AAP

Leighton Holdings and WorleyParsons say Libya remains off-limits for the foreseeable future in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi's killing, as uncertainty remains.

The Australian stock market closed marginally lower, as early gains were erased ahead of the European summit.

The possibility of an interest rate cut is off the table as inflation is not expected to ease significantly in the September quarter, economists say.

Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes' remuneration fell sharply in the last financial year after the retailer failed to meet its incentive targets.

A protester has tied himself to a communications tower near a proposed gas hub site in the Kimberley in a bid to stop survey work for the controversial Woodside Petroleum project.

Virgin Australia's proposed alliance with aviation powerhouse Singapore Airlines (SIA) has moved a step closer to fruition after regulators in Singapore gave the tie-up the green light.

Concerns about job security are at the heart of the Qantas industrial dispute and the onus is on the airline to resolve it, the Australian Council of Trade Unions says.

Farmers say new animal welfare arrangements for the Australian live export trade take a balanced approach.

Woodside Petroleum seems to be making progress with its stalled Sunrise project, saying its new chief executive Peter Coleman has held constructive talks with the East Timor government.

The Australian share market opened slightly higher after mixed overnight leads from the US and falls in base metals prices.

Engineering firm Monadelphous Group has signed new contracts with resources firms including Rio Tinto and Xstrata worth around $230 million.

The Australian dollar rose almost one US cent as traders position themselves in preparation for the weekend's crucial eurozone summit.

US stocks ended a choppy session mixed Thursday amid scepticism that European leaders will forge a deal on resolving the eurozone debt crisis in coming days.

Nickel miner Western Areas has reported a fall in first quarter nickel sales and prices, but stockpiles at its mines in Western Australia have grown and cash costs remain low.

The Australian dollar continued its slide closing at 101.55 US cents, down from 103.13 cents on Wednesday as progress seemed to slow on the Eurozone debt bail-out.

Leighton Holdings has hit out against a downgrade by ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) on the very day it secured a $1.2 billion rail contract in Hong Kong with a joint venture partner

The gap between Australia's weakest and strongest industries is greater than it has ever been, according to a business survey.

Federal Treasury says the government will have to think about boosting household assistance under its carbon price package if the world emissions price is higher than forecast in 2015.

The Indian prime minister's decision to skip a major Commonwealth summit in Perth has nothing to do with Labor's refusal to sell his country uranium, officials insist.

The Australian share market closed firmly in the red after a fall in commodities prices and as it became apparent a full resolution to the European debt crisis was not imminent.

Oil and gas producer Santos has increased third quarter sales revenue by 27 per cent and maintained full year production guidance.

The union representing Qantas engineers has called off all protected industrial action for three weeks.

Australia's Treasury chief has warned the world could be dragged into a second recession if Europe fails to deal with its debt problems.

Australian banks have little direct exposure to risky European government debt and are more resilient to turbulence in international markets, a senior central bank official says.

The federal government has appointed Peter Kell and Greg Tanzer as full-time commissioners to the corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Manganese miner OM Holdings' production fell in the three months to September and the company has forecast higher production in the final quarter of the year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says a new report by an international investor group justifies the government's plan to put a price on carbon and shows the risk posed by the coalition.

Australia remains among the top 20 of the world's easiest places to do business but has slipped in the rankings from a year ago, a new report shows.

Newcrest Mining has reported lower gold production in the September quarter but says it still expects to meet production and cost guidance.

The Australian share market opened one per cent lower today due to a weak lead from Wall Street and doubts about the prospects for an effective solution to Europe's debt woes.

The Australian dollar fell more than one US cent as data released overnight highlighted weak US economic conditions and as European officials prepare for their weekend summit.

US stocks fell sharply Wednesday after the Federal Reserve's "Beige Book" portrayed a still-weak economy in September, as big losses from tech stars Apple and Amazon pulled the Nasdaq down more tha