AAP

The Australian sharemarket has opened slightly lower following interest rate cuts in Europe and China.

Australia's construction sector contracted for the 25th straight month in June, showing recent interest rate cuts have failed to revive the struggling sector's fortunes.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has been accused of using "brutal negotiations" to squeeze price cuts from suppliers to help fund a price war with rival Coles.

The Australian dollar hit a two month high after Britain and Europe's central banks announced fresh stimulus measures.

US stocks narrowed early losses but ended lower overall after central banks in China and Europe acted to boost growth but US data did not set a clear path for the Federal Reserve to follow suit.

The Australian dollar weakened slight as traders consolidated their positions ahead of possible economic announcements in Europe and the US.

Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, has reduced her stake in Fairfax Media, offloading more than 86 million shares.

The Australian share market closed flat on a day when only about two-thirds of the average daily value was traded, amid an absence of offshore leads with Wall street closed for a public holiday.

Perth Zoo has completed its jumbo-sized solar panel installation - stretching partly across its elephant enclosure - making it the city's largest single source of sun power.

Two solar panel companies have been found to have made misleading comments about the impact of the carbon tax on electricity prices.

 The state government plans to repeal 40-year-old legislation that deals with the estates of Aboriginal people in a discriminatory way.

Australia trade balance remained in deficit in May but is expected to return to surplus as exports pick up over the coming months.

Australian stocks opened flat following a lacklustre day on European markets and Wall Street closed for the July 4 public holiday.

The Australian dollar has drifted lower in a quiet overnight session as markets wait to see whether Europe's top bankers will introduce new stimulus measures.

European stock markets were little changed and the euro slipped against the dollar on Wednesday as investors waited for key monetary policy decisions by the European Central Bank and Bank of Englan

More than 3,000 unionists have marched on mining magnate Gina Rinehart's office and Parliament House to protest against imported workers and a lack of training in the resources sector.

The Australian sharemarket has closed higher as local investors took heart from better-than-expected economic data out of the United States and a rosier outlook in the troubled euro zone.

Queensland-based Linc Energy has cut 60 jobs as it aims to achieve a cash profit of $15 million in the 2012/13 financial year.

Bakery chain Brumby's could be fined if found to have incorrectly linked upcoming price rises to the carbon tax, the federal government says.

Pricing carbon may actually stop the transition to cleaner energy, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Virgin Australia carried more domestic passengers than its rival Qantas over the 12 months to the end of May - a first for the industry's traditional number two.

A worker has been killed in a gas explosion in Perth's eastern suburbs.

Retail spending is on the rise as cashed-up consumers enjoy the benefits of lower mortgage rates.

The owners of the Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas (APLNG) project in Queensland have made a final commitment to add a second LNG train to the $23 billion project.

The Australian sharemarket has opened more than three quarters of a per cent higher, following strong leads on Wall Street.

Maintenance and construction company Transfield Services has won new contracts in the United States, New Zealand and Western Australia totalling $200 million.

Manchester United plans to go public. In the United States, to boot.

US stocks racked up solid gains in a holiday-shortened trading session, boosted by reports of strong June sales from the leading US auto makers.

The Australian dollar has risen to a fresh two-month high on the back of strong domestic building data.

A single-issue party is poised to enter Western Australia's political scene.

The Australian sharemarket has closed slightly weaker as investors weighed up recent weak economic data out of the United States and China and as Australia's central bank left the cash rate unchang

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he would call a double-dissolution election if Labor senators block his attempts to dump the carbon tax.