AAP

Resources companies in the state's north are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Lua, which is expected to intensify as it approaches the Pilbara coast.

Spuds have become a political hot potato as the state opposition seeks to stamp out the nation's last remaining potato regulator.

Australia's taxation commissioner believes the task force set up to tackle tax evasion through overseas havens has had some significant successes.

Former prime minister John Howard has joined senior Liberals in attacking the federal government's rejection of his colleague Peter Costello for the job as chair of the nation's sovereign wealth fu

Fortescue Metals Group says the overnight doubling of its recent bond offering means that it doesn't need to tap US debt markets again to help pay for its $US8.4 billion ($A8.06 billion) iron ore p

The state government will close its Malaysia Trade and Investment Office, as a new Singapore office takes over responsibility for the region.

Diploma Group has hit back at union claims it is not paying sub-contractors at Western Australia's new Cabinet offices currently under construction at Hale House, saying the allegations were design

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has held open the prospect of further reducing company tax with business groups criticising the size of the latest cut.

 The federal government is confident its carbon tax will survive a High Court challenge from mining magnate Clive Palmer.

Myer boss Bernie Brookes has tried to paint a rosy picture for the struggling department store chain's future despite forecasting flagging sales and earnings.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower as resources stocks lost ground due to a fall in commodity prices.

The Australian dollar has lost 0.7 US cent, falling to a new seven-week low against a stronger US dollar.

Stocks have ended pretty much where they started on Wall Street, a day after the market had its biggest gain of the year.

Nexus Energy has been approached by big energy companies seeking a slice of its Crux joint venture in Western Australia in order to secure future liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply.

The Australian dollar finished marginally weaker after a fall in late trade.

Labor and the Australian Greens have seized on the CSIRO's latest State of the Climate report to again argue Australia is right to be putting a price on carbon emissions from the middle of this yea

The Australian share market finished on a positive note after Wall Street closed at its highest level since the end of 2007.

Premier Colin Barnett says the police commissioner has his full support despite allegations he gave false evidence to a bushfire inquiry and misused his corporate credit card.

Australians are opting for overseas rather than local holidays but work trips and visits to family and friends have boosted domestic travel.

The banking industry has admitted it is struggling to gain the public's trust in explaining why mortgage rates need to rise independently of the Reserve Bank.

 Labor has struggled to win voter support in Western Australia because it hasn't been responsive enough to the WA view of the world, a federal minister says.

Shipbuilder Austal may pursue more work with the Royal Australian Navy under an expanded alliance with US-based General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS).

Australian dwelling commencements fell 6.9 per cent in the December quarter to 33,653 units, official figures show.

The creation of the nation's first Small Business Commissioner will give a voice to a vital sector in the Australia economy, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Consumer sentiment has fallen following the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decisions in February and March to keep the official interest rate on hold, a survey shows.

Engineering firm Ausenco has won a contract to help construct Base Metals' Kwale mineral sands project in Kenya.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent higher, following on from Wall Street's strong gains after positive US retail figures.

Fortescue Metals Group's latest bond sale appears to be a sign that debt markets are bouncing back.

US stocks took off Tuesday and the Dow zoomed past the 13,000 mark driven by soaring bank shares, sparked by JPMorgan Chase's announcement of a huge share buyback and dividend hike.

A sardine fisherman from Albany has described how a rare tropical whale shark surfaced near his boat in the Southern Ocean, surprising himself and local scientists.

The Australian dollar has risen from a six-week low, lifted by stronger regional equity markets and renewed trader interest.