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Engineering and construction firm Decmil Group has lodged a net profit increase of 79 per cent for the half year ended December 31, shrugging off a slowdown across some of its operations.

Reserve Bank of Australia board member Heather Ridout says a federal government plan to fund a work-boosting program for manufacturers by scrapping business tax concessions could hurt foreign inves

Transportable housing manufacturer Fleetwood has confirmed an 81 per cent fall in half year net profit.

One of Australia's biggest unions is to campaign for a national domestic gas reserve to make energy cheaper, boost manufacturing jobs and produce cleaner energy.

Engineering services company Calibre has lifted its first half profit by 12.3 per cent due on the back of continued new contract success.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is waiting to see how recent interest rate cuts flow through the economy before deciding if it needs to cut the cash rate further in 2013.

Beverage company Coca-Cola Amatil's annual profit has fallen by 22 per cent as it deals with weak consumer spending and the high Australian dollar.

If Australia was a shop, the owner has just hung out a sign saying “closed until after the election”, a point driven home by instability at the highest level of government, the latest ludicrous attempt to boost manufacturing, and more so because no-one in business has dared criticise the loopy plan.

Macmahon Holdings has rejected the latest takeover offer from Indian-owned firm Sembawang Australia, saying it was incapable of being practically implemented.

The Australian market has opened slightly lower as investors remain cautious ahead of Italy's general election.

Shares in Transfield Services have dived by more than six per cent after it warned it would have to make up to $285 million in asset writedowns.

Ports and rail operator Asciano has increased its first half profit by 74 per cent and forecast more earnings growth in the second half of the financial year.

Steel and mining group Arrium has fallen further into the red as the high Australian dollar and weak construction markets cause a massive writedown on its assets.

Shares in engineering construction firm Monadelphous have tumbled despite the group posting a record first half profit.

The Australian Greens will push for another inquiry into the mining tax to try to work out why the big resource giants aren't paying as much as expected.

Gold has moved lower, with volumes easing as US markets closed for the President's Day holiday, while a lower euro and flat European shares also hurt investor interest.

Drilling fluids and services firm Imdex has reported a 27 per cent drop in half year net profit, a result it says reflects challenging market conditions in the minerals sector.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent lower after a meeting of G20 finance ministers helped fuel a continued sell-off in the Japanese yen.

Struggling vanadium miner Atlantic has 45 business days to replenish an interest reserve account or reach agreement to reduce its minimum holding, after it breached a covenant on its $US335 million

Mark McGowan has committed to expand Henderson's Australian Marine Complex into one of the nation's largest technology parks if Labor is successful in next month's state election.

Car parts retailer and logistics group Automotive Holdings has lifted its first half profit by a quarter and predicted a solid finish to the financial year.

The Australian share market has closed higher, led by the major banks.

Western Australia's financial ratings outlook remains negative, because of the boom state's mounting debt, as it spends big on infrastructure for a growing population and resources sector.

Engineering and construction group Clough is tipping a bumper year ahead after announcing a 139 per cent increase in net profit for the half year to December 31.

Australian small businesses face tough conditions and finished 2012 on a pessimistic note despite a series of interest rate cuts.

Engineering, mining services and construction outfit Forge Group has exceeded its own expectations by delivering a 60 per cent increase in half-year net profit.

Union boss Paul Howes says Australia does not have a carbon tax - it has a fixed price on carbon.

Builder and developer Lend Lease has increased its first half profit by 39 per cent.

Private health insurer nib says its first half net profit has dropped, due to higher than forecast claims costs.

Clothing retailer Pacific Brands has returned to profitability, but says sales are weak and will remain so in the coming months.

The number of bureaucrats in Australia has dropped for the first time in more than a decade, a new analysis of jobs data shows.