AAP

US stocks rebounded on Wednesday after Tuesday's rout, with investors encouraged by US jobs data and signs that Greece was likely to make Thursday's deadline to seal a crucial debt write-off deal.

Gold miner Norton Gold Fields continues to hunt for acquisitions and expects to hit its full year production target.

A significant shareholder in mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto has backed the federal government's stand on the minerals resources rent tax for its potential benefit to the wider economy.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes the economy is still on target to reach trend growth of around 3.25 per cent this year, despite a dour performance in the final months of 2011 amid economic upheaval i

Base metals miner Kagara had a disastrous day, losing nearly $100 million in market value after its share price plunged by nearly 40 per cent because of its poor outlook.

The Australian dollar was three-quarters of a US cent lower on Wednesday after the release of economic growth figures that were much weaker than expected.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has questioned whether groups such as Greenpeace should retain their tax-free status if they are actively working to disrupt and delay major coal projects.

Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson says government assistance has a role to play in supporting Australian manufacturing industry.

The Australian share market finished firmly lower after battling headwinds on all fronts, with negative offshore leads, concerns about Greece's debt woes and disappointing Australian gross domestic

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the full-scale rollout of the high-speed national broadband network can now begin following the completion of agreements between Telstra, the bui

Federal opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says the coalition will deliver a budget surplus in its first year in office and won't follow Labor in rolling out a stimulus package in the event o

The economy posted unexpectedly slow growth in the December quarter, but provided some good news on labour productivity.

A state government offer to pay $2000 to Aboriginal people who lost out under the "stolen wages" regime has been labelled heartless and insulting by indigenous leaders.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower, after US markets suffered their biggest losses since November, on more worries over Europe.

Monetary policy has a key role to play in the evolution of the Australian economy, as it responds to structural change, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

US stocks registered their biggest losses of the year on Tuesday amid worries about the looming Greek debt swap deal and slowing growth in the global economy.

The Australian dollar has dropped over three-quarters of a US cent after the Reserve Bank of Australia indicated that it is open to more interest rate cuts.

Mining lobby groups have lined up to attack plans by green groups to run a $6 million campaign attacking the coal industry.

A petition with more than 5,000 signatures opposing state government plans to redevelop the Perth waterfront has been presented at state parliament.

The federal government has given the green light for the $554 million friendly takeover of Western Australia-focused iron ore explorer Flinders Mines by a Russian steel making giant.

The Australian share market closed firmly in the red after weaker base metals prices and a downwards revision of China's economic growth target weighed on mining stocks.

Treasurer Wayne Swan sang the praises of the Bank of Queensland (BoQ) for sitting tight last month while the major banks lifted their lending rates.

Regional communities will have more access to legal services online due to the rollout of the federal government's national broadband network.

 Prime Minister Julia Gillard will invite business leaders to the first meeting of a new advisory forum set up to find ways to cut red tape, as Treasurer Wayne Swan's criticism of three mining

Far from leaving us with a hangover, the recent Chinese New Year party has given Australia a huge tourism boost.

Newcrest Mining is to become a joint venture partner with Frontier Resources in its Mt Andewa project in Papua New Guinea after taking a small stake in the junior gold and copper explorer .

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 4.25 per cent after its March board meeting, citing improved economic conditions.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan's attack on billionaire mining magnates for wielding undue influence is unacceptable and unfounded, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The Australian Greens have slammed the federal government's early axing of the solar hot water rebate scheme, saying sun power is the nation's future.

Westpac Banking Corporation has confirmed plans to send 119 technology jobs overseas to cut costs.

The Australian economy has been crawling along below trend pace for a number of years, a leading economist says.

A judge has thrown out Gina Rinehart's latest bid to keep secret her family court battle, rejecting claims the publicity would increase kidnapping or extortion risks.