AAP

Heavy rains in NSW and Queensland has led a tough start to 2012 for building products maker Boral.

Optus has failed to gag AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou from claiming the telco was "lifting" content owned by sporting bodies, behaviour "akin to stealing".

Australian stocks opened firmer this morning, led by strength in the telecoms and information sector.

A substantial drop in Atlas Iron's interim net profit was due largely to project value write-downs, but the miner remains on target to meet its full year production forecast.

The Australian dollar is higher on optimistic global sentiment, ahead of a European operation to boost liquidity.

The Dow Jones industrial average narrowly missed 13,000. Again.

Internet-based shopping is growing at ten times the pace of the struggling traditional retail sector, with annual sales surpassing $10 billion for the first time.

The Australian dollar has fallen more than a quarter of a US cent as demand rises for European currencies.

Telstra Corporation will start selling internet plans to be delivered over the national broadband network from tomorrow.

Caltex Australia says the it expects the recent deterioration of its refining business to be sustained for a prolonged period.

Motorists can kiss goodbye to cheap petrol from tomorrow, with prices set to hit $1.55 as world oil prices surge due to supply concerns in the Middle East.

A decision on Holden's long-term future in Australia should be revealed "soon", South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says.

The Australian share market closed lower, partly pulled back by market giant BHP Billiton, which paid its interim dividend; the big banks, three of which had a ratings downgrade on Friday; and some

Treasurer Wayne Swan says G20 nations have put jobs at the forefront of efforts to secure global economic stability.

Kevin Rudd has congratulated Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her strong win in a caucus leadership ballot and says he bears no grudges.

Business wants the federal Labor leadership ballot to be the catalyst for a more focused Gillard government and renewed commitment to a more competitive and productive economy.

National non-bank lender Homeloans Ltd will continue eyeing acquisition opportunities and cutting costs to protect earnings after reporting a 13 per cent drop in first half profit.

Australian stocks have opened slightly lower as mining giant BHP Billiton paid its first half dividend.

The Australian dollar has fallen from previous highs, as global oil prices reached a 10-month high.

The eurozone will have to put in place a bigger financial firewall to combat the crisis before other countries will pour more cash into the IMF, the G20 top and developing economies say.

 Three of Australia's big four banks have had their prized AA credit ratings downgraded by one notch because of their partial reliance on wholesale funding markets.

Shares in Newcrest Mining fell after Australia's largest gold producer flagged a fall in March quarter output but tentatively maintained its full year guidance.

Woolworths aims to chalk up $1 billion in online sales within two years as it works to ensure all of its businesses are trading on the web by the end of 2015.

The Australian share market ended the week on a high note after a positive lead from Wall Street, with financial and mining stocks driving gains.

The Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) joint venture says its customer service and performance levels have improved and further progress is on schedule, after the problems that plagued the telco la

South America-focused gold and silver producer Troy Resources has posted a jump in first half net profit after a production ramp up at its new Casposo operation in Argentina and strong performance

 Higher VIP gambler revenue and improved returns from its Macau joint venture have helped casino operator Crown increase its first half profit by 79 per cent.

Australian stocks have opened flat on the back of a mixed offshore lead.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens says interest rates are about where they should be, even after retail banks independently lifted their lending rates this month.

GE Oil and Gas has won a contract worth more than $150 million to supply subsea equipment for Apache Energy's Julimar gas project offshore from Dampier.

The Australian dollar has risen after the release of some encouraging economic data from Germany and the US.