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Resource companies operating in West Africa have been angered by the rise in resource nationalism.

Australian stocks finished slightly weaker today, with the market lacking direction despite an unexpected fall in Australia's unemployment rate.

John Holland has been confirmed as the managing contractor for completion of the $1.2 billion New Children's Hospital in Nedlands.

A massive barge that has been grounded off the Western Australian coast for a week is not seriously damaged, but is still stranded on a limestone reef near Cervantes.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia has a resilient economy but its future is not assured without further reform.

Virgin Australia has won approval from Singapore's corporate regulator to take over regional airline Skywest as it makes a push into budget air travel.

The receiver of the ailing food manufacturer behind the iconic Rosella brand says he's confident the business will be able to continue trading as the hunt for a buyer continues.

High domestic petrol prices are being influenced by international trends rather than price gouging by local fuel retailers, the competition watchdog says.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan has criticised increases in senior Western Australian bureaucrats' salary packages during the Liberal-National government's first term in office, describing them as “

Chevron has confirmed a major cost blowout at its Gorgon liquefied natural gas development off the Western Australian coast, but it is not as large as speculated.

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.