AAP

The Australian dollar has surged to its highest level in a month after the US Federal Reserve announced fresh measures to stimulate the country's sluggish economy.

US stocks have soared after the Federal Reserve announced a new "QE3" bond-buying program focused on boosting jobs and pulling the housing market back to life.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as traders play it safe ahead of an expected economic stimulus announcement by the US Federal Reserve.

Australian stocks closed lower amid broad-based weakness, with mining-related sectors posting some of the steepest declines.

Production at Newcrest's Cadia Valley underground gold and copper mine in central western NSW has been suspended due to an equipment failure.

Energy Resources of Australia says the shelving of the Olympic Dam expansion and the high costs for Japan to dump nuclear power should see uranium prices rebound strongly.

The construction sector posted the biggest drop in employment over the past year, a fall of 70,200 or 6.7 per cent.

The federal government has dismissed as "scaremongering" reports it has indefinitely frozen a promised $1 billion regional development fund.

 One of Australia's leading economic forecasters says it is shocked and disappointed at how poorly Australia's non-mining sector is performing at a time it should be offsetting a slowdown in t

The competition watchdog has delayed making a decision on the potential acquisition of pay TV investor Consolidated Media Holdings by Kerry Stokes' Seven Group amid concerns about TV sports rights.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says the chief executive of the world's largest miner has himself to blame for the impost of federal taxes.

Finance Minister Penny Wong says she won't pre-empt a review into the way GST revenue is distributed among states when it comes to reimbursing mining companies for state royalties through the feder

Myer shares are down by more than three per cent after the department store issued no profit guidance for the year ahead because of the troubled retail environment.

Australian stocks have opened weaker, with falls among mining and financial stocks leading the broader market lower.

Former treasurer and attorney-general Christian Porter has backed Gina Rinehart's call for a special economic zone in the nation's north.

US stocks have followed European markets higher after a German court gave its approval to the eurozone's permanent crisis fund, opening the door to more aid to embattled Spain.

The Australian dollar has soared to its highest level in three weeks amid optimism the US Federal Reserve will introduce a fresh round of economic stimulus.

The Australian share market has closed higher as investors gain enough confidence to pick up beaten down stocks, especially in the mining sector.

 Former premier-turned-lobbyist Brian Burke has denied asking a senior public servant to break the law so he could obtain government information.

Bank-bashing may be Australia's national sport, but consumers rate them as the safest place to park their hard-earned cash.

Half of Western Australia's planned resources projects are teetering on the edge of oblivion, partly because of wage blow-outs, the state's former attorney-general Christian Porter warns.

The Liberal Party has been far too quiet on industrial relations (IR) issues such as unfair dismissal, Howard-era minister Peter Reith says.

Shares in Phylogica  have jumped 12 per cent, after the drug discoverer licensed a skin-repair compound to New York-based cosmetics firm Le Metier de Beaute.

Premier Colin Barnett has defended the process behind the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) decision to recommend Woodside Petroleum's proposed $30 billion Kimberley gas hub.

House prices across capital cities rose in the three months to June, but it is still cheaper for most Australians to buy a home today than it was a year ago.

Gina Rinehart's youngest daughter has been refused leave to seek to have her family's multimillion-dollar trust fund battle dealt with through mediation.

Consumer confidence has risen slightly, but remains sluggish despite several cash rate cuts and a relatively solid economy, a study has found.

Australian shares have opened slightly higher as investors remain cautious ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting and a German court decision on the eurozone debt rescue fund.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says the government is on strong ground to avoid paying compensation over its ban of a super trawler.

The Australian dollar has risen ahead of a key German court ruling on a European bailout fund, and a meeting of the US Federal Reserve's policy body.

US stocks have mostly risen, lifted by upbeat economic data and hopes that a Federal Reserve meeting will deliver economic stimulus and a key German court decision will ease eurozone turmoil.