AAP

It's been called Perth's greatest natural asset, but the stunning Swan River is under increasing pressure from climate change and deadly algal blooms.

Melbourne has claimed gold as the world's most liveable city, but Sydney has lost its status as Australia's second most desirable destination ... to Adelaide.

Environmental groups have called on the federal government to reject a push to allow state governments to approve certain business developments without federal oversight.

Australian businesses regained their confidence in July, as global sentiment stabilised, and the impact of Reserve Bank of Australia rate cuts began to be felt.

The High Court is about to begin hearing Australia's largest class action case with 38,000 customers taking on the ANZ bank over its fees.

Telecommunications carrier Optus has suffered a slide in earnings and revenue during the first quarter of its financial year.

National Australia Bank made a $1.2 billion profit in the three months to June, while its revenue dropped because of higher funding costs and weak financial markets.

The Australian market has opened flat amid speculation investors are unwilling to push stocks any higher after recent rallies.

An increase in the number of businesses running their own websites in the past three months has not been matched by online activity, a new survey has found.

US stock markets closed mainly in the red after listless trade, with only poor Japanese data making a dent in action slowed by the northern hemisphere summer holiday.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher in quiet trade after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) failed to announce measures to stimulate the nation's slowing economy.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has had his contract renewed after a recent Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) investigation cleared him of misusing his credit card.

Australian shares closed slightly higher amid mixed local earnings results as investors hope for improvements in the European debt crisis.

A call for Western Australia to abandon or improve its popular Royalties for Regions (RfR) program has been rejected by the state government.

Westfield has confirmed it is in talks with financial services group AMP about a possible split of the multi-billion dollar shopping centres they own and manage.

Shares in DuluxGroup and its takeover target Alesco have been placed in a trading halt as the pair continue talks over the paintmaker's $210 million offer.

Lending finance approvals rose in June but the underlying trend, while positive, remains sluggish, giving no clear lead to policymakers.

Premier Colin Barnett has refused a televised debate with opposition leader Mark McGowan after accusing him of being a "fence sitter" on key election issues.

James Packer's casinos and hotels company Crown wants to raise $400 million to help pay for its expansion plans.

Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi is aiming to boost its market share as more of its troubled rivals fall by the wayside in the gloomy retail market.

Australian shares were higher at opening as hope continued for improvement in the European debt crisis.

Newcrest Mining's full year profit is up 23 per cent due to rising gold prices and the company expects gold production to rise in the current financial year.

In what is fast becoming one of Australia's most bitterly fought environmental campaigns, cold, hard cash - rather than conservation - is likely to determine the fate of Woodside Petroleum's multib

US stocks shrugged off mixed corporate results and eurozone worries to hold onto their gains on Friday, with the main indexes all ending higher for the week despite little concrete positive news.

The Australian dollar has closed lower, after the release of disappointing Chinese trade figures.

The Australian sharemarket ended the week on a negative note following the release of disappointing Chinese trade data which signalled further weakness in the global economy.

A new network will help the federal government identify female candidates for its board positions.

Property management and development company Goodman Group is looking to expand into South America as it posts a full year profit of $408.3 million.

The federal government faces another tussle with the Australian Greens over a cut in the corporate tax rate, if the reduction is funded by reducing research and development (R&D) tax concession

ANZ has left its variable interest rates on hold at 6.8 per cent after its monthly review.

The forecast pace of growth in the Australian economy for 2012 is better than previously expected, but problems in the euro zone threaten to crash the party, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

A second former AWB executive has been fined and temporarily banned from corporate management over the Iraqi kickbacks scandal.