Latest Headlines

Profits for the major banks will stagnate in 2013 and the weakening economy will cause a rise in bad debt charges, ratings agency Moody's says.

An unexpected fall in Australia's unemployment rate will lift confidence in the national economy.

The Australian market opened slightly higher after budget talks in Washington indicated that US politicians were willing to compromise to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff".

Troubled broadcaster Ten Network will cut an extra $35 million in costs and tap shareholders for $230 million in response to its recent poor performance.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has begun raising debt to help fund its Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Shares in Sundance Resources fell sharply after the Africa-focused iron ore hopeful came out of a trading halt, amid investor concerns about its on-again, off-gain takeover by China's Hanlong Resou

US stocks closed mostly higher on Wednesday after some upbeat data on the huge services sector, but market chatter about Apple's prospects sent it tumbling 6.4 per cent, weighing on the tech-rich N

Margaret River has been named Australia's favourite town for the second consecutive year.

The Australian dollar was almost three-quarters of a US cent higher after economic growth figures came in broadly as expected.

Woodside and Shell have acknowledged the significant strain placed on the families of fly-in, fly-out workers.

Port Hedland’s Walkabout Hotel is set to undergo a $20 million, three stage redevelopment, which will upgrade hotel facilities and provide budget accommodation targeting both the industrial and tou

Neptune Marine has signed a framework agreement to provide sub-sea engineering services for BP in the UK.

The number of Chinese visitors heading Down Under has outstripped the UK, making the Middle Kingdom Australia's second biggest market behind New Zealand.

Australian shares finished firmer as investors sought high-yielding bank stocks following this week's official interest rate cut.

 Mining has been banned around a prime tourist attraction in the west Kimberley, the Horizontal Falls, but it's unclear which miners will be affected.

Forge Group has bucked the trend of mining services providers downgrading expectations, forecasting a profit improvement in FY2013 of between 28 and 43 per cent.

The nation's largest cattle producer, Australian Agricultural Company is on track to post a 2.5 per cent increase in sales for the year.

Shop owners have received some good news ahead of Christmas, with data showing the retail services sector expanding for the first time in 12 months.

Rare earths miner Lynas is facing further court action against the operation of its new plant in Malaysia.

Mining giant AngloGold Ashanti and Independence Group have increased their resource estimate for their Tropicana gold joint venture by almost 1.5 million ounces.

 Treasurer Wayne Swan says the latest growth figures show the ongoing resilience of the Australian economy in the face of a difficult and volatile global environment.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with banking stocks among the better performers in early trade.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has rejected warnings by a former Reserve Bank governor that fiscal policy is going in the wrong direction.

US stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday as Washington continued to wrangle over a budget plan that would avoid the year-end "fiscal cliff."

Recent financial scandals make it clear the union movement must be more accountable.

It may have been ugly, but the bitterness that dominated federal parliament this year has set the tone for 2013.

Cheap energy in the US is hurting European manufacturers, as some local retailers struggle to counter online sales.

Local businesses wanting to tap into the resources sector have not missed their chance, but the future will not be as easy as it once was for contractors and suppliers to the big projects.

It’s often said that politics is theatre, but it seems two recent party leaders have missed their true calling.

BURATTI Fine Art is hosting the first Australian exhibition of 20th-century painter and poet, Aleister Crowley.

PERTH Theatre Trust chair Saliba Sassine has announced he will retire from his position at the end of his contract this year.

A NATIONAL microfinance group has announced plans to expand its presence in Western Australia following the receipt of a $300,000 grant from the state government.