AAP

The Australian share market ended its recent losing streak with firm gains on Monday as hopes mounted that European leaders were closer to finding a solution to the region's debt crisis.

Property Council of Australia president Darren Steinberg will take the top job at Dexus Property Group when chief executive Victor Hoog Antink retires in March.

Insurers estimate the damage from the fires in the Margaret River region will be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Japan's Inpex concedes the cost estimate for its Ichthys liquefied natural gas project (LNG) in the Timor Sea needs to be updated after its joint venture partner flagged a 30 per cent blowout.

Shares in Gindalbie Metals and Royal Resources rose after the iron ore firms settled a project acquisition deal that had been held up by a legal claim.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson believes it is important to return the federal budget back to surplus so there's room for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut interest rates again if needed.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says tough cuts would not be needed in the federal government's mid-year budget review if Labor had not wasted billions of taxpayers' dollars.

Rio Tinto has maintained its faith in Chinese growth by raising its Pilbara iron ore production target, even though it admits customers are becoming increasingly cautious about the world economy.

The Australian dollar has opened slightly higher, on talk of a possible bailout solution for eurozone countries, after a week of increasing fears for the European currency.

Germany is facing mounting pressure to let the European Central Bank (ECB) save the euro, as reports surfaced of IMF contingency bailout planning for a remodelled Italy.

The Australian dollar is headed for its fourth consecutive week of declines as Europe's debt woes hit investor confidence.

Treasurer Wayne Swan may only need to do some modest tweaking to reach his promised budget surplus in 2012/13, the chief economist at the nation's biggest home lender says.

Sundance Resources' suitor Hanlong Mining has failed to secure a letter of confidence from China Development Bank for its $1.65 billion takeover of the iron ore explorer.

Telstra Corporation chief customer officer Gordon Ballantyne says the telco's plan to lift service standards and improve its standing among customers is on track.

The Australian sharemarket closed weaker for the sixth straight day, ending at a seven-week low, following losses on European markets overnight as investors grew impatient with a lack of action fro

Some of Australia's best-known winemakers who were evacuated because of the Margaret River bushfires are still unable to access their properties.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says reports that China will allow direct trading of the Australian dollar against its currency on its foreign exchange market is another significant step of the bilateral rela

Tax dodgers will be caught, the Australian Taxation Office has warned after nabbing and convicting 356 people in the third quarter of this year.One person went to jail for five years.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has agreed to take part in Intercept Minerals' bauxite project on Tiwi Islands.

NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley says about 3,000 people now have services on the national broadband network, including people on the interim satellite service, and people at sites in Tasmania a

A Russian steel making giant may seek a deal with Fortescue Metals Group after a $554 million takeover of Flinders Mines, which holds an undeveloped iron ore project next to Fortescue's Solomon dev

Myer has reiterated that sales this fiscal year will be flat and net profit will decline as much as 10 per cent because of the tough retail conditions.

Residents of the Margaret River region remain on alert as a bushfire that has destroyed 34 houses and holiday chalets continues to threaten properties.

Shares in Woodside Petroleum slumped six per cent to a seven-week low after the oil and gas producer's 2012 production target fell short of expectations.

The Australian sharemarket has opened weaker for the sixth consecutive day as investors shy away from mining and resources stocks and after European markets suffered more losses.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has approved an application by US brewer SABMiller to acquire the Foster's Group.

European stock markets have closed mostly lower, slipping back from a modest technical rebound made as a strong survey of German business confidence helped sentiment amid the eurozone debt gloom.

Australian economic growth is likely to accelerate in 2012 but it won't be enough to get the federal budget back into surplus, economists say.

Two leading business figures have spoken out against the recently introduced two-strikes executive pay rule, arguing it could be used for mischief and does not improve corporate governance.

David Jones shares slumped to an eight-week low after the retailer reported that first quarter sales fell more than 10 per cent and confirmed expectations of a hefty drop in first half profit.