AAP

US stocks have closed modestly lower after data unexpectedly showed the economy shrank in the fourth quarter last year and the Federal Reserve maintained its loose monetary policy.

The Australian dollar has edged slightly higher ahead of a key meeting of the US central bank.

With the election date set, Australia's business community is urging both sides of federal politics to quickly start fleshing out their corporate policies.

Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh has resigned as a director of Seven West Media following his appointment to the global miner's top job and relocation to London.

More traditional owners in the Kimberley have called on the United Nations to intervene in Woodside's planned Browse gas project.

The Australian share market pulled back in late trading but still closed slightly higher, with investors unfazed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing that the next federal election would be o

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the 2013 federal election will be about trust when the poll is held in eight months' time."The coalition is ready," he told reporters in Canberra.

If Labor wins the state election in March, the $2.6 billion Elizabeth Quay project on the waterfront could get a name change. But it probably won't be Regina Marina.

Westpac is raising $500 million through the issue of hybrid securities to investors to strengthen its capital position.

Premier Colin Barnett's threat to withhold election campaign funding from the federal Liberal party unless it backs his push for GST reform is "not believable",  state Opposition Leader Mark M

Western Australia's fisheries department is looking into photos posted by world boxing champion Danny Green of a tiger shark caught in waters off Perth.

Job advertisements on the internet fell by 2.3 per cent in December, federal government figures show.

The City of Perth council has voted unanimously in favour of making the city's three major pedestrian areas smoke-free.

Wesfarmers has lifted sales in all its retail businesses in the first half of the financial year, with the strongest growth coming from Coles and Bunnings.

Gains by major resources companies have led the Australian share market slightly higher, extending nine days of gains.

Demand for credit is on the rise for the first time in a year but it's too early to talk of a turnaround in consumer spending.

US stocks have scored mostly solid gains after a batch of better-than-expected company earnings, but Yahoo! and cloud computing group VMware weighed on the Nasdaq.

Lynas Corporation says a state-based High Court in Malaysia has denied an application by environmental activists to seek a judicial review the licensing process for its rare earths processing plant

Any moves away from live animal exports and towards more meat processing in Western Australia will be well planned and in consultation with the industry, Opposition Leader Mark McGow

The Australian dollar has closed the day higher, after a monthly survey suggested confidence among Aussie businesses was on the upswing.

The Australian share market has closed higher, with investors encouraged by the recent strength of global markets.

Shane Warne says he will outline his blueprint for the future of Australian cricket in the next 24 hours after his extraordinary Twitter outburst lambasting the sport's local officialdom.

A survey that shows businesses have estimated a 14.5 per cent jump in energy costs due to the carbon tax underlines why the impost must be scrapped, Tony Abbott says.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has snared a major stake in oil and gas explorer Lakes Oil.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called on the federal government to publish its latest budget position numbers so the coalition can work out its surplus prospects.

Australians appear to be swapping credit for savings, with a recent study showing intention for taking on debt at a three-year low.

Nine Entertainment has been saved from collapse with a Federal Court judge giving the final tick of approval to a $3.4 billion recapitalisation scheme.

Australian business confidence rebounded in December following an interest rate cut and positive developments in the US and China.

The Australian share market has opened higher for a ninth straight day, despite substantial falls among insurers due to the flood and storm crisis on the east coast.

Australia's mining construction boom is expected to peak in late 2013 and government spending cuts are making it harder to find a new driver of economic growth, economics advisory group Deloitte Ac

US construction equipment group Caterpillar has posted a 15 per cent rise in 2012 net profit, but that was below market expectations owing in large part to a charge of million that arose from acco