AAP

The Australian dollar was higher this morning, on the back of encouraging Australian investment data and a higher oil price.

WA in $400m GST windfall – The West; Voelte expects a quick exit – The Aus; Mining services results reinforce recovery signs – The West; Defence buoys Austal – the West; Searipple spoils a good result – The Fin

Mineral sands producer Iluka Resources' share price shot up after the company reported a full year net profit 50 per cent above market expectations.

Festering concerns about violence in the Middle East caused jitters in the US stock market Thursday, with the major indexes closing the day mixed.

A stronger Australian dollar saw Centro Properties Group's first half net profit surge to $553 million, but wasn't enough to prevent a company restructure prompted by its heavy debt burden.

Africa-focused coal miner and Rio Tinto takeover target Riversdale Mining has reported a first half net loss and lower output, but says demand for its product is strong.

The Australian dollar finished higher today after a projected resurgence of business investment raised expectations for an interest rate rise by mid-year.

Cameron Mansell, the man accused of murdering Perth millionaire Craig Puddy, is to stand trial in the West Australian Supreme Court in September.

The Australian stock market closed in the red for the fourth consecutive day as profit takers outnumbered opportunistic investors amid escalating tensions in Libya.

Engineering services firm RCR Tomlinson has boosted its first half net profit slightly on the back of the mining boom and says a large backlog of projects will boost growth this year.

Using natural gas to generate power and fuel buses is a better way to reduce carbon emissions than falsely assuming a carbon tax will cut energy use, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says.

Rio Tinto has been granted a three-month extension of its exploration tenure at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea while it thrashes out a development plan with the West African nation's government.

There is growing concern about new and controversial police powers for October's Commonwealth summit in Perth.

Offshore petroleum operators will be hit with three new levies as the government moves to make them pay for their own safety inspections.

Japan's JFE Steel has rejected BHP Billiton's proposal for monthly pricing for coking coal, rather than the quarterly pricing arrangement that was introduced last year, according to reports.

Australia will put a price on carbon emissions from mid next year, but Prime Minister Julia Gillard has released no details on how the price will work or how it will affect businesses.

The federal opposition has accused the Gillard government of incompetence, citing reports Labor's modified mining tax will sacrifice $100 billion over the next decade.

The Australian stock market opened lower after world equity markets slumped as investors worried about higher oil prices due to violent unrest in Libya.

Gold rose to its highest in more than seven weeks on Wednesday, closing in on record highs as escalating unrest in Libya and soaring crude oil prices fueled fears of inflation and a stalled global economic recovery.

The Australian dollar was slightly lower as political uncertainty in Libya continues to sour market sentiment and drive commodities currencies lower.

Wall Street stocks fell for a second straight day after clashes in Libya sent oil prices to two-year highs and technology giant Hewlett-Packard said its revenue growth was slowing.

Wesfarmers $500m boost to nitrate plant – The Aus; Perth CBD office tower repossessed – The Fin; Utility urges steep WA gas price rise – The Fin; WAN plunges after resumption – The West; Goodman exits Vmoto averting shareholder vote – The West

Rio Tinto says it has received a binding offer from French mineral conglomerate Imersys to buy the mining giant's global talc business for $US340 million ($A341.28 million).

Mining driller Boart Longyear returned to profitability in 2010 but said it was worried about growing labour shortages, which could affect its ability to deliver projects on time.

David Jones is expecting to post second half profit growth at the lower end of its guidance of between five and 10 per cent amid what it says is a challenging retail environment.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes the world economic growth outlook has improved, but he's also warned that oil prices will rise as a result of instability in the Middle East and north Africa.

The Australian dollar closed flat as value seeking traders helped it claw back losses made over the past 24 hours.

Engineering giant WorleyParsons says it expects higher full year earnings after a dip in first half net profit due to the strong Australian dollar and tight margins.

The Australian share market closed marginally in the red after opportunistic investors looked past increasing tensions throughout the Middle East.

A ban preventing Magellan Metals from transporting lead from its Wiluna mine site to the port of Fremantle has been lifted by the West Australian government.

Ten Network Holdings shareholder Lachlan Murdoch has been appointed acting chief executive of the television broadcaster, the company says.

Engineering giant WorleyParsons says it's evacuating staff from Libya amid bloody unrest as anti-government sentiment runs high.