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US stocks have risen amid a mixed bag of earnings reports, as investors punished underperforming companies while bidding the overall market higher.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as traders take profits after the currency's three-week rally.

Weak performance in emerging economies is causing a world economic slowdown this year, but the advanced economies should step it up next year.

The state government has changed a key aspect of its metropolitan freight strategy, scrapping one of three rail projects designed to reduce the number of freight trucks servicing Fremantle harbour.

Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski says he remains wary about floating LNG technology but nonetheless predicts it will become more commonplace unless the costs of onshore developments are reduced.

Australian shares have finished higher, driven by strong gains among the big banks.

Rare earths explorer Northern Minerals struck a 50 per cent offtake agreement with Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation last December – but it was nine months before the deal was announced. The timeframe is indicative of the measured approach taken by the Japanese, according to Northern Minerals managing director George Bauk.

Chinese interest in Australian property and resources may be in the spotlight, but Japan still has a significant foothold, particularly in WA.

John Hughes has convinced a lot of people to buy his cars over the years, but will investors be similarly enthused about his plan to float the business?

Non-mining investment is at levels not seen since the 1990s recession but a falling Australian dollar, low interest rates and improving business confidence should turn things around.

Northern Star Resources has announced that director Michael Fotios has resigned from the company's board and will take up a position as a consultant to the gold miner.

BC Iron has appointed former BHP Billiton executive Peter Wilshaw as a non-executive director.

ERM Power says it will seek to recover legal costs paid by Empire Oil & Gas for its directors' personal legal actions against shareholders as a showdown between the two companies looms at a general meeting next month.

Newcrest Mining's chairman and chief executive have told shareholders they acknowledge how disappointed they are with the company's performance and are taking action.

The federal government has announced the first stage of its promised sell-off of Medibank Private, saying a scoping study will be completed by the end of February 2014.

New laws to repeal Labor's mining tax could save the federal government $13 billion over the next four years, as it also plans to scrap a range of measures designed to assist small business and families.

Up to 100 hospital support staff will walk off the job at one of Perth's major hospitals on Thursday to protest against potential job losses.

Australian shares are firmer as stronger demand for banking stocks offsets losses across the resources sector.

Wesfarmers has reported generally positive quarterly sales results from its retail businesses, with Bunnings achieving the most rapid growth while Coles' supermarkets and liquor stores lifted turno

Perth-based miner Mirabela Nickel has been hit with a 'selective default' rating following a missed interest payment.

Oil prices have declined after a US oil inventory report showed a surprisingly large build in crude supplies.

While many business owners understand the importance of customer loyalty, not all know how to get it.

US stocks have ended lower, a decline that analysts have attributed to a mix of profit-taking and a couple of prominent earnings disappointments.

The Australian dollar is lower amid concerns about an apparent increase in bad debt in China.

If managed effectively, businesses can emerge from a downturn stronger for the experience.

A major reform package for Western Australia’s ports will take away the entitlement of major port customers to a seat on the port authority boards, and allow the ports to operate 24 hours a day.

Point-of-sale financing solutions group ThinkSmart has entered into a trading agreement with a division of Europe's largest home improvement retail group, Kingfisher, for an innovative gas boiler product.

The perks of the mining boom are not translating to areas where the workers live, a Perth study has revealed.

Australian shares have fallen for the first time in seven trading sessions following a jump in China's money market rate.

Chevron is one of five petroleum companies to have been awarded new exploration permits in the federal government's latest round of offshore acreage release.

Shell Australia boss Andrew Smith has defended his company's decision to walk away from an onshore gas development at James Price Point at an at-times heated parliamentary committee inquiry.

Premier Colin Barnett says there is no link between Perth Glory boss Tony Sage donating $25,000 to the Nationals and the club receiving compensation over the refurbishment of nib Stadium.