AAP

Harvey Norman isn't expecting a wonderful Christmas season after consumer electronics sales copped a hiding in 2011.

AngloGold Ashanti has reported a substantial increase in the gold resource estimate for its Tropicana project, northeast of Kalgoorlie.

Australia is regarded as one of the world's safest borrowers, after a global ratings agency upgraded the country to the highest possible rating for its overseas borrowings.

Investment in Australia's mining industry rose by 34 per cent to record levels in the six months to October, new data shows.

The state government has reported a $325 million operating surplus for the first quarter of the 2011-12 financial year.

Brick manufacturer Brickworks says it will deliver a "respectable" result in the coming year despite significant headwinds in its building products division.

Laboratory group Campbell Brothers has increased first half profit by 55 per cent and forecast a rise of up to 66 per cent in full year profit.

Engineering firm UGL has secured $200 million in contracts tapping into Australia's resources boom.The contracts are across the coal, oil and gas and iron ore industries.

Australian shares have posted modest gains after strong rises overseas due to a positive retail performance in the United States and hopes of developments on Europe's debt crisis.

Design and construction company VDM Group has won $30.6 million worth of work with BHP Billiton.VDM has now won over $130 million worth of new work this financial year, it said.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the OECD has firmly endorsed Australia's budget strategy in its latest economic outlook.

The Australian dollar has opened higher on the possibility of developments on a eurozone debt crisis solution.

US stocks markets burst back to life on Monday, with the major indices boosted by suggestions that Europe's leaders may have a plan to get their arms round the continent's long-running debt crisis.

The Australian dollar clawed back much of the ground it lost last week to finish Monday more than a 1.5 US cents higher.

An Arabic-speaking career diplomat will be Australia's next ambassador to the Middle Eastern kingdom of Kuwait.

Australian wages grew around four per cent, on average, last financial year, a private sector survey shows.

The Australian share market ended its recent losing streak with firm gains on Monday as hopes mounted that European leaders were closer to finding a solution to the region's debt crisis.

Property Council of Australia president Darren Steinberg will take the top job at Dexus Property Group when chief executive Victor Hoog Antink retires in March.

Insurers estimate the damage from the fires in the Margaret River region will be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Japan's Inpex concedes the cost estimate for its Ichthys liquefied natural gas project (LNG) in the Timor Sea needs to be updated after its joint venture partner flagged a 30 per cent blowout.

Shares in Gindalbie Metals and Royal Resources rose after the iron ore firms settled a project acquisition deal that had been held up by a legal claim.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson believes it is important to return the federal budget back to surplus so there's room for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut interest rates again if needed.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says tough cuts would not be needed in the federal government's mid-year budget review if Labor had not wasted billions of taxpayers' dollars.

Rio Tinto has maintained its faith in Chinese growth by raising its Pilbara iron ore production target, even though it admits customers are becoming increasingly cautious about the world economy.

The Australian dollar has opened slightly higher, on talk of a possible bailout solution for eurozone countries, after a week of increasing fears for the European currency.

Germany is facing mounting pressure to let the European Central Bank (ECB) save the euro, as reports surfaced of IMF contingency bailout planning for a remodelled Italy.

The Australian dollar is headed for its fourth consecutive week of declines as Europe's debt woes hit investor confidence.

Treasurer Wayne Swan may only need to do some modest tweaking to reach his promised budget surplus in 2012/13, the chief economist at the nation's biggest home lender says.

Sundance Resources' suitor Hanlong Mining has failed to secure a letter of confidence from China Development Bank for its $1.65 billion takeover of the iron ore explorer.

Telstra Corporation chief customer officer Gordon Ballantyne says the telco's plan to lift service standards and improve its standing among customers is on track.