AAP

 European share prices have risen, with London hitting a near five-year high in light trading amid a public holiday in the United States, although the luxury goods sector was tarnished by a gl

The Australian dollar is slightly higher ahead of news from a meeting of Japan's central bank.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher following a firm finish by United States markets on Friday.

Official inflation figures on Wednesday could prove the final trigger for another interest rate cut when the central bank holds its first board meeting of the year on February 5.

Iron ore has been BHP Billiton's highest-earning commodity for a while but the continued resurgence of the petroleum division is expected to be displayed this week.

Economists believe consumer prices rose modestly in the December quarter, but not slowly enough to lock in another interest rate cut for Australian homeowners.

Shares in Sims Metal Management have slumped after the company warned of possible fraud at two of its British businesses.

The Australian stockmarket has opened flat as investors gave a lukewarm response to US Congressional Republicans agreeing to temporarily raise the debt ceiling.

US stocks ended mostly higher Friday helped by news that Republicans might give way to a short-term rise of the debt ceiling to avoid a new crisis, but poor earnings from Intel pulled the Nasdaq lo

The Australian dollar has fallen back slightly after an earlier rise on strong Chinese growth data.

The Australian market has closed higher propelled by climbing Rio Tinto shares after its chief Tom Albanese resigned in the wake of the miner's billion worth of write downs.

Fund managers controlling high proportions of Australians' savings have shifted large amounts of money out of cash and bonds and into the share market in recent months.

The Australian market is higher as news of Rio Tinto chief Tom Albanese's resignation drives up mining stocks.

The Australian dollar has opened higher after some positive US economic data and a rally on global equity markets lifted demand for the currency.

US stocks have closed solidly higher after US data pointed to an improving employment and housing picture.

News Limited has agreed to sell its online business directory TrueLocal to Telstra's advertising and directories arm Sensis.

Paladin Energy's efforts to make its operations more efficient has put the uranium miner in a good position to meet its full year production forecast.

Australian shares have closed at a fresh 19-month high as firming expectations of a February interest rate cut helped banking stocks.

Treasurer Wayne Swan is on his way to the United States for a meeting with Federal Reserve officials to discuss the state of the world economy.

Mineral sands miner Iluka will cut production resulting in job losses after tough trading conditions led to a loss of nearly one-third in revenue in 2012 compared to the previous year.

Santos's production costs blew out by up to $50 million in 2012, highlighting the risks to its massive Queensland Gladstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Travellers will soon know how much it will cost to fly on a combined Qantas-Emirates network after the alliance received interim authorisation from the competition watchdog.

Woodside Petroleum has achieved a record 2012 production result and hopes to do even better this year as it develops more projects overseas.

Australian shares have opened flat as traders wait to see if the market surpasses a 19-month high reached after the New Year.

A Leighton Holdings subsidiary will carry out work to prepare Telstra's pits and pipes in two states for the national broadband network (NBN), in a deal worth $90 million.

The Australian dollar has opened marginally higher ahead of the release of domestic jobs data.

US stocks have turned in a mixed performance, as Boeing's latest aircraft problem overshadowed strong earnings from leading banks.

Australian shares closed half a per cent higher, buoyed by the big banks and a major restructure by Boral, one of the nation's biggest manufacturers.

Federal and state authorities would be "nuts" to allow Woodside to replace the gas hub proposed for James Price Point with a floating processing plant, Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett has

The owners of Australia's dominant supermarket chains are fighting for supremacy among the world's largest retailers after Wesfarmers joined rival Woolworths in the world's top 20.

Up to 300 jobs are at risk across Australia after Vodafone announced it would shut down its Crazy John's mobile phone operation.

Australian shares have opened flat despite expectations of more interest rate cuts boosting banking stocks.