AAP

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep interest rates on hold when its board meets on Tuesday.

Beleaguered consumer goods retailer Harvey Norman hopes to claw back market share, as tough trading conditions are expected to force many of its competitors to close.

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains as local market players looked past a poor night on Wall Street.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd believes federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "doesn't get" Africa but says his deputy, Julie Bishop, does.

US stocks tumbled on Thursday ahead of a much-anticipated speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday and as European woes renewed global growth worries.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in more than a month after official figures showed investment in the mining sector is likely to grow by less than expected this year.

The Australian stockmarket finished almost one per cent lower as resources companies suffered steep losses amid weakness on commodities markets.

Engineering firm Monadelphous Group has won a $75 million construction contract at BHP Billiton's Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Telstra Corporation has offloaded responsibility for its problem child TradingPost business to online classifieds operator Carsales.com.

Fund manager Perpetual will cut more jobs next year as it continues with a major restructure that contributed to a 57 per cent drop in its full year profit.

Australia's housing sector is stuck in the doldrums, with building approvals plunging more than 17 per cent in July.

Thailand's state-owned PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has pleaded guilty to four charges connected to the 2009 Montara oil spill.

The federal government is calling for an investigation into whether Opposition Leader Tony Abbott misled parliament when he claimed to have read BHP Billiton statements about the scrapping of the O

Australia's mining boom is not over yet, with newly released capital expenditure figures showing there is a lot more investment to come.

Shares in Boart Longyear have dived by more than 30 per cent after the drilling major downgraded its full year earnings guidance.

Global property developer Lend Lease has forecast higher earnings after unveiling a near two per cent rise in net profit for its 2012/13 financial year.

The Australian stockmarket opened lower after iron ore prices fell overnight.

Tourism from Indonesia and Malaysia is expected to rapidly rise by 2015, while the number Australians holiday overseas is showing signs of easing, a survey has found.

US stocks see-sawed in more light, noncommittal trade on Wednesday to close almost flat for the third straight session, amid fresh data that sent more mixed signals on the economy.

The Australian dollar is flat as markets wait for a key address by the US Federal Reserve chairman that could hint at further moves to stimulate the American economy.

Federal Labor's promise to deliver a budget surplus in 2012/13 has again come under fire after it announced plans to spend $4 billion on dental health care reforms.

Company profits are down but still not the horror story expected due to a spate of under-promising and over-delivering in the profit-reporting season.

The head of construction and maintenance firm Transfield Services has stepped down after turning a full year loss into a healthy net profit of $84.8 million.

The Australian share market has closed almost flat as investors wait to see if there will be more moves to stimulate the sluggish US economy.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says he's comfortable sharing a conference stage with a Congolese minister who has been probed by French authorities for alleged human rights abuses.

Construction on new homes and units has slumped to its lowest level in a decade, prompting fresh calls from Australia's housing industry for governments to do more to support the struggling sector.

Southern Cross Austereo says it is well-positioned for the difficult advertising market after reporting a hefty lift in full year net profit.

Environmental activism group Friends of the Earth has lodged a complaint with the Australian Securities Exchange against sunscreen ingredient maker Antaria, alleging that Antaria has violated the C

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the federal government is "wrong-headed" to link its emissions trading scheme (ETS) to Europe's carbon market.

Shark nets probably won't be adopted at metropolitan beaches, with Premier Colin Barnett saying swimmers can feel safe between the flags in patrolled areas.

Australia's construction data continues to follow a weak trend, with some optimism around engineering, economists say.

Australian oil and gas producer ROC Oil has continued its positive run, booking a $US28.6 million ($A27.69 million) net profit for the first half of the year.