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It's a long walk from Perth to Paris, but Australia took two more steps on the road to Europe last week thanks to politicians playing personal popularity games.

Mining and rail equipment manufacturer Bradken says its first-half profit is up 65 per cent and its full-year expectations remain unchanged.

The Australian share market market has opened flat as investors await the release of the Reserve Bank's interest rate decision and news from Greece and local earnings reports.

Banks say they may not be able pass on any interest rate cut the Reserve Bank of Australia makes today.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, as it continues to trade on strong US data.

Miners dragged Britain's top share index lower on Monday, after doubt surfaced about Glencore's potential merger with Xstrata, while banks waned in the absence of a debt deal for Greece.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources says it is on track to begin full production at its Mt Magnet mine in March.Shares in Ramelius finished up 2.5 cents, or 2.25 per cent, at $1.135.

The federal government is intensifying pressure on the coalition over its stance on funding for the ailing automotive manufacturing industry.

Software provider ISS Group has inked a three-year deal with iron ore miner and existing client Fortescue Metals Group.

Perth-based advertising group The Brand Agency has acquired the Western Australian office of specialist digital agency Market United, which was part of the ASX-listed company Q Ltd.

Central Petroleum has completed a $9.9 million capital raising to continue exploration efforts at its Amadeus Basin oil and gas prospects in the Northern Territory.

Sales expectations among businesses for the June quarter are at their highest level in eight years, a private sector survey shows.

Motorists can expect to see petrol prices fall by up to three cents a litre in the next fortnight, after fuel peaked last week, an economist says.

The Australian share market market has closed higher after better than expected US jobs figures boosted global sentiment for equities.

Chief executive Chris Ryan is the latest departure from wealth manager Perpetual, after clashing with its board over strategy.

Former Brockman Resources and BHP Billiton executive Wayne Richards has been appointed managing director of IronClad Mining.

Monadelphous has sold its stake in fellow engineering, construction and contracting company Norfolk Group for $24.4 million, reaping a tidy profit in the process.

Consumer prices rose in January, as the cost of utilities and transport increased.

Industrial services company Spotless has given in to shareholder demands and will allow its private equity suitor to cast its eye over the Spotless business.

Dairy farmers have accused the federal government of having no regard for their future, despite two major Senate inquiries into the supermarket milk price wars.

Warren Buffet-backed Canadian company Sterling Crane has acquired Western Australian business Freo Group and its Queensland subsidiary Global Crane in a deal likely to be worth about $160 million.

Labor can win an election in 2013 if it delivers its plans for reshaping the economy, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.But it will take a lot of hard work.

Time Warner subsidiary Home Box Office has announced it will take a strategic stake in Perth-based online DVD rental and content streaming business Quickflix for $10 million.

The big banks should fully pass on any rate cut by the central bank to help improve consumer and corporate confidence, a business lobby group says.

Retail sales figures for December were poor but a rebound is expected once the full affect of recent interest rate cuts sinks in, economists say.

Job advertisements have posted their largest monthly rise since February 2010, a private survey shows.

Open pit mining is set to commence at Gindalbie's $2.57 billion Karara iron ore project in the Mid West, after Downer EDI signed a $570 million mining services contract.

Australian shares have opened almost 1.5 per cent higher after the release of better-than-expected US jobs figures.

The latest Fairfax/Nielsen poll shows Julia Gillard is in front of Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister for the first time in nine months.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, reflecting positive US jobs data.At 0705 AEDT, the Australian dollar was trading at 107.27 US cents, up from 106.88 cents on Friday afternoon.

A strong January jobs report on Friday sent US stocks soaring, pushing the Dow to pre-crisis levels, as investors celebrated a surge in job growth that pointed to new vitality in the fragile recove

Macquarie Group has appointed Perth deal-maker and company director Mark Barnaba as chairman of its Western Australian operations, bolstering its status as one of the top investment banks in WA.