AAP

So strongly is Western Australia performing, the national economy is now being viewed in terms of Australia as a whole and Australia excluding WA.

International Monetary Fund members have vowed to secure global financial stability to allow urgently needed reforms and regain worldwide economic growth.

The Australian dollar has fallen after local trade figures showed the nation's terms of trade weakened in the first three months of the year.

The chances of official interest rate cut next month have improved with figures showing imported consumer goods have fallen to the cheapest level in two decades.

The Australian share market closed marginally higher despite earnings downgrades and a fall in some commodity prices.

Shares in industrial equipment maker Bradken plummeted after it cut its profit guidance due to increased costs and lower sales at its rail division.

The state government knew nothing about the death of a competitor in an adventure race in China before sponsoring a similar event in the Kimberley in which two women almost burned to death.

The federal government has accused Premier Colin Barnett of a cash grab over his refusal to quarantine a pension increase from public housing rent assessments.

Australian tourism chiefs will aim at a vast untapped market in China's hinterland for the next wave of visitors from the regional powerhouse.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the federal government's decision to create the national broadband network was taken to ensure Australia's telecommunications system was "future-proofed"

Foreign trade price figures suggest the terms of trade, a key indicator for the Australian economy, have fallen further.

Woolworths says higher third quarter sales volumes were offset by lower prices, leaving shoppers as the big winners as the supermarket seeks to woo more customers than arch rival Coles.

Gina Rinehart has lost a bid to have her children's multibillion-dollar family trust claim dealt with through confidential mediation and not in open court.

Building materials producer Boral has cut its full year profit guidance by $22 million due to the impact of heavy rain and weak housing activity on its operations.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess will undertake site preparation work at the Chevron-operated Wheatstone gas project in WA after winning a $450 million contract.

 Internet service provider iiNet has welcomed a High Court decision to dismiss an appeal by the world's largest film and television companies, saying it proves it never supported unauthorised

The Australian share market opened flat after falls on Wall Street and European markets.

Retail spending rose for the eighth straight month in March as consumers overcame a lack of confidence in the economy and spent more of their money on services such as entertainment.

US stock markets were modestly lower Thursday, with US unemployment data and a successful Spanish debt sale giving little direction to trade.

The Australian share market has closed at a fresh eight-month high, buoyed by resource stocks and investors punting on China undertaking new moves to boost its economy.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower in quiet trade as investors sit on the sidelines awaiting the outcome of a Spanish government bond auction.

Land developer Stockland will cut executive bonuses after a review of its remuneration policies.

Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev has set out his vision for Australia's largest bank, but refused to put performance targets on his key aims.

Personal fraud is on the rise in Australia, with a whopping 1.2 million people falling victim in 2010-2011.

Climate change sceptic Ian Plimer has stepped in as chairman of Ivanhoe Australia, replacing Canadian billionaire Robert Friedland who quit the gold and copper miner following a power tussle w

The biggest humpback whale calving area in the southern hemisphere will be protected within a new marine park to be created on the Kimberley coast by the state government.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused Premier Colin Barnett of not doing enough to help people outside the resources boom.

Rifts between Australia's farming community and the Australian Greens over the carbon tax have been "wildly exaggerated", says the party's new leader Christine Milne.

Fortescue Metals Group says axing the federal government's diesel fuel rebate for miners will cost the company up to $US150 million ($A145.30 million) a year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has acknowledged movements in the official cash rate lie in the hands of the independent central bank.

Telstra Corporation chief executive David Thodey says the telco would look at increasing its stake in Foxtel should James Packer decide to sell out of the pay TV company.

Business conditions in Australia improved slightly over the first three months of 2012, a private survey shows.