AAP

 The Australian dollar fell more than half a cent in the wake of Standard and Poor's decision to downgrade France's credit rating.

 Australian shares end sharply lower after a mass downgrade of European bloc countries' credit ratings took the wind out of investor's winning streak.

The first political opinion poll of the year shows the federal coalition continuing to hold an election-winning lead over Labor.

Fortescue Metals Group is considering developing its North Star magnetite iron ore project in Western Australia as a joint venture.

 Europe's debt crisis is worrying Australian employers and keeping them from hiring staff, economists say.

Australia's financial regulator will force superannuation funds to report their investments every six months under new regulations being developed this year.

Australia is set for a higher rate of unemployment in 2012, new figures show.

The number of home loans approved in November has beaten market expectations and the prospects for 2012 look good, economists say.

Australian shares have opened lower after a downgrade of nine of the European bloc countries' credit ratings sparked a fresh wave of risk aversion ahead of more Chinese data this week.

Leighton Holdings says its underlying profit for the six months to December will be stronger than previously forecast.

The mass debt downgrade of eurozone nations has reignited a debate over boosting the bloc's bailout fund, but governments are divided over raising their contributions, a senior EU official says.

 Australian shares have closed slightly higher after strong bond auctions in Europe helped boost appetite for shares.

Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten says states should not expect payments from the Commonwealth if they walk away from deals on national reforms.

The federal government says Australia's strong ranking on a global economic index shows the nation is punching above its weight.

Workers in Australia's big banks are being warned to prepare for the worst after ANZ confirmed it will slash hundreds of jobs over the next six months.

Australian shares rose after strong bond auctions in Europe and a positive session on Wall Street helped to bolster market sentiment.

A drop in oil prices and strong bond auctions in Europe drove stocks to a slightly higher close Thursday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose for the fourth straight day.

The Australian dollar rose after the European Central Bank (ECB) said its measures to stem the eurozone's debt crisis were proving effective.

 The Australian dollar rose slightly on a day of tight trading ahead of a key meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) leaders.

 The Australian dollar rose slightly on a day of tight trading ahead of a key meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) leaders.

 The Australian dollar rose slightly on a day of tight trading ahead of a key meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) leaders.

The Australian dollar rose slightly on a day of tight trading ahead of a key meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) leaders.

Australian shares finished slightly lower after a surprise profit warning from QBE Insurance and disappointing data from China weighed on prices.

The worst of Tropical Cyclone Heidi is over for many communities in Western Australia's Pilbara region, as it begins to lose strength and move inland.

Leaders from foreign companies expected to build a giant gas project in Darwin are converging on the city amid speculation they are poised to seal the deal.

Outflows of Australian travellers continued to outweigh inflows of foreign visitors by a wide margin in November.

Police have arrested nine anti-coal seam gas protesters at a blockade on a southern Queensland property.

 A record year for natural disasters has caused insurance giant QBE to issue the year's first major profit downgrade, sending its shares to a near eight-year low.

The Australian share market has opened higher, following Wall Street's overnight lead.

One of 2011's best stockmarket performers, Iluka Resources, has posted a 53 per cent jump in sales revenues in the December quarter, capping a year of strong growth in production and sales.

US stocks closed mixed on Wednesday in markets that barely budged a day after a burst of buying on the promising first results of the corporate earnings season.

Australian shares posted their second straight day of gains after a rise on offshore markets sparked hopes for a pick-up in the world economy.