AAP

The Australian dollar is slightly lower following weaker than expected Chinese data and ahead of key central bank meetings.

The Australian sharemarket has closed slightly lower after investors took a cautious approach ahead of US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank meetings.

Wayne Swan has every right to attack rich mining magnates for acting in their own interests, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes says.

Global miner Rio Tinto will soon start cutting office jobs in Melbourne and Sydney to deal with falling commodity prices and soaring costs.

A better than expected rise in capital city house prices show home values are holding up well.

A Western Australia-style gas reservation policy should be adopted by the rest of the nation, one of the country's biggest trade unions says.

Intrepid Mines shares have surged 27 per cent after the company agreed to allocate around five per cent of its shares to Indonesian media mogul Surya Paloh.

Country Road has agreed to buy fellow fashion retailer Witchery Australia for $172 million.

The Australian sharemarket has opened slightly lower as investors wait to see if stimulus measures will be introduced in Europe and the US.

The Australian dollar has ended a three-day rally as markets await the release of Chinese manufacturing data.

US stocks closed lower for a second straight day as investors await the outcome of the Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting.

The Australian sharemarket has closed at an 11-week high after a turnaround in resources stocks led by market heavyweight BHP Billiton.

DuluxGroup has won support for its $210 million takeover bid for Alesco from two more of the construction products group's major shareholders.

Tiger Airways is attempting to fly away from its turbulent past.The airline announced today it is increasing flights and creating 100 new jobs, including 70 in Victoria.

Shares in Campbell Brothers have slumped after the chemicals company warned its earnings growth was expected to slow in the second half of its financial year.

Investors in Sundance Resources face a nervous wait of at least 24 hours to find out if the company's sole project has crucial financial backing from China.

The Transport Workers Union has called for the corporate watchdog to investigate whether Qantas and Jetstar broke any laws following rumours of potential deals with other airlines.

Talk of a two speed economy in Australia is damaging, says National Australia Bank CEO Cameron Clyne.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the national broadband network's (NBN) latest business plan will tell a "pleasing story".

Credit growth and housing approvals figures have kept a lid on any thoughts of an imminent interest rate cut.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash has paid $46.5 million to take complete ownership of hardware chain Mitre 10.

Oil refiner Caltex Australia plans to raise $300 million through capital markets to help fund changes to its operations.

The Australian sharemarket has opened higher as investors increase their exposure to risk while waiting to see if stimulus measures in Europe and the US will spark growth.

Apple shares have shot higher after unconfirmed reports that the tech giant is preparing to launch a new version of its hot-selling iPhone in September.

The Australian dollar is a third of a US cent higher ahead of the much anticipated meetings of the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB), this week.

US stocks have closed in the red as Wall Street hopes for US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank stimulus action this week and awaits a report on the July jobs market.

The Australian dollar has hit a fresh high in response to comments from European leaders vowing to act on the region's debt.

The Australian share market has closed almost one per cent higher, with the banks leading the way.

Miner Ivanhoe Australia's tumultuous year continued as it announced plans to slash exploration spending by half.

Flinders Mines says it can now start developing its flagship $1.1 billion Pilbara iron ore project with no commercial impediments after a takeover bid for the miner by a Russian steel-maker fell th

Two Broome grandmothers who chained themselves inside a van to protest Woodside Petroleum's proposed $30 billion Kimberley gas hub have been fined $500 each and given spent convictions.