AAP

Oil and gas producer AWE is on track to meet its full-year production and revenue targets, while it has lowered its risk exposure to the troubled BassGas project.

Australian fruit and vegetable growers fear they will become the latest victims in the supermarket price wars after Coles slashed its fresh produce prices.

Education provider Navitas expects second-half earnings to be weaker amid uncertainty over student visa rules.

Woolworths says its first half sales rose five per cent to $29.7 billion despite the supermarket giant facing subdued consumer confidence and falling prices.

The International Monetary Fund believes Australia is probably the best-positioned of the developed countries to handle a further deterioration in the global economy.

Lynas Corporation says construction of its rare earths processing plant in Malaysia is 91 per cent complete.

 Worries about whether Greece and its creditors will agree a debt deal have pushed Australian shares lower at the open.

The Australian dollar is a quarter of a US cent higher after some promising news from the European Union leaders summit.

All European Union countries, except Britain and the Czech Republic, have agreed to sign up to a new treaty designed to stop overspending on the eurozone and put an end to the bloc's crippling debt

A media adviser for Premier Colin Barnett has resigned after admitting he leaked false information to the media about Opposition Leader Mark McGowan and circulated a photograph of his house.

The Australian dollar has dropped from its recent three-month high, in the lead-up to a key European Union summit to tackle sovereign debt.

 Australian shares ended lower as investors took profits ahead of the February profit reporting season.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says he has no plan to follow France's lead by introducing a financial transaction tax.

Global economic uncertainty is hampering the ability of companies to grow and deters them from creating new jobs, according to a survey released today.

Oil and gas producer ROC Oil lifted production in the December quarter, but for the year it was down.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has blamed "excessively pessimistic" reporting of Australian economic indicators for keeping local confidence down.

 Australian stocks have opened slightly higher after mixed leads from offshore bourses kept investors wary ahead of the start of the local earnings season.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos says there is "total convergence" among political allies on new austerity measures needed for a second bailout and debt cuts to avert default.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher on expectations that Greece will reach a deal with its creditors to avoid a debt default.

The federal opposition believes the Reserve Bank of Australia, and not the government, should do much of the heavy lifting if the local economy needs a boost in the face of a souring global economy

 The Australian dollar has retreated slightly from a three-month high after a reassessment of global economic prospects by the currency market.

The Australian share market ended at a seven-week high today, led by the resources and materials sector.

The Australian dollar is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign central banks and sovereign wealth funds as they try to reduce their exposure to under-performing US and European currencies.

Labor leader Mark McGowan has announced his new shadow cabinet and created a portfolio to address cost of living pressures.

 Australian shares have opened higher, led by the big miners, following a US Federal Reserve decision to keep interest rates low for longer.

The Australian dollar has lost ground after reaching its highest level in three months overnight amid a global rally of shares and risk currencies.

US stocks erased early gains on solid earnings reports from Caterpillar and Netflix to end lower on Thursday, with some weak economic data and profit-taking seeming to drive the selling.

Treasurer Wayne Swan won't be cutting the major retail banks any slack if the central bank cuts the official cash rate again at its board meeting next month.

Horrid summer weather could spoil the party for food and liquor retailers this Australia Day, as people cancel their traditional barbecues.

The Australian dollar continued to trade above 105 US cents despite expectations of further interest rate cuts after official data showed that inflation was easing.

Asciano has restructured its Patrick ports division, resulting in a significant reshuffle of its executive team.

 Australian shares closed at a six-week high after official figures showing an easing of inflation boosted hopes for further interest rate cuts.