Financial Services

Homeowners looking to refinance their mortgage to secure a better deal could struggle to find a new lender because house prices have fallen and the loan could be more than the home's value.

Development giant Mirvac has been selected as the state government’s preferred proponent to commence a $1.5 billion redevelopment of Karratha, including a new town centre and a 1,500-dwelling coast

Australia's central bank will provide a facility to ensure commercial banks have enough cash in times of financial crisis.

Australian shares opened slightly higher due to a positive lead from the US, but enthusiasm was subdued with the focus remaining on Europe's debt problems.

The Australian dollar was slightly higher as the increased cost of borrowing for European governments weighed on market sentiment.

A bit of positive data on the US economy gave stocks a boost on Tuesday, as traders brushed off new figures showing stalling European economic growth.

Australia's middle-ranked miners are sitting on a $7.6 billion cash mountain after tapping shareholders for funds, leaving them better placed to weather the volatile share market.

Fund manager Perpetual has allocated a fifth of its resources portfolio to offshore investments as it seeks attractively priced stocks amid global volatility and uncertainty.

The Australian dollar fell more than one US cent even though the central bank gave no direct hints on the future path of interest rates, which the market expects will be cut in December.

Consumer worries about interest rates have been overtaken by concerns about the impact of the carbon tax and utility costs on household finances.

Australian shares closed half a per cent weaker amid renewed worries about European debt.

The federal government's move to lift a ban on uranium sales to India has boosted uranium stocks, but share prices are still well below the levels before the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

A leading business lobby group has urged the federal government not to increase taxes to achieve its budget surplus, as Labor looks for ways to make up for falling revenues.

Premier Colin Barnett says China will play hardball over joining the Oakajee port and rail project but he is optimistic it will go ahead.

Businesses that incorrectly attribute price rises to carbon pricing are being scrutinised by the competition watchdog.

Small business trading conditions and confidence have continued to deteriorate against the backdrop of an escalating European debt crisis, and weak consumer confidence and spending, a new survey sh

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has not given any indication that it will cut interest rates again in the coming months.

Australian stocks have opened lower, as investors followed the lead set in offshore markets during the overnight session.

Gold fell on Monday as the US dollar strengthened, tracking riskier assets as investors once again focused on the huge euro zone sovereign debt problems following initial optimism surrounding new g

US stocks fell Monday as wary markets kept an eye on political changes in Greece and Italy aimed at tackling the eurozone debt crisis.

Stocks in Perth-based biotech pSivida have halved in value after the United States Food and Drug Administration declined to approve its treatment for back-of-the-eye problems associated with diabet

Resources giant BHP Billiton says it will spend billions of dollars ramping up shale gas production in the United States this decade.

Former Hogan and Partners stockbroker Jonathan Kur has been charged with fraud after an 18-month investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Australian shares closed marginally higher as investors remained cautious despite changes of leadership in Italy and Greece.

Fertiliser and explosives maker Incitec Pivot has increased full year profit 13 per cent and says 2012 will be a transition year as it seeks to expand the Asia-Pacific explosives business.

The majority of Australian women reaching retirement have no superannuation savings behind them, the Minister for Employment Participation says.

Elders has posted a $395.4 million annual loss but said its underlying performance had improved and forecast an improved performance for the current fiscal year.

Petrol prices have fallen to a 10-week low and one economist is tipping cheaper fuel in the weeks ahead.

Uranium miner Paladin Energy has posted a much bigger net loss for the September quarter than a year earlier after booking an impairment charge for its Kayelekera mine in Malawi.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce is hopeful the airline will reach contract agreements with workers by next Monday's deadline.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman says the state’s grain industry has received a significant boost with a new consignment of wheat exports to Saudi Arabia.

New cost-of-living data shows this is not the time to be imposing new taxes on households, federal opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says.