AAP

Australia's number two telco Optus says it has posted a resilient third-quarter result where net profit rose four per cent and operating revenue increased two per cent.

The Australian share market opened higher this morning after the Greek parliament agreed to an austerity package needed to obtain bailout funds for the debt-laden country.

Leighton Holdings says its first-half profits have jumped 57 per cent and that it's well-positioned for 2012.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in almost two weeks as the Greek parliament debates legislation that would enable the euro-zone nation to avoid a default on its debt.

A five-week streak of gains on US markets ended on Friday after revived worries that Greece will default on its huge mountain of debt sent stocks falling.

The central bank's decision to lower its forecasts for inflation and growth shows the nation's economy is rock solid despite headwinds from Europe, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

The euro zone debt crisis is deterring some investors from funding small companies in the gold sector, says gold project developer Aphrodite Gold.

The Australian dollar has fallen one US cent after the central bank lowered its inflation forecast and Greece's moves to avoid a default on its debt suffered another setback.

The Australian share market closed lower as investors pondered possible weakening in the resources sector, a hold on interest rates this week, a soaring Aussie dollar and Greece's debt crisis.

The federal government expects to raise about $3 billion from the renewal of spectrum licences for mobile phone and wireless broadband services held by Australia's three main telecommunications gro

Former Perth fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal is facing a contempt of court charge for allegedly releasing confidential information to the press about the receivers appointed to Burrup Fertilisers.

James Hardie will receive more than $300 million after winning a legal dispute with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The Australian Football League has filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court after losing a court battle to prevent Optus offering its TV Now service.

ANZ Banking Group has raised its variable interest rates for retail mortgages and small business loans by 0.06 per cent.

The federal opposition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan explain a potential $4 billion black hole in its mining tax that is due to start in July.

Banks clawed back margins on home loans in late 2011 with average interest rates on new variable mortgages declining by less than the overnight cash rate, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says.

Australia's top diplomat has expressed frustration with the slow progress of free trade talks with China, suggesting there is unlikely to be a deal for many years to come.

Julia Gillard likes to talk about the patchwork economy, but it's the patchwork electorate that is Labor's biggest worry.

The Reserve Bank of Australia appears to be losing its faith that the commodity price boom will push the economy into overdrive.

Lachlan Murdoch has been appointed chairman of the Ten Network.

The Australian share market has opened slightly stronger despite a slump in net profits by mining giant Rio Tinto.

Newcrest Mining has forecast a continuing strength in the gold price after reporting a record high first half profit, driven by stronger gold, silver and copper sales.

The US stock market finally got a deal in Greece, but it didn't produce much of a rally.

Thousands of miners from several of BHP Billiton's central Queensland coal mines are planning a seven-day strike from next week.

The Australian dollar was marginally lower after economic data showed Chinese inflation at its highest level in three months.

Rio Tinto has booked a 59 per cent slump in full year net profit due mainly to a writedown of its aluminium business, but underlying earnings jumped eleven per cent.

The Australian share market closed slightly lower as investors mulled over mixed earnings results, the ongoing Greek debt crisis and whether or not China would cut its interest rates.

Western Australia's ailing utility Western Power will look globally for a new managing director following the retirement of its boss.

Telstra Corporation signed up more than a million new customers in the first half of its financial year, giving a hefty lift to its profit.

Qantas will inspect its fleet of Airbus A380s for cracks on its wings following a European directive, but the engineers' union says it should have happened months ago.

Gold explorer Westgold Resources has moved to secure up to $80 million in debt funding to help pay for development of its Central Murchison project in Western Australia.