AAP

The organisers of the ill-fated Kimberley ultramarathon did not contact fire authorities until well after a bushfire swept over the race route and severely burned two runners, an inquiry has b

A fire at a platinum mine in Zimbabwe part owned by Australia's Aquarius Platinum could affect the company's production.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has backed away from earlier pledges to increase dividends but still predicts a decent increase in earnings this year.

Big businesses are not buying influence when they pay $25,000 a year to be a member of the state Liberal Party's fundraising club, says Premier Colin Barnett.

Australia's economy could be at risk as Europe's debt crisis threatens China's export markets, the World Bank says.

Job advertisements on the internet fell by seven per cent last month, new federal government figures show.

The Australian share market opened lower after two days of gains, with losses across most sectors after mixed offshore leads.

Myer's third quarter sales have fallen and the department store chain has downgraded its forecast for full year net profit.

US stocks have given up early gains and finished mostly flat as investors dump Facebook shares for a second straight day amid new controversy about the company's $US16 billion IPO.

Union leader Paul Howes wants the federal government to pull banks into line on interest rates by forcing them to match the central bank's rate moves.

The Australian dollar has continued to climb higher, on positive commentary from the euro zone and China.

The Australian share market continued its second consecutive day of recovery from last week's carnage, driven by overnight offshore leads.

The federal government has rubbished an opposition claim that councils haven't been given enough time to prepare for the impact of the carbon tax on their landfill sites.

Leighton Holdings' board has met with angry shareholders at the company's annual general meeting as they were forced to explain recent downgrading of their profit forecasts.

An eighth man has been charged over a kickback scandal at City of Stirling council.

The dispute between unions and miner BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) at seven central Queensland mines could escalate.

GrainCorp expects another large national harvest after a bumper crop helped lift first half profit by more than 50 per cent and upgraded its full year profit forecast.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson hopes more Australian mining companies will set up operations in Latin America.

Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett has been selected by the state Labor Party to take on Nationals leader Brendon Grylls at the state election in March.

Qantas Airways is splitting its international and domestic operations into two separate businesses from July.

Australian stocks have opened higher, as market players took their cues from a positive night on Wall Street.

The domestic economy might be still chugging along but small business is missing out on investment opportunities as they worry about the wider global outlook.

The Australian dollar has headed back above 99.00 US cents amid optimism that a new approach to the euro zone government debt crisis will work.

US shares have racked up strong gains with the Nasdaq adding nearly 2.5 per cent helped by an Apple surge, but Facebook shares flipped below their IPO price on their first full day of trading.

Agribusiness and automotive interiors supplier Elders has returned to profitability, boosted by a large tax win.

Industrial emissions are already threatening Western Australia's rock art-rich Burrup Peninsula, where a new $US800 million ($A815.87 million) ammonium nitrate plant will be built, Greens

Building products maker James Hardie fears Australia's soft housing market will be a drag on the company's earnings this year.

The Australian dollar has rebounded to finish back above US98 cents after its recent big falls to the lowest levels in six months.

Australian stocks closed higher, driven by a rebound in resource and finance stocks, as world leaders reaffirmed they wanted beleaguered Greece to remain in the euro zone.

Anti-gas hub protesters have allowed a Woodside Petroleum convoy to pass without incident in the Kimberley, as about 30 police stood guard.

Laboratory group Campbell Brothers' full year profit is up 68 per cent and the company expects more growth in the year ahead, on the back of its strong-performing minerals testing division.