AAP

Australian stocks have closed firmer, with defensive sectors leading the broader market higher.

DuluxGroup has threatened to walk away from takeover talks with Alesco Corporation if the target company does not agree to resolve a dispute over the size of dividends in the deal.

The state government must quickly tell runners injured in the 2011 Kimberley Ultramarathon if they will receive ex-gratia payments, the opposition says.

 A coalition federal government would review the ban on Chinese company Huawei taking part in the National Broadband Network, communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says.

The federal government say Australia's price of carbon from 2015 will be linked to the European Union emissions trading scheme (ETS).

Shopping centre owner Centro Retail Australia has posted a $223 million loss, due mainly to costs related to its settlement of a class action.

Australia's biggest gold miner Newcrest has suspended production at its Lihir mine in Papua New Guinea due to a dispute with land owners.

The number of apprentices completing their trades training in Australia is a national disgrace, Federal Skills Minister Chris Evans says.

Virgin Australia has returned to profitability due to its growth in the corporate travel sector.

Shares in Seven Group Holdings have risen five per cent after the media and earthmoving-machinery company said strong activity in the resources sector was likely to continue.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher with investors appearing cautious after mixed offshore leads.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-month low against the US dollar amid increasing evidence of an economic slowdown in China.

Shares of Apple have hit new record highs after the company won its patent lawsuit against Samsung, but overall stocks traded mixed.

The Australian dollar fell to its lowest level in a month, amid negative sentiment about China's economic outlook and speculation that Australia's mining boom might be waning.

Caltex Australia has played down the strong turnaround for its refining business that it plans to partially close, after the company posted a big rise in profits.

National Australia Bank chief executive Cameron Clyne says talk of the resource boom being over is premature.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as investors wait to see if the United States and China will take further measures to stimulate their economies.

A leading business lobby group has backed fresh calls for a return to individual employment contracts.

Former prime minister John Howard has let the coalition's workplace relations agenda slip out, the Australian Council of Trade Unions says.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong believes it can improve its earnings in fiscal 2013 after reporting a $275.6 million loss for 2011/12.

Transport and logistics group Toll Holdings says its priority in the current financial year will be to resolve problems in its business in Japan and its marine shipping operations in Asia.

Atlas Iron expects the price of iron ore to increase over the next two months as China's demand for steel remains strong.

BHP Billiton has sold its Yeelirrie uranium deposit near Wiluna to Canada's Cameco Corporation for $US430 million ($A414 million).

The mining boom - or at least investment in it - will peak in 2014, but the non-resources sector will then drive growth, a report has found.

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains as local market players took their cues from a positive night on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the possibility of the US central bank starting a new round of economic stimulus is looking more likely.

US stocks turned lower this week after six straight weekly gains as fresh signs of frailty in the global economy emerged and a number of companies cut their corporate profit forecasts.

The Australian dollar is at it's lowest level in five weeks amid pessimism about the outcome of talks between the Greece, French and German leaders on the weekend.

Central bank governor Glenn Stevens says he doesn't think Australian bank profits are excessive.

The Australian stockmarket closed lower on Friday, also finishing down for the week and ending a run of five weeks of gains.

ANZ chief executive Mike Smith has sold $10.9 million worth of shares to meet an income tax bill and reduce his debt.

Up to a dozen enterprise migration agreements (EMAs) are expected to be inked by the federal government, Special Minister of State Gary Gray says.