AAP

A fall in job vacancies in the latter months of 2011 is a warning that the unemployment rate is likely to edge up in the months ahead.

Australian shares have risen to a month high as an upbeat start to the US earnings season and hopes of further monetary easing in China sparked a rally in global stocks.

US stocks posted moderate gains Tuesday, lifted by a positive start to the corporate earnings season and Chinese trade data that spurred speculation that Beijing would loosen monetary policy.

US stocks posted moderate gains Tuesday, lifted by a positive start to the corporate earnings season and Chinese trade data that spurred speculation that Beijing would loosen monetary policy.

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The Queensland government has ordered an immediate suspension of some dredging in Gladstone Harbour, which is being deepened to support planned gas exports.

Australian shares added 1.1 per cent after positive Chinese trade data boosted markets already buoyed by positive US earnings and hopes for a pick up in local buyout deals. 

 Tree planter Carbon Conscious Ltd expects its net profit in the 2011/12 financial year to rise 309 per cent to $3.5 million.

Budget airline Jetstar has announced a shake-up of its flights from Darwin into Asia, with new services planned to Tokyo, Manila and Singapore.

Three miners have been seriously injured at an underground gold mine today in Western Australia's Goldfields region.

The private equity firm interested in buying Spotless Group says it is unable to increase its offer without access to the Spotless books.

A takeover push for clothing and footwear maker Pacific Brands could mark the start of a buying spree among private equity firms in search of bargains, analysts say.

Momentum in the building industry remains weak, despite news of a blip up in the number of residential building approvals.

Australian shares extended early gains after a positive start to the United States earnings season and news of more interest from private equity firms in local companies.

 US stocks managed modest gains Monday as Wall Street awaited the unofficial kickoff of the fourth-quarter earnings season and talks between France and Germany on Europe's debt crisis.

European shares fell on Monday in thin trade, dragged down by banking stocks after Unicredit's rocky start to its key rights issue and worries about prospects for the U.S. earnings season.

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The Australian dollar fell after official data showed a continuing weakness in Australia's retail sector.

Australian shares close largely unchanged after a day of tepid trading as investors gear up for the start of the US earnings season.

Australia's big four banks are being given a run for their money by rival mortgage lenders snatching a greater share of the home loan market.

Australian shares have turned lower after disappointing retail sales data spooked already nervous investors.

New home sales received a welcome boost in November after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the interest rate, a survey shows.

Industrial services company Spotless Group has requested its private equity suitor increase its takeover bid to $743 million.

Australian shares open slightly higher after strong US non-farm payroll data released on Friday buoyed hopes that the world's largest economy is on the mend.

Activity in the construction sector has contracted for the 19th consecutive month, reflecting very weak local building conditions, a survey shows.

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Western Australia's indigenous affairs minister Peter Collier has refused to comment on an Aboriginal group's claim he eased mine consent conditions to help his mining magnate friend Andrew Fo

Australian stocks ended 1.2 per cent lower as another slump in retail stocks and sagging investor sentiment over the eurozone debt crisis weighed on the market.

West Australian shoppers are expected to defy the economic gloom over Christmas by spending a record $3 billion.

Adelaide-based brewer Coopers has been named the world's top family business for 2011 in a poll by a UK magazine.