Latest Headlines

The Australian dollar is higher, on improved sentiment, and ahead of a meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia board next week.

Western Australia's biggest local stockbroker Patersons Securities has felt the chill winds from the tough equity markets, recording a loss of more than $5.1 million after revenue slumped 28 per ce

Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey took a $115,000 pay cut in the 2011/12 financial year after the retailer's profits plunged 32 per cent.

Australian government agencies are failing to enforce standards designed to ensure kangaroos are humanely killed, a report says.

The Business Council of Australia has joined a growing number of industry groups concerned that the federal government may tweak existing concessions to pay for a cut in the corporate tax rate.

Australian shares closed down for the week and had a almost flat day, with investors cautious after the Spanish government unveiled budget plans to slash its deficit.

The builder of the $37.4-billion national broadband network has committed to freezing the prices of its consumer and business products for five years.

Engineering contractor VDM Group has won $56 million in new contracts, including $42 million worth of new deals with the Queensland Department of Transport.

ANZ has been fined $US350,000 ($A336,619) by commodity regulators in the United States over its handling of wheat and cotton futures contracts.

Woolworths non-executive director and World Cup cricket organiser Ralph Waters has been elevated to the chairman's job after the surprise resignation of James Strong.

Perth-based Cortona Resources and Victoria's Unity Mining have announced a merger plan to create a gold miner with a market capitalisation of around $90 million.

The head of the former Centro Properties Group was paid $3 million in the final five months of the shopping centre owner's operation.

Quickstep has won a $US12 million ($A11.5 million) deal to manufacture carbon fibre wing flaps for Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft.

Homeowners can bank on at least one interest rate cut by the end of the year, and it's possible it could come on Tuesday.

Green mining technologies such as carbon capture will be a major industry in the future, Rio Tinto's Australian coal boss says.

Doray Minerals has launched a $30.8 million share placement in conjunction with a $12.2 million entitlements offer, ensuring its Andy Well gold development near Meekatharra is fully funded to produ

Shares in Sundance Resources have been placed in a trading halt ahead of an expected announcement from its Chinese suitor Hanlong Mining.

DuluxGroup has finally won over garage door maker Alesco Corporation in its long-running $210 million takeover battle.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Coles boss Ian McLeod remains the highest paid executive at conglomerate Wesfarmers, despite taking a slight pay cut last financial year.

US stock markets scored solid gains on Thursday amid speculation of additional stimulus measures from China and after Spain announced a 2013 austerity budget.

The Australian dollar has risen by more than half a US cent after the Chinese central bank made its biggest weekly cash injection into money markets.

Singapore's K-REIT Asia has snapped up a 50 per cent stake in Mirvac's Old Treasury Building development for $165 million.

Australian shares have closed higher, after an announcement of an economic stimulus program by the Chinese central bank boosted local market confidence.

Property developer Luke Saraceni has been ordered by the Supreme Court to transfer $1.3 million into a bank account held with Bankwest in the latest fallout from the Raine Square saga.

Skyrocketing population growth in Western Australia will add more pressure on new home building and result in further tightening in the state's rental market.

The Australian Labor Party is on track to meet its target of recruiting 8000 new members by the end of 2012, senior party figures say.

Former Compass Hotel Group chief executive Bryan Northcote has been charged with three counts relating to the breach of directors duties and submitting false and misleading documents to the Austral

Sharks that get too close to swimmers may be killed before they get a chance to attack, under the state government's response to an unprecedented spate of fatalities.

Darrell Lea chocolates will be on the shelves of IGA supermarkets by the end of October under the first deal signed by the chocolate maker's new owner.

PMI Gold Corporation has secured a $US30 million standby finance facility to boost its coffers at it finalises a comprehensive funding package for the development of the Obotan gold project in Ghan

The number of job vacancies in Australia has risen by 4.2 per cent, official statistics show.