AAP

A fall in coal exports and other mining commodities have increased the trade deficit.

Maligned Treasurer Troy Buswell has moved to quell talk that he's set to succeed Premier Colin Barnett, reiterating he will never lead the Liberals again.

Australian stocks have opened firmer with mining companies leading the way.

Australian construction sector activity posted its strongest result in almost three years, helped by strong results in housing and engineering.

The Dow pushed to fresh highs on Wednesday one day after notching an all-time record, even as the Federal Reserve said economic growth continued at a dull pace.

Australian shares have closed at new four and a half year highs as local investors joined the global buying spree.

Protesters calling for a ban on live animal exports have shouted during an Adelaide forum held by federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Cost of living pressures including power prices have been largely ignored in the state election campaign, a group representing the non-government community services sector says.

The Australian economy managed what the Reserve Bank of Australia likes to call "about trend" growth in the December quarter, the national accounts showed today.

Shares in iron ore hopeful Flinders Mines have risen after it struck a deal with four Chinese steel mills that brings its mine closer to reality.

Wage growth under recent enterprise bargaining agreements have proved to be restrained, posing little threat to the inflation outlook, new federal government figures suggest.

The Australian market was hovering around four-and-a-half year highs at open after Wall Street soared to a record high.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says he has "personal evidence" Australians are having trouble finding work in the mining and other industries because overseas workers are filling jobs through the 457

A legal challenge against the federal government's mineral resources rent tax has started in the High Court with lawyers for miner Andrew Forrest arguing the controversial impost breaches the

Australian homes are the most affordable in three years, thanks to rising incomes and falling interest rates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared to an all-time record high on Tuesday, passing the five-year-old mark to leave behind the deep losses of the economic crisis.

The Barnett government is facing the prospect of a third bout of industrial action during the state election campaign, with Western Australia's public sector union calling a mass meeting

Corrective services minister Murray Cowper is being investigated for alleged illegal land clearing at a holiday shack community, prompting calls for him to be sacked.

The Australian dollar rose to its highest level in almost a week after the central bank decided not to cut its cash rate.

ABC's local radio station in Perth, 720, has been knocked off the mantle as the No.1 breakfast radio station - beaten by Mix 94.5.

The Australian market closed higher after news that Australian retailers recorded their strongest January sales growth in six years led to gains for discretionary retail stocks.

Australia's current account deficit shrank by two per cent to $14.678 billion in the December quarter, thanks to a rise in mining exports.

The federal government's commodity forecaster is predicting a subdued outlook for Australian producers, as exporters continue to feel the effects of a high Australian dollar.

Australian retailers recorded their strongest January sales growth in six years as increasingly confident consumers headed back to the shops.

Fancy getting paid to eat your way around Western Australia, be a VIP in Sydney, tour the outback or be a trendsetter in Melbourne?

Workers' output has increased over the past decade but wages have not risen proportionally because of corporate greed, Australia's peak union body says.

Property developer Australand has confirmed several companies are interested in buying all or part of its business.

The Australian stock market is up one per cent at the open, led by strong gains from the big banks.

Global oil and gas heavyweight BP is keeping tight-lipped about whether it wants the controversial Browse gas project built onshore, or offshore using floating technology.

Australian businesses have shelved plans to hire new staff or make significant investments in the first half of 2013.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average defied the effects of new US spending cuts and pushed to a new five-year high on Monday.