AAP

US stocks took off Tuesday and the Dow zoomed past the 13,000 mark driven by soaring bank shares, sparked by JPMorgan Chase's announcement of a huge share buyback and dividend hike.

A sardine fisherman from Albany has described how a rare tropical whale shark surfaced near his boat in the Southern Ocean, surprising himself and local scientists.

The Australian dollar has risen from a six-week low, lifted by stronger regional equity markets and renewed trader interest.

Takeover target Flinders Mines has inked a native title agreement for its flagship Pilbara iron ore project.

Qantas Airways has called for regulators to take a close look at Virgin Australia's proposed ownership restructure.

Australian shares finished stronger as investors shrugged off a mixed US lead and lower prices for some commodities overnight.

Motorists should expect more pain at the pump in the coming days after the average wholesale price of petrol hit a three and a half year high.

A recent surge in carbon emissions across the globe was a one-off event as economies rebounded after the global financial crisis, Australian scientists say.

The Labor caucus has debated whether laws governing trusts are tough enough to stop them from being used for tax minimisation, as a high-profile case involving mining magnate Gina Rinehart continue

Independent MP Tony Windsor has called on National Party Senate leader Barnaby Joyce to explain his involvement in the legal battle between mining magnate Gina Rinehart and three of her children.

Western Australia's corruption watchdog is investigating whether the state's police commissioner gave false evidence to an inquiry into the destructive Perth Hills bushfire.

US President Barack Obama will announce a new trade suit against China prompted by Beijing's restrictions on the export of rare earth materials used in manufacturing hi-tech products.

Business confidence slumped in February even as conditions improved, a survey shows.

Finance Minister Penny Wong is standing by the federal government's proposed carbon price, despite a report showing it would strip $30 billion from the economy.

The Australian share market has opened half a per cent higher.

The federal government is refusing to commit itself to a promised tax cut for small business by July 1.

US stocks finished mixed Monday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy board meeting that analysts hope will provide a better picture of the US economy's direction.

Gina Rinehart told her children they faced financial ruin if they did not agree to her retaining full control of a multibillion-dollar family trust.

The Australian dollar is trading more than one US cent lower in response to weak Chinese trade figures released over the weekend.

The Australian sharemarket drifted to a marginally weaker close amid lower trading volumes because of a public holiday in Victoria.

Greens leader Bob Brown says the federal government is taking both his party and the parliament for granted over his support for the mining tax.

Paladin Energy can now start exploring its Canadian assets, after a three-year moratorium on uranium mining was lifted by indigenous landowners.

It's not only the mining boom that's creating jobs - there's also plenty of work to be had in the pizza sector.So says Australia's biggest pizza company, Domino's Pizza Enterprises.

Gina Rinehart's youngest daughter has continued to attack her three siblings, saying their court action against their mother is "unjustified".

Australian stocks have defied a positive lead from offshore and opened weaker, with falls among the energy and healthcare sectors leading the overall market lower.

The Australian dollar is more than 0.8 of a US cent lower following the release of strong American jobs data.

US stocks took a roller-coaster ride in the week to Friday as Wall Street marked three years since hitting bottom in the middle of the Great Recession.

The Australian dollar continued its rise today, with traders relieved there may be an end in sight for the current chapter in the Greek government debt crisis.

A series of protests have been held across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth against multi-national British services company Serco, which runs Australia's immigration detention and other public

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against travel agency company Flight Centre, alleging that it has attempted to induce competitors

The Australian share market finished almost one per cent stronger after a sharp slowing in China's inflation rate boosted resources stocks.