AAP

Woodside Petroleum has reached another joint venture agreement to expand its exploration interests in Myanmar (Burma).

Weaker-than-expected housing loan figures suggest the Reserve Bank of Australia may need to cut the cash rate further in 2013.

The Australian market has opened flat as trading volumes start to thin out heading into the festive season.

Shopping centre owner Centro Retail Australia is changing its name just 12 months after a massive company overhaul that kept the once debt-laden company afloat.

The coalition could lose a swag of marginal seats at next year's federal election as new electoral laws automatically enrol up to 1.5 million voters.

A surprise slide in the US unemployment rate to 7.7 per cent for November gave markets an initial boost on Friday, but shares ended the session mixed.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has struck a deal with the state and territory leaders on a plan she says could save households $250 a year on their power bills.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, enjoying support following a busy week of economic data releases, most of which were quite good.

The Australian market closed at a seven-week high, with across-the-board gains aided by strong overseas leads.

Labour productivity rose strongly in 2011/12, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is believed to have given her last-minute support to the troubled Ten Network's $230 million capital raising.

Returning the federal budget to surplus this financial year should not be priority as it could further slow the economy, an economist says.

A bushfire that almost forced the evacuation of people by boat from a remote West Australian beach has burnt out the peninsula, local authorities say.

Suggestions Clive Palmer has transferred the registered address of his companies to Western Australia because of dissatisfaction with the Queensland government are overstated, the mining tycoon say

Lower commodity prices and the high value of the Australian dollar have seen Australia post its biggest trade deficit since 2008.

Myer has blamed economic conditions, the introduction of the carbon tax and a GST loophole on goods bought overseas for its weak performance.

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains with the big banks and miners all higher in early trade.

Lower interest rates have slowed the decline of Australia's construction sector, but the industry is expected to remain in a slump into 2013.

US stocks finished in positive territory on Thursday after circling the breakeven line for much of the session, with a mild rebound by volatile Apple buoying the Nasdaq for a 0.5 per cent gain.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is keeping the Ten Network guessing on whether she'll take part in the troubled broadcaster's $230 million capital raising.

The Australian dollar had a brief rally after the release of encouraging jobs figures, but negativity about the US budget situation prevented it from rising to 105 US cents.

Resource companies operating in West Africa have been angered by the rise in resource nationalism.

Australian stocks finished slightly weaker today, with the market lacking direction despite an unexpected fall in Australia's unemployment rate.

A massive barge that has been grounded off the Western Australian coast for a week is not seriously damaged, but is still stranded on a limestone reef near Cervantes.

Auto-industry workers are hoping the appointment of a governmental car salesman to spruik locally-made vehicles to fleet car buyers will help the troubled industry.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia has a resilient economy but its future is not assured without further reform.

Virgin Australia has won approval from Singapore's corporate regulator to take over regional airline Skywest as it makes a push into budget air travel.

The receiver of the ailing food manufacturer behind the iconic Rosella brand says he's confident the business will be able to continue trading as the hunt for a buyer continues.

High domestic petrol prices are being influenced by international trends rather than price gouging by local fuel retailers, the competition watchdog says.

Profits for the major banks will stagnate in 2013 and the weakening economy will cause a rise in bad debt charges, ratings agency Moody's says.

An unexpected fall in Australia's unemployment rate will lift confidence in the national economy.

The Australian market opened slightly higher after budget talks in Washington indicated that US politicians were willing to compromise to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff".