AAP

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan has rejected claims of a looming jobs crisis.

Australian stocks declined one per cent in thin trade after a muted reaction to the latest move to solve Europe's debt crisis took the shine off hopes for a Christmas rally.

The Australian dollar dropped more than half a US cent after fear set in that nearly half a trillion Euros in loans from Europe's central bank to struggling commercial lenders may not be enough to

 US stocks markets were mixed on Wednesday after Tuesday's strong gains, with the Nasdaq dragged lower on poor Oracle earnings and other indexes finding little direction in holiday-thinned tra

Australian shares broke their two-day losing streak to end sharply higher after strong gains on offshore markets sparked hopes for a long-awaited Christmas rally.

Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, has succeeded in keeping details of her family trust battle secret until at least January 13.

The outlook for economic growth has fallen back below trend, although the pace of current activity is still strong, a survey shows.

Australia's housing shortfall is expected to blow out to more than 640,000 in 20 years, prompting industry calls for tax cuts and other measures to stop prices going through the roof.

BC Iron has beaten guidance and shipped about 1.1 million tonnes of iron ore in the first half.

A Lend Lease and Leighton Holdings joint venture will carry out $505 million worth of rail work in Victoria.

St George Bank has cut its fixed home loan interest rates again as variable rates become more attractive.

Floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms have cost more than $4 billion in insurance claims across Australia this year.

Engineering firm Macmahon Holdings has finalised the contract terms with Fortescue Metals Group for the construction of the Solomon Rail project.

Chief executive of market operator ASX Robert Elstone will join the board of Westpac Banking Corporation in the new year.

Australian stocks clawed back recent losses in early trade as sharp gains in offshore bourses sparked hopes for a long-awaited Christmas rally.

The Australian dollar rose above parity with the US dollar to reach its highest level in a week on the back of strong economic data from Germany and the US.

US stocks rallied nearly three per cent on Tuesday, boosted by US data showing a surge in new housing starts, encouraging news on Germany's economy, and reports of a Greek deal with private debt ho

Australia is expected to remain a hot spot of merger and acquisition activity because of its cashed-up companies, in defiance of a worldwide slump in corporate deals, new research finds.

Tobacco company Philip Morris has become the latest cigarette manufacturer to file a High Court challenge against the federal government's plain packaging laws.

Australian stocks ended slightly weaker after a day of choppy trade as positive minutes from the central bank's meeting helped investors shrug off the ongoing economic gloom. 

Elders says profits in the first two months of its fiscal year are on track with the agribusiness's improvement plans.

Shares in Gloucester Coal are in a trading halt following reports it was in talks about an $8 billion merger that would create Australia's largest independent coal producer.

Westpac Banking Corporation says it will defend a class action against all four big banks over allegedly unlawful fees.

Leighton Holdings' Asian business has been awarded nearly $130 million in new contracts for work in Hong Kong.

The federal government is going after directors of failed companies who, having avoided liability for workers' entitlements and other debts, restart the business under a similar name.

The possibility of further interest rate cuts hinges entirely on developments in Europe's government debt crisis, economists say.

Retail spending rose in November, a new private sector survey shows, despite major retailers complaining of weakening demand.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says it expects global economic growth to stall in the coming year, keeping the door open for more cash rate cuts in 2012.

Australian stocks rose slightly as investors went bargain-hunting after a rout on the retail sector yesterday saw shares slump to a three-week low.

Mining focused engineer Macmahon Holdings has upgraded its full year profit forecast because of additional work.

 The Australian dollar was slightly lower as markets digested news of the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il.

US stocks slogged lower in thin trade on Monday as investors digested news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death and Europe's latest efforts to contain the eurozone debt crisis.