AAP

Qantas Airways says it will increase the use of wide-bodied aircraft and pour an additional 15 per cent capacity on the key business routes between Perth and Australia's east coast capitals.

Skilled job vacancies fell by 1.2 per cent in February compared to a month earlier, while over the year Western Australia was the only state to record an increase, national data shows.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is refusing to make any changes to Labor's planned mining tax, despite Treasury figures showing the modified version will collect $60 billion less in revenue.

Westfield Group has reported a $1.1 billion profit for the year to December 2010, compared with a loss of $457.8 million in the prior corresponding period, the Sydney-based group said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Australian sharemarket has opened lower following negative leads from offshore trading as Wall Street finished lower on all major indices.

BHP Billiton has reported net profit of $US10.524 billion ($A10.51 billion) in the first half of financial year 2011, and says it is confident of the outlook for commodities as emerging markets continue to drive growth.

The Australian dollar has weakened this morning on expectations that China may soon tighten policy to rein in inflation.

Rewards Group rescue hit by last minute hitch – The West; Mining tax to fall $60bn short – The Fin; Howes declares war on Rio Tinto – The Aus; Soaring nickel price fails to prevent Mincor loss – The West; APP takes reins at Pilbara's Gap Ridge – The West

US stocks slipped on Tuesday as investors mulled mixed signals on the economy, including a disappointing retail sales report and stronger-than-expected growth in manufacturing activity in the New York region.

The Australian dollar ended the session slightly lower, but got some support after the release of the central bank's minutes of its February board meeting.

Aspiring tungsten producer Hazelwood Resources says its deposit in Western Australia will begin production in 2013.

The federal government has dismissed suggestions wireless technology is a threat to the national broadband network as Telstra plans to boost mobile internet speeds.

The Australian share market finished flat after trading in a tight range throughout the session, with the materials sector edging marginally higher but financial stocks losing ground.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says an agreement over a $30 billion gas hub north of Broome is in reach after a Federal Court ruling removed a "spoiler element" from negotiations.

Mining giant Rio Tinto is the target of an aggressive Australian Workers' Union push for dominance of the aluminium and glass industries.

Engineering services firm Cardno has reported a record first half net profit but has predicted a weaker second half due to a lower workload on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Forge Group says it's targeting annual revenue of $500 million, after reporting a 43 per cent rise in first half net profit.

BC Iron says a media report claiming its second largest shareholder, Regent Pacific, had sealed a takeover deal with the iron ore miner before it was announced to the market is "highly misleading".

Foster's Group says cooler, wet weather has hurt the beer market in Australia, but a fall in beer sales is expected to moderate in the second half.

Brambles posted a six per cent rise in first half profit that missed market expectations, prompting the shares to dip in early trade.

Shares in Glory Resources rose after the junior minerals explorer acquired some landholdings from Rio Tinto in Canada that are prospective for platinum group metals, copper and nickel.

Western Australia's beaches are the most polluted in the nation with an average of nearly 1100 items of rubbish per site, Clean Up Australia's 2010 Rubbish Report has found.

Mermaid Marine Australia has reported a small jump in first half profit and predicts a stronger second half performance.

Westpac Banking Corporation chief executive Gail Kelly says business credit demand is likely to pick up in the second half of fiscal 2011, and could rebound quite quickly.

Australand Property Group has forecast earnings to grow by at least five per cent in 2011 after returning to profitability in 2010 and says the outlook for residential, industrial and office sectors remains positive.

The Australian share market was lower in opening trade today, following a flat performance by Wall Street overnight.

Paladin Energy has increased its first half net loss by 55 per cent to $US29.5 million ($A29.5 million) as the uranium producer revised down its production forecast.

The Australian dollar was lower this morning as investors awaited Chinese inflation data.

Energy regulator gets green light, but WA dissents–The Fin; Court action likely to revolve around Oswal–The Aus; GDI buys premier Perth office tower for $152m–The West; Thais in Timor Sea return bid–The Fin; Paladin loss widens on finance costs-The Fin

US stocks have drifted higher as traders digested a flurry of merger and acquisition deals and an analyst downgrade of Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer.

Atlas Iron has declared its off-market takeover offer for Giralia Resources unconditional and says it will accelerate payments to shareholders who accept the offer.

The rising use of wireless technology could pose a risk to the national broadband network, a report commissioned by the Gillard government says.