AAP

The Australian dollar is close to falling below parity after dropping by more than one US cent as investors continued to worry about Europe's debt crisis.

Smiles were everywhere at the Qantas jet base in Sydney as the lucky, chosen few caught a glimpse at what chief executive Alan Joyce described as the star attraction - the Australian debut of Boein

The Australian share market closed lower after a positive lead from United States markets was outweighed by continued concerns about Europe's debt problems.

BC Iron expects ongoing volatility in the iron ore price, but says the market will remain healthy.

Former District Court judge Roger Macknay QC has been confirmed as the new head of the state's corruption watchdog.

At $1,000 per bottle, it's Australian wine brand Penfolds' most expensive red at the time of its release, and the first customers to see the luxurious drop are in China.

Shares in internet service provider iiNet are in a trading halt amid speculation it is the preferred bidder for Australian Capital Territory telco TransACT.

The federal government must reassure China that boosting military ties with the United States is not an aggressive act, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Homeowners looking to refinance their mortgage to secure a better deal could struggle to find a new lender because house prices have fallen and the loan could be more than the home's value.

Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce says negotiations with unions are continuing and he is optimistic a deal will be reached before the 21-day deadline expires.

Australians can be assured uranium sold to India would only be used for peaceful purposes, a peak business group says.

Slower than expected wages growth means the central bank has one less roadblock to cutting interest rates if it is needed, economists say.

Job advertisements on the internet fell by 4.2 per cent in October compared to a month earlier, national data shows.

Australia's central bank will provide a facility to ensure commercial banks have enough cash in times of financial crisis.

Australian shares opened slightly higher due to a positive lead from the US, but enthusiasm was subdued with the focus remaining on Europe's debt problems.

Atlas Iron has bought Gondwana Resources' 90 per cent stake in the Corunna Downs project in the north Pilbara for $2.1 million in cash.

Tiger Airways has been cleared to increase its number of flights in Australia ahead of the busy Christmas travel period.

The Australian dollar was slightly higher as the increased cost of borrowing for European governments weighed on market sentiment.

A bit of positive data on the US economy gave stocks a boost on Tuesday, as traders brushed off new figures showing stalling European economic growth.

Australia's middle-ranked miners are sitting on a $7.6 billion cash mountain after tapping shareholders for funds, leaving them better placed to weather the volatile share market.

Fund manager Perpetual has allocated a fifth of its resources portfolio to offshore investments as it seeks attractively priced stocks amid global volatility and uncertainty.

The Australian dollar fell more than one US cent even though the central bank gave no direct hints on the future path of interest rates, which the market expects will be cut in December.

The state government will spend almost $14 million in the next five years to reduce the risk of shark attacks after three fatal attacks in recent months.

Tiger Airways says it is unable to be profitable in Australia when limited to just 22 daily flights a day, under restrictions imposed after the forced grounding of the airline's fleet earlier this

Consumer worries about interest rates have been overtaken by concerns about the impact of the carbon tax and utility costs on household finances.

Australian shares closed half a per cent weaker amid renewed worries about European debt.

The federal government's move to lift a ban on uranium sales to India has boosted uranium stocks, but share prices are still well below the levels before the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

A leading business lobby group has urged the federal government not to increase taxes to achieve its budget surplus, as Labor looks for ways to make up for falling revenues.

Premier Colin Barnett says China will play hardball over joining the Oakajee port and rail project but he is optimistic it will go ahead.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says it is possible for Australia to be a close ally of the United States and also be friends with China.

Businesses that incorrectly attribute price rises to carbon pricing are being scrutinised by the competition watchdog.

The builder of the federal government's $36 billion national broadband network (NBN) has signed contracts worth up to $635 million for equipment to install the high speed service in homes and busin