AAP

Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart has taken her fight for Fairfax to the struggling media empire's retail shareholders.

US stocks scored moderate gains Monday, extending Friday's sharp rally on hopes that the European Central Bank may soon take action to relieve the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent higher, following optimistic job figures from the US.At 1700 AEST, the local unit was trading at 105.60 US cents, up from 104.95 cents.

Australian business confidence has posted a turnaround, with expectations reaching levels not seen for 10 years, according to a private study.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the federal government is waging a "jihad" against outspoken mining magnates and is trying to muzzle its critics in the media.

The Australian share market started the week strongly, closing up by more than one per cent on robust overseas leads, following better than expected US jobs data.

Ultra Tune Australia has been fined more than $8,500 for underpaying a Filipino mechanic in Perth.

Traditional owners will meet former Greens leader Bob Brown in a bid to sway opposition to Woodside Petroleum's proposed $30 billion Kimberley gas hub.

Investment firm Argo Investments says global equity markets are unlikely to show any meaningful recovery in the short term but, in the long term, the Australian market represented relatively good v

Harvey Norman boss Gerry Harvey has blamed slashing prices on televisions and computers for an expected 40 per cent drop in full year profit.

Interest rate cuts in recent months have failed to lift sentiment in the business sector, with a new survey showing conditions went backwards in the second quarter.

Job advertisements have recorded a fourth consecutive month of falls, as the Australian job market appears to be softening.

Fortescue Metals has taken on higher than expected debt to fund its massive iron ore expansion plans, announcing $US1.5 billion ($A1.4 billion) in new funding.

Consumer prices rose only slightly in July, despite the start of the carbon tax at the beginning of the month.

The Australian share market has opened higher on renewed hopes that the US Federal Reserve would announce stimulus measures at its next meeting.

The Australian dollar has risen three-quarters of a US cent with better than expected jobs figures giving investors reason to be optimistic about the US economy and Spain agreeing to austerity meas

A surge in hiring last month got a big welcome on Wall Street on Friday.

The Australian dollar is higher despite the European Central Bank failing to take decisive action on the euro zone debt crisis.

Investors dumped higher risk mining stocks, sending the Australian share market down than one per cent today.

The responsible entity for takeover target Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund has stuck by its recommendation that securityholders accept an offer from Pipeline Partners Australia (PPA).

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep the official interest rate at 3.5 per cent over the next couple of months, following the rate cuts in May and June.

Short-term visitors rose more than departing residents in June, but the flood of travellers out of the country is still overwhelming the flow of visitors.

The federal opposition insists it is not against foreign investment, despite proposing a plan to toughen rules for international investors looking to buy Australian agricultural land.

Oil Search's loading operations in Papua New Guinea remain suspended after an oil spill that occurred more than a week ago.

The Australian share market has opened lower after expectations the European Central Bank (ECB) would announce immediate monetary measures to ease the debt crisis failed to bear fruit.

Labor leader Mark McGowan won't be asking Prime Minister Julia Gillard to be at his side during the next state election.

US stocks slid for a fourth straight day, as the European Central Bank took no action to address the eurozone sovereign debt crisis but suggested it may intervene on the markets to lower borrowing

The Australian dollar is lower after the US Federal Reserve's policy making arm stopped short of announcing a fresh round of economic stimulus.

News Limited moved a step closer to gaining what analysts say will be high-earning pay TV assets when it won regulatory approval for its acquisition of Consolidated Media.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher, boosted by better-than-expected retail sales and trade balance figures.

Resource sector engineering firm Calibre Group has made a disappointing debut on the share market, with its value slumping by nearly eight per cent.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has dismissed suggestions it has already decided to delay its $19 billion Port Hedland harbour expansion for at least two years.