AAP

Labor leader Mark McGowan has proudly claimed underdog status in next year's state election but denied unpopular Prime Minister Julia Gillard is a millstone around the party's neck.

The consumer watchdog says it will be closely watching electricity retailers which include a carbon tax impact on power bills sent to customers.

The Australian stock market closed flat after offshore bourses failed to inspire investors with a strong lead.

Phillips River shares soared after the junior minerals explorer agreed to sell its flagship assets to its former suitor, Silver Lake Resources.

Shares in Quickstep Holdings gained ground after the advanced composites manufacturer completed the first production parts for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter military airc

The coalition says the federal government's decision to ban Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from taking part in tenders for work on the national broadband network (NBN) is "clumsy, offensive and unpr

Qantas will set up a budget airline in China under a new agreement reached with China Eastern Airlines.

US stocks eked out a small gain at the end of a rough week in which the market was weighed down by prospects of a global economic slowdown.

India will eventually take over from China as the main engine of growth for the iron ore market but its consumption will be less intense, an analyst says.

The Australian dollar has continued to drift lower after dropping more than two cents in a week.

 Coca-Cola Amatil is back in the beer market after buying the maker of Fiji Bitter for $58 million.

The Australian share market managed to claw back most of its early losses to close flat after negative offshore leads and lower commodity prices overnight.

Former Reserve Bank of Australia board member Solomon Lew has called for an immediate, hefty official interest rate cut while accusing the central bank of being out of touch.

Creditors of Air Australia are likely to lose everything after the sale of the airline's main asset fell through.

Leighton Holdings says it's been in negotiations with Fortescue Metals Group for a $3.6 billion mining contract in the Pilbara.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes a growing number of people agree with the sentiments in his recent essay that attacked "vested interest" and in particular three billionaire mining magnates.

Western Australia's work safety watchdog has lost its appeal against the dismissal of charges accusing Fortescue Metals Group of failing to provide a safe workplace at a Pilbara rail camp during Cy

Engineering giant WorleyParsons has won a contract to build a copper and molybdenum processing plant in Mongolia.

Premier Investments, the owner of retail brands such as Just Jeans and Portmans, has suffered a 2.4 per cent fall in first half profit due to the tough retail environment.

Rail operator QR National has cuts its forecasts for full year earnings due to ongoing industrial action, weaker demand for coal transport and wet weather.

The Australian market has opened weaker with investors abandoning risk averse mining stocks.

The federal opposition has vowed to repeal government legislation that imposes tougher rules on financial planners.

US stock markets have fallen, as poor economic news from Europe and China overshadows more positive data about the domestic US jobs market.

Auzex Resources shareholders have approved the gold explorer's merger with equal joint-venture partner GGG Resources to create Bullabulling Gold.

Coalition MPs have been trading mining and infrastructure shares as they rail against the impact of the minerals resource rent tax on the future of the industry.

The Australian dollar fell to a two-month low against its US counterpart following the release of weaker than expected Chinese manufacturing data.

Struggling steelmaker Bluescope has restructured its operations by creating two new businesses, building products and global building solutions. 

Shares in Atlantic Ltd jumped after the vanadium and iron ore miner ditched a share purchase plan (SPP) that was poorly received by the market.

NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley says the government-funded company charged with building the national broadband network (NBN) is on track to release its three-year rollout plan soon.

The Australian share market shrugged off negative offshore leads to finish higher, driven by strong performances among financial stocks.