed results from Wall Street and Europe overnight and amid renewed hopes of fresh economic stimulus in the US.

David Jones has unveiled another set of falling sales figures, but the troubled department store says it sees signs of improvement.

Qantas Airways says it will cancel orders for Boeing 787 aircraft to cut costs, as it posts a $245 million full year net loss.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources is holding firm on prices, but the company has declined to offer forecasts due to uncertain trading conditions.

Rail freight company QR National has confirmed it will axe 900 jobs as part of its restructure program.

US stocks have erased early losses to close mixed after a fresh sign that the US Federal Reserve is leaning toward new economic stimulus efforts.

The Australian dollar is lower after a rally in the euro kept a lid on any gains the local currency was able to make.

The Western Australian Greens are appealing to the state's fisheries minister to stop a Dutch super-trawler "pillaging" coastal waters, as their federal counterparts try to thwart it in the Senate.

The Australian stockmarket finished a touch lower as investors abandoned energy and resources stocks and found value in the beaten down retail sector.

Ports and rail operator Asciano has predicted earnings growth for all of its business divisions this year, despite the spectre of a waterfront war and sluggish global economy.

Truck numbers are set to spike on the state's roads with the closure of all "Tier 3" rail lines criss-crossing remote parts of Western Australia, farmers and the opposition warn.

Building products group Boral has increased its full year profit by 5.3 per cent.Net profit rose to $176.6 million in the year to June 30, from $167.7 million in 200/11.

The union representing call centre workers is pressuring Telstra to limit the number of jobs being sent offshore.

The number of jobs advertised on the internet has hit its lowest level since late 2009.The seasonally adjusted count of internet vacancies index fell by 7,347 to 191,265 in July.

MYER chief executive Bernie Brookes says the traditional big retailers will overcome their reluctance to adapt to the internet by becoming the top 10 shopping sites within five years.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is trying to bully the mining states into freezing royalties to make up for falling commodities prices, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Drinks group Coca-Cola Amatil has sealed a deal to access a world-class brewery as it prepares to re-enter the premium beer market.

Australian economic conditions are expected to stay subdued for the rest of the year, although they will improve slowly.

Shares in Pacific Brands have dived by more than five per cent after the troubled clothing maker unveiled a blowout in full-year losses and announced its boss will leave.

The Australian share market has opened broadly flat following mixed leads from US and European markets overnight.

Lax security has allowed some Australian employees to fleece their bosses to the tune of $398 million, according to a recent study.

US stocks have closed lower, unable to maintain early gains as tech stocks dragged on sentiment.