AAP

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he will congratulate Wayne Swan if the federal treasurer delivers his promised budget surplus.But only after he falls over with surprise.

The future of shopping centre owner Centro remains uncertain, with no sign of when a court will deliver its verdict on the company's restructure plans.

Capital expenditure figures point to a strong economy boosted by the mining sector, economists say.

The federal coalition has warned Labor could revisit the possibility of a live export ban, saying it should send a shiver through every Australian cattle producer.

Australia's largest rare earths miner Lynas Corporation says prices for rare earths have fallen in recent months, which is a healthy development for the industry.

BHP Billiton could sell some or all of its Canadian diamond mining interests, if that's what a review of the operations recommends.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is defending the growth forecasts in the federal government's mid-year budget review despite his own warnings of dark clouds looming overseas.

The Australian share market has opened weaker with falls in the resources and banking sectors.

The Australian dollar continues to rise - and is now above parity, as investors look to strong US data.

American Airlines' filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection tempered upward momentum in US markets on Tuesday, with the major indexes finishing above the neutral line.

The Australian dollar was more than a full US cent higher today, bouncing from its intraday lows as Asian equities and US equity futures rose.

Thousands of workers have marched through central Perth threatening to picket US oil and gas giant Chevron until it pledges to provide more local jobs and training. (Click through for video)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will chair the first meeting of a new manufacturing task force tomorrow, as new figures indicate the dire state of the sector.

Overcrowding and privatisation of Western Australian jails is costing taxpayers money and endangering prison staff, according to unions.

Australian shares rose one per cent in the second consecutive day of gains as financial and real estate companies led the market higher.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion says he would be concerned if a manager who approved a prescribed burn that became a destructive bushfire was not stood aside.

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.