AAP

The demand for skilled workers has risen to its highest level in 12 months, but poor consumer and business confidence was slowing the recovery, research shows.

Falling iron ore prices helped push the Australian dollar to its lowest level in five weeks, amid concerns about the outlook for commodity prices.

Profit season 2012 was a bit like many State of Origin rugby league matches - tough, bruising and a couple of big hits - but not as bloody as predicted in the pre-game hype.

The Thai state-owned company responsible for the Montara oil spill off the coast of Western Australia three years ago has been fined $510,000 for its actions in relation to the disas

The Australian shares closed flat, with investors sidelined ahead of a global meeting of central bankers in the US over the weekend.

Federal Housing and Homelessness Minister Brendan O'Connor has ruled out changes to negative gearing for property owners in the face of a housing affordability crisis.

Carbon offset company Carbon Conscious says the loss of its biggest contract with Origin Energy and the government's scrapping of the carbon floor price will not be a huge blow to its finances this

The mining sector may have lost some of its sparkle, but Australia's economy is still the envy of the developed world.

A write-down in value of two major projects and a deluge of wet weather during harvest season has hit almond producers Select Harvests' bottom line, with the company posting a full-year loss

Finance Minister Penny Wong has painted a rosy picture of Australia's economy during a visit to the US, as the Labor government awaits a crucial domestic growth report.

Takeover target and energy infrastructure investor Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund (HDF) says domestic demand for gas has softened, but long-term demand prospects are good.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep interest rates on hold when its board meets on Tuesday.

Beleaguered consumer goods retailer Harvey Norman hopes to claw back market share, as tough trading conditions are expected to force many of its competitors to close.

Australian stocks have opened firmer amid broad-based gains as local market players looked past a poor night on Wall Street.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd believes federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "doesn't get" Africa but says his deputy, Julie Bishop, does.

US stocks tumbled on Thursday ahead of a much-anticipated speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday and as European woes renewed global growth worries.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in more than a month after official figures showed investment in the mining sector is likely to grow by less than expected this year.

The Australian stockmarket finished almost one per cent lower as resources companies suffered steep losses amid weakness on commodities markets.

Engineering firm Monadelphous Group has won a $75 million construction contract at BHP Billiton's Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Telstra Corporation has offloaded responsibility for its problem child TradingPost business to online classifieds operator Carsales.com.

Fund manager Perpetual will cut more jobs next year as it continues with a major restructure that contributed to a 57 per cent drop in its full year profit.

Australia's housing sector is stuck in the doldrums, with building approvals plunging more than 17 per cent in July.

Thailand's state-owned PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has pleaded guilty to four charges connected to the 2009 Montara oil spill.

The federal government is calling for an investigation into whether Opposition Leader Tony Abbott misled parliament when he claimed to have read BHP Billiton statements about the scrapping of the O

Australia's mining boom is not over yet, with newly released capital expenditure figures showing there is a lot more investment to come.

Shares in Boart Longyear have dived by more than 30 per cent after the drilling major downgraded its full year earnings guidance.

Global property developer Lend Lease has forecast higher earnings after unveiling a near two per cent rise in net profit for its 2012/13 financial year.

The Australian stockmarket opened lower after iron ore prices fell overnight.

Tourism from Indonesia and Malaysia is expected to rapidly rise by 2015, while the number Australians holiday overseas is showing signs of easing, a survey has found.

US stocks see-sawed in more light, noncommittal trade on Wednesday to close almost flat for the third straight session, amid fresh data that sent more mixed signals on the economy.

The Australian dollar is flat as markets wait for a key address by the US Federal Reserve chairman that could hint at further moves to stimulate the American economy.

Federal Labor's promise to deliver a budget surplus in 2012/13 has again come under fire after it announced plans to spend $4 billion on dental health care reforms.