AAP

The Australian market has continued its downhill run, opening more than half a per cent lower following falls on international bourses and worries about central banks' stimulus plans.

Rio Tinto has agreed to sell its Eagle project in the US to Lundin Mining Corporation for an estimated $US35 million ($A37 million) in cash.

The Australian dollar is higher after hitting a one-week high following the release of strong local consumer sentiment figures.

US stocks have fallen sharply in highly volatile trade, with the Dow posting its first three-day losing streak this year amid worries about central banks' stimulus plans.

Lynas Corporation is worried that it is giving away its rare earths products and has decided to draw a line in the sand for its own prices.

The Australian share market extended its losses on Wednesday as investors continued to move their money offshore amid concerns about a weak global economy

Iron ore miner BC Iron is on track to hit its 2014 full production target as the price of iron ore hovers just above $US110 per tonne.

Supermarket giant Coles has been wrongly labelling its bread as baked in-store, the competition watchdog says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has ramped up her bid to encourage Western Australia to sign up to the federal government's schools funding plan, pitching a more generous offer to Premier Colin Barnet

Former West Coast Eagle David Wirrpanda has finally committed to a tilt at federal politics, becoming a Senate nominee for the WA Nationals.

There was a sharp bounce in consumer confidence in June, but it may be short-lived.The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment in June rose 4.7 per cent to 102.2 points.

A new venue has been secured for a Labor Party fundraiser where comedian Ben Elton will quiz Prime Minister Julia Gillard, after a booking at a public school in Fremantle was withdrawn.

Gold miner Newcrest has defended the timing of its major restructure announcement and says it has not breached any share market rules.

Target has announced 260 jobs will go in a restructure of its business operations.

The Australian share market has opened more than half a per cent lower.

The Australian dollar is higher, after bouncing back a from heavy losses that saw it hit an almost three-year low overnight.

US stocks have ended the day solidly lower after the Bank of Japan's status-quo policy decision revived concerns about the winding down of central bank stimulus measures.

The Australian share market closed higher as cautious investors searched for higher yielding and defensive stocks.

Toyota insists it will stay in Australia after posting a $149 million profit, making it the only local car maker to be in the black.

Daily metropolitan newspaper The West Australian will cut 40 jobs as it undertakes a major restructure.

Lending for housing is pumping an extra $2.4 billion a month into the economy than it was a year ago.

Union members have protested outside Parliament House in Perth saying floating LNG projects will rob locals of jobs.

Mining services provider NRW Holdings has forecast a drop in revenue and profit because of contract delays and project deferrals.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed as a "waste of breath" rumour-mongering about her leadership, insisting she is still the best person to take Labor to the September 14 election.

The Australian share market is marginally higher to begin the week, reflecting mixed offshore leads during the long weekend for the Queen's Birthday holiday.

Share market operator ASX is raising $553 million to fund growth by issuing new shares to existing shareholders.

The Australian dollar is just over half a US cent higher after the release of mixed economic data from its major trading partners.

US stocks were flat in early trade as Standard & Poor's raised its outlook for the country's debt rating from "negative" to "stable".

Security screeners at Perth Airport's Qantas terminal are poised to strike again after their employer locked staff out of the job for wearing "Paid Less in the West" T-shirts.

Teachers are threatening strike action unless the Barnett government commits funding to help the transition of Year 7 students to high schools in 2015.

China has reported a sharp slowdown in exports in May compared to the previous month while imports unexpectedly dropped, as the world's second largest economy grapples with slowing growth and slugg

US stocks ended the week higher but it was hardly smooth sailing for investors as the markets remained choppy for a second week in a row.