AAP

The consumer group Choice says a supermarket ombudsman would help decide whether milk at $1 a litre was helping or harming customers.

Frank Lowy is handing the day-to-day control of shopping centre giant Westfield Group to his sons, just over 50 years since he co-founded the company in Sydney's western suburbs.

Filipino workers paid "slave labour" rates on the North West Shelf could be entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in back pay, the Australian Workers Union says.

Local councils, including Melville and Swan, were duped by Lehman Brothers Australia into thinking they were buying safe investments, the Federal Court has heard at the start of a landmark $250 million lawsuit.

Passengers on cruise ships passing through West Australian waters will now be able to gamble on board after the state government lifted a ban on casino gaming at sea.

Australia's economic growth remains "impressive" despite a backdrop of wild weather and weak economies abroad, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

Consolidated Media boss James Packer has resigned from the board of Ten Network Holdings, effective immediately.

The Australian sharemarket has opened lower following negative leads from Wall St overnight and continuing tensions in the Middle East.

Consultants Access Economics and professional services firm Deloitte have joined forces to create an economics advisory practice to be known as Deloitte Access Economics.

Murchison Metals shares have been placed in a trading halt as the miner waits to see if the West Australian government will grant an extension to its stalled Oakajee port and rail development.

Zinc, copper and nickel miner Kagara has failed in its $14.3 million takeover bid for explorer Copper Strike.

The Australian dollar was lower this morning, after a poor night on US shares and fresh worries about the health of the North American economy.

Heat is on Murchison over $6b Oakajee fear – The West; Lundin boss doubts the benefits of deal – The Aus; 'War' declared in high-rise battle – The West; Council losses mount – The Fin; Ferngrove scores capital coup – The West

US stocks dropped sharply on Tuesday after Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke warned that high oil prices could spark inflation and stall the country's economic recovery.

The big supermarkets' push for a larger bite of grocery sales through home-brand items has the potential to devastate small local farms, one expert says.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has called on the federal government to consider making natural gas exempt from a carbon tax.

Subiaco-based Venture Minerals says it will cost $162 million to develop its Mt Lindsay tin and tungsten project in northwest Tasmania.

The Australian share market closed flat after profit-taking eroded earlier gains on the information technology and materials sectors.

Former West Australian cabinet minister Norm Marlborough choked back tears outside court after hearing his conviction of giving false evidence to the state's corruption watchdog had been quashed.

Angry investors have lambasted Neptune Marine Services for proposing a dilution of their shareholdings via a capital raising of up to $80.6 million under plans to return the ailing company to growth.

The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised no one by leaving the cash rate unchanged on Tuesday, but economists expect rate rises in the near future.

January retail trade figures were better than expected, helped by a rise in food sales and a recovery in department store sales, economists say.

Federal Labor MPs have joined the opposition, the Australian Greens and independent members in voicing concerns about the milk price war being waged by major supermarkets.

Centro Properties Group has confirmed it will sell all its United States assets and look to merge all Centro properties into one fund as part of a restructure aimed at returning value to shareholders.

Borrowers are likely to face two interest rate increases this year, but an imminent move is extremely unlikely given the impact of this summer's natural disasters.

Australian manufacturing began to expand in February for the first time since August last year, a private survey shows.

More than 20,000 residents in Perth's north and east remain without power after a severe thunderstorm brought down powerlines and trees, and tore off roofs.

The Australian sharemarket has opened higher with a positive lead from overseas and commodity markets buoying local resource and financial stocks.

Stabilising oil prices and signs that the US economy may be improving pushed stock indices higher on Monday.

The Australian dollar has opened slightly higher following a battery of mixed US data overnight.

Rio rejects Forrest's boast over rail access – The Aus; Rivals see two sets of results – The Fin; Independent grocers join milk price war – The West; Union boss softens on shop hours – The West; Oswal's 'ego' behind fight for jet – The West

The Australian sharemarket closed flat after corporate reports from the tail end of the earnings season failed to inspire investors, who remained concerned about Middle East turmoil.