AAP

Rare earths miner Lynas says it has a responsibility to the Malaysian community to operate a newly-approved plant in a safe manner.

Wesfarmers' largest business, Coles, has recorded its best ever Christmas sales in 2011 as the supermarket chain continues to lure customers away from rival Woolworths.

 Australian shares have risen sharply after strong gains in commodities prices overnight sent resources stocks surging.

The Australian dollar rose to a three-month high as the cost of borrowing for European governments falls and after the release of good manufacturing data from Europe and China.

Facebook is updating its status from a private to public company.

Premier Colin Barnett has touted the wealth of Western Australia's industry barons, after one of the state's mining billionaires, Gina Rinehart, spent almost $200 million increasing her stake in pu

Mines and Fisheries Minister Norman Moore says he will retire at the next election after serving 35 years in parliament.

Rio Tinto says it will take a controlling stake in South African mineral sands miner Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) through the acquisition of BHP Billiton's 37 per cent interest for an undisclosed su

Beleaguered uranium miner Energy Resources Australia says its 2012 production remains highly dependent on the amount of rain in the Northern Territory during this year's wet season.

Santos' Wortel operation in Indonesia has produced its first gas, the fourth project in the company's base business to begin output in the past eight months.

Export commodity prices rose marginally in January after a run of four monthly falls.

 BHP Billiton may cut up to 155 jobs from its Nickel West business as it curbs activity and restructures roles in reaction to a depressed nickel price and a strong Australian dollar.

Australian shares ended lower for the third straight day as brokers took profits ahead of the reporting season and after one of the best monthly starts to the calendar year in around 40 years.

More than 10,000 angry St George and Bank SA customers are trying to recoup bank fees after joining the largest collective action in Australian legal history.

SALES by small businesses over the Christmas period were better than expected, but calendar 2011 figures were less impressive amid subdued market conditions.

 Australian manufacturing activity expanded in January for a second consecutive month, a private survey shows.The largest gains were in the food and beverages sub-sector.

Official data showing further falls in house prices have lent fuel to the case for another interest rate cut, economists say.

Federal opposition frontbenchers have defended Tony Abbott's outlook for tax cuts under a coalition government, ahead of a keynote speech by the prime minister on the economy.

Qantas says it is in a strong financial position despite having its credit rating downgraded by Moody's ratings agency.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says he is comfortable with the country's richest person increasing her stake in Fairfax Media.

 Australian shares have posted another slow start after a soft session on Wall Street despite gains on European bourses.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reaffirmed without qualification that the federal government will deliver a budget surplus.

It's the best start for US stocks in 15 years.

Households will be hit with double-digit percentage jumps for insurance for a second year as insurers restore profits after the industry's worst year on record for disaster claims, a survey finds.

The Australian dollar rose nearly three quarters of a US cent on hopes that a bailout for Greece might be nearing completion.

Australia's largest cattle producer, Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), exported more live cattle during 2011 despite the Australian government's temporary ban on live exports to Indonesia.

Australian shares gave up earlier gains to end lower as renewed investor concerns about the European debt crisis took the steam out of a retailer-driven rally.

An independent inquiry is the only way to find out if other senior media advisers to Premier Colin Barnett were involved in leaking false information to the media about new Labor Leader Mark McGowa

Prime Minister Julia Gillard should stop interfering in the mining industry and Western Australia, and focus on manufacturing job losses elsewhere, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Two-thirds of Australians are expecting an interest rate cut when the Reserve Bank of Australia board meets on February 7, with some anticipating a large 50 basis points reduction.

Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith fears the electronics chain he founded could be sold to foreign owners by retail giant Woolworths.

Telstra has won a $39 million contract to improve mobile telecommunications infrastructure in rural Western Australia.