AAP

Industry veteran Richard Cottee has taken up the reins as chief executive at conflict-ridden Central Petroleum, saying it's the company's massive exploration acreage that appeals to him.

Australian stocks fell to a weaker close, dragged down by heavy losses among the resource stocks.

The cost of a police operation to protect the interests of Woodside Petroleum against anti-gas hub protesters near Broome is expected to exceed six figures.

Treasury boss Martin Parkinson has argued the case for bringing the federal budget back to surplus, saying it is happening in a much healthier economic environment than in many other advanced econo

Blinds and curtains maker Kresta expects property sales to bring it back to profitability this financial year.

A drop in the Australian currency below parity with the US dollar and a recent cut in domestic interest rates will help manufacturers, the Australian Industry Group says.

Woodchipper Gunns has struck a deal to sell its hardwood sawn timber business for $28 million as it continues to finalise its long-awaited capital raising.

The state government has dismissed a report claiming the state cannot afford a Norway-style sovereign wealth fund - just as it prepares to unveil its own.

Slowing economic growth, inflation, and interest rate hikes by commercial banks gave the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) the impetus to cut the cash rate in May.

Beverages supplier Coca-Cola Amatil expects a higher underlying profit in the first half of the 2012 calendar year, despite tough trading conditions.

Treasurer Wayne Swan will reassure business the federal government is still on the case to reform the tax system, despite ditching a promised cut in the corporate tax rate in last week's federal bu

Westpac has cut its interest rates on its short term fixed rate home loans by up to 20 basis points.

Australian stocks have opened lower, with local market players taking their cues from a poor night on Wall Street as the political gridlock in Greece dominated trading.

More than half of all Australians feel they have been personally affected the global downturn, despite the nation's strong economy.

US stocks have closed firmly in the red as Greece's political stalemate and Spain's banking problems drove new fears about the strength of the eurozone.

More Australians think the federal budget is bad for the economy than good, a new poll shows.

Unions risk stifling flexibility in workplaces for happy casual workers if they succeed in imposing new restrictions, the Australian Industry Group says.

Australian shares have closed slightly higher, driven by gains in the telecommunications and financial sectors.

Explosives and fertiliser producer Incitec Pivot says it has no plans to drop its fertiliser business despite its lower earnings leading to a 13 per cent drop in first half profit.

More than 100 police officers have converged on James Price Point north of Broome to escort a convoy of equipment past protesters to a proposed gas hub development site.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition's workplace reforms would tackle flexibility and growing union "militancy".

Up to half of all new jobs created in the next few years will be in sectors related to the booming mining industry, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

The once-mighty Aussie dollar is losing purchasing power as it slips below its US counterpart, but TVs and electrical gadgets are likely to stay dirt cheap - for a while at least.

Africa-focused uranium miner Paladin Energy says production at its mine in Malawi has been stalled after local workers walked off the job.

Australia has identified gas reserves that could keep up the rate of current production for nearly two centuries, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says.

Australia's offshore petroleum industry is to have its safety benchmarks strengthened.

National Australia Bank will raise up to $500 million by issuing subordinated notes to investors.

Local stocks have opened firmer with market players buoyed by the Chinese central bank's actions to support lending in one of Australia's key trading partners.

The Australian dollar has fallen closer to parity with the US dollar political turmoil continues in Greece.

US stocks took a beating last week, only to face more turbulence from Europe as Greece grapples with rising political uncertainty that could cost the country's crucial EU-IMF bailout.

The "bully boy tactics" of Coles and Woolworths are threatening the future of Australian food production, Australian Workers' Union boss Paul Howes says.

Fears of a new financial crisis in the wake of Greece's elections have dragged the Australian dollar perilously close to parity with its US counterpart.