Monthly trade figures usually prompt talk of coal, iron ore and the like, but this focus on minerals is a distraction from another important element of the trade data.
Seven Group says the current uncertainty in global markets may prompt the media and earthmoving equipment company to consider further impairment charges on its investments.
Australian shares gained more than one per cent with local investors encouraged by Wall Street's overnight rise on news Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would resign.
US stock markets scored robust gains Tuesday after the embattled Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said he would resign after austerity measures are approved.
The Australian share market closed firmer after a positive US lead but trading volumes were low as investors sat on the sidelines as anxiety over eurozone debt continued.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia expects subdued credit growth to continue into next year, and says gains in productivity will drive improvements in its performance.
Australian stocks have opened firmer, with the gold and metals and minerals sectors leading the broader market higher after a positive lead from Wall Street.
US stocks jumped strongly in the last two hours of trade Monday to finish in the green after a day spent mostly in the loss zone under more clouds from the eurozone crisis.
Privately-owned engineering and contracting company Calibre Global has announced its fifth acquisiton in the past two years, with the purchase of Melbourne-based infrastructure servi
Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group will become the eighth Western Australian company included in Standard & Poor’s ASX 100 index when trade resumes on Monday.
Resources giant Rio Tinto says it's comfortable with its dependence on China but warns that investors have become more apprehensive about investing in Australia.
The Australian share market ended the week on a high note after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said plans to put a European financial rescue plan to a referendum may be abandoned.
The federal government is doggedly sticking to its plan to bring the budget back to surplus in 2012/13, despite new Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) forecasts suggesting revenues will be somewhat lo
Australia must not get involved in the eurozone bailout unless Europe does all it can to get its own house in order, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
