AAP

Gold rose one per cent to a record and silver soared on Friday, as inflation worries amid a crude oil rally and a downgrade of Ireland's sovereign debt powered bullion to its fifth consecutive weekly gain.

Food giants join war on carbon tax – The Aus; Labor hits 15-year low in latest poll – The West; WA power revamp on cards – The Fin; Lynas investors cry foul over Forge sale – The West; Skywest rocked as chief resigns – The West

The skills shortage re-emerged in the March quarter as the rebuilding effort after a string of natural disasters led to demand for skilled labour outstripping supply.

The Australian dollar has opened stronger, as the market awaits minutes from the central bank's April board meeting due on Tuesday.

The US stock market rose on Friday as US inflation data showed prices rising in line with traders' expectations, but tech stocks were slowed by disappointing Google earnings.

West Australian Treasurer Christian Porter claims Victoria "is making a killing" off the back of his state's strong mining industry.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says next month's budget will be just as difficult as the other three he has handled.

Three former Federal Court judges have been hauled out of retirement to hear an appeal in Australia's longest-running court case, involving a consortium of banks and the Bell Group, once controlled by fallen tycoon Alan Bond.

The Australian stock market fell, to record the first weekly decline after three weeks of gains, as the prospect of further interest rate hikes in China saw investors err on the side of caution.

Manganese miner OM Holdings has returned fire after its biggest shareholder said it would take legal action to try and stop plans for a $500 million share raising.

Africa-focused uranium miner Paladin Energy says it expects production at the lower end of its forecast range for this financial year due to abnormal rainfall its mine in Namibia and a diesel shortage at its Malawi mine site.

West Australia's energy safety regulator will not prosecute electricity infrastructure operator Western Power over the 2009 Toodyay bushfire.

Steel should be exempt from Labor's proposed carbon tax, Australia's biggest manufacturing union says.

West Australians will find it harder to dodge jury duty under new legislation passed by parliament which slashes the number of people automatically exempt.

Building materials supplier Boral will increase its exposure to the Queensland mining and resources sector with a $173 million acquisition and says growth in Western Australia is also likely.

National Australia Bank's payments system failed to process thousands of transactions overnight, with the bank on Friday advising all financial institutions and customers of processing delays.

Rio Tinto chairman Jan du Plessis has warned shareholders that world markets remain fragile, despite many economies having recovered from the financial crisis.

Key union supporters of the federal government have expressed concern about the potential impact of a carbon price on jobs.

The Australian Stock market has opened flat after receiving weak mixed leads from offshore, while oil and gold pushed higher overnight.

Financial stocks fell broadly on Thursday, left out of a late lift that pared earlier losses for most major stock indices.

The Australian dollar has opened higher, as investors lose interest in buying the US currency.

Oakajee fears carbon tax – The Aus; Green power forcing prices up – The Aus; Regent revives $345m BC bid – The West; Forrest to fight for name – The Fin; King warns of NBN blowouts – The Fin

Scientists and technicians in white coats have emerged from their labs to attend a rally in Perth to urge the federal government not to cut medical research funding.

Oil and gas producer Nexus Energy says it has raised $57 million from institutional shareholders who took up a renounceable entitlement offer at 40 cents per new share.

The number of people unemployed for less than 12 months has fallen by 52,100 over the past year, but the number unemployed for more than a year - the so-called long-term unemployed - has risen by 12,500.

ROC Oil Company says it's focused on expanding in China, entering Malaysia, and selling its African assets and stake in the troubled Basker-Manta-Gummy (BMG) project offshore Victoria.

Australian stocks finished weaker amid broad-based declines led by the industrials and materials sectors.

There has been another change on Ten Network Holdings Ltd's board, with long-time director Peter Viner stepping down next month.

The international economic environment remains volatile but longer-term prospects for the Asian region are strong, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

One of Australia's leading carbon sink companies says there needs to be better regulation of the offset market so dodgy operators can't claim to be tackling climate change when they're not.

Mongolian-focused Xanadu Mines has finalised the terms of an alliance with Noble Group that will give the Hong Kong-based commodities trading house a 9.9 per cent stake in the minerals explorer.

The Australian market has opened softer despite positive leads from offshore indices as investors move away from miners towards more defensive stocks.