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Western Australia's financial ratings outlook remains negative, because of the boom state's mounting debt, as it spends big on infrastructure for a growing population and resources sector.

Engineering and construction group Clough is tipping a bumper year ahead after announcing a 139 per cent increase in net profit for the half year to December 31.

Australian small businesses face tough conditions and finished 2012 on a pessimistic note despite a series of interest rate cuts.

Engineering, mining services and construction outfit Forge Group has exceeded its own expectations by delivering a 60 per cent increase in half-year net profit.

Union boss Paul Howes says Australia does not have a carbon tax - it has a fixed price on carbon.

Builder and developer Lend Lease has increased its first half profit by 39 per cent.

Private health insurer nib says its first half net profit has dropped, due to higher than forecast claims costs.

Clothing retailer Pacific Brands has returned to profitability, but says sales are weak and will remain so in the coming months.

The number of bureaucrats in Australia has dropped for the first time in more than a decade, a new analysis of jobs data shows.

Drilling company Boart Longyear has appointed Richard O'Brien, the outgoing boss of gold producer Newmont Mining, as its new chief executive.

The Australian share market is firmer as local earnings results overshadow a weaker finish on US markets.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank says interest rates on deposit accounts may be about to fall as other sources of funds become cheaper and more accessible for banks.

The Australian dollar is more than half a US cent lower after falls in gold prices and US stocks on Friday.

One of the problems with labour productivity is that a fair proportion of the population just doesn't seem to understand what it is.

The Australian dollar continued its move higher after a rally in the yen helped push the US dollar lower.

Australian shares have closed flat, with the benchmark index holding above 5,000 points for a third day.

West Australian Labor has shifted its election campaign focus to the state's urban planning system, promising to ease bottlenecks and advance progress at stalled local developments.

The Reserve Bank of Australia says the mining investment boom will peak sooner and at a lower level than previously expected.

Australian-based miner Perseus is looking forward to improved earnings and production results after its first half profit more than doubled to $32.5 million.

Australia's peak industry lobby group says more than one third of businesses plan to cut jobs in 2013.

Singapore-listed engineering contractors AusGroup and CivMec have achieved significant increases in half year profit, with both Perth-based companies reporting strong order books and consistent lev

Economists from two of Australia's largest banks say several more interest rate cuts are needed to support the economy in 2013 as the boom in mining investment peaks.

Australia's crop farmers are gearing up for a better than average harvest despite a summer of scorching heat, bushfires and widespread flooding.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has appointed Andrew Harding to succeed Sam Walsh as its iron ore chief executive.

Uranium miner Paladin Energy has reported a half year net loss of $US193.5 million, with a number of large write-downs and impairments souring a record half year combined production result.

Western Australians are most concerned about future energy needs, rising living costs and the state of the public health system, according to a survey released today.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has laid out the coalition's broad economic strategy, saying his government would inject an "instantaneous adrenalin charge" into the economy through scrapping taxes a

Australia's population is set to hit 23 million by early May.

ANZ's first quarter net profit dropped by nearly a fifth to $1.36 billion.

Shadow assistant treasurer Mathias Cormann says the prime minister and treasurer agreed to the mining tax without understanding its finer detail.