AAP

The chief executive of up-for-sale poultry business Inghams says there is interest in the family-owned company from Australian buyers but there is no certainty they will be able to compete with for

Asciano has struck a fresh deal with Bluescope Steel and Arrium to continue providing them with rail linehaul services across Australia.

Recent rate cuts and household stimulus have helped economy-wide spending rise for the sixth consecutive month in June.

Foreign trade price figures suggest the terms of trade, a key indicator for the Australian economy, have stayed in negative territory.

Darrell Lea's administrators say they are in talks with 90 local and international parties interested in buying the troubled chocolate business.

Broadcaster Ten Network Holdings has agreed to sell its outdoor advertising business, Eye Corp, to Outdoor Media Operations (OMO) for up to $145 million.

A new $33 million supercomputer bound for Perth will help scientists around the world to uncover the secrets of the universe, Minister for Science and Research Chris Evans says.

Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund's (HDF) investors are still being urged to reject a takeover offer from APA Group, despite the competition watchdog giving the green light to the deal.

The Australian share market has opened lower, despite a positive lead from Wall Street.

The surge in the number of people accessing the state government's Hardship Utilities Grants Scheme could be just the tip of the iceberg, the opposition says.

US stocks notched gains for a third straight day as investors looked past disappointing economic data to a batch of positive corporate earnings reports.

Traditional retailers will get a better idea of their competition when official data on online sales starts being published next year.

The Australian share market closed at a two-month high, boosted by good production reports from oil and gas producers Woodside Petroleum and Santos.

Etihad Airways says it has received the all clear to double its stake in Virgin Australia to 10 per cent.

Perth-based iron ore explorer Equamineral Holdings has been admitted to the ASX after completing a $2.5 million initial public offering.

Shares in oil and gas producer Santos have shot up by more than two per cent after it released higher quarterly production and sales revenue results.

Federal Skills Minister Chris Evans says low-skilled jobs are disappearing from the economy and the workforce will need to adapt quickly.

The Australian dollar has hit a fresh all-time high against the European currency, fuelled by a disparity between the two economies and monetary policy.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan concedes falling iron ore prices could hit the revenue raised through the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT).

The timeline for the state's planned first uranium mine has slipped following a rigorous environmental assessment phase.

Australian business conditions weakened in the three months to June, according to a private survey.

Woodside Petroleum has increased its full year production target after enjoying a 43 per cent surge in the second quarter.

Shares in Seven West Media have fallen nearly five per cent after coming out of a trading halt.At 1058 AEST, Seven West Media was 7.505 cents, or 4.94 per cent, lower at $1.445.

Fairfax Media, which has been battling mining billionaire Gina Rinehart over board representation, has appointed Hungry Jack's founder and Rinehart ally Jack Cowin as an independent director.

The Australian sharemarket has opened more than one per cent higher following positive leads from overseas and a rebound in the local resources sector.

One of the world's biggest energy companies says Australia's skills shortage is worrying and the government needs to do more to address it.

US stocks have climbed for a second straight day amid upbeat earnings reports and after a Federal Reserve report said the economy continued to grow, at least at a modest pace.

The Australian dollar nudged higher today as currency traders remained optimistic that there will be no official interest rate cuts in the near future.

The central bank may be content to sit on the sidelines and not rush in with any further interest rate cuts for now, but newly released housing data is a stark reminder that not all sections of the

 The Australian share market closed lower after being dragged down by risk averse investors abandoning resources stocks.

 Anti-uranium protesters will make the "symbolic gesture" of bashing a bull pinata, representing Toro Energy, outside a uranium conference while the firm's chief is addressing delegates.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is tipped to lose his job in the first betting market for key seats in the 2013 federal election.