Vittorio Hernandez

Qatar became the third-largest stockholder of mining firm Xstrata after it bought 5 percent of the company's shares at $A2.65 billion. The purchase was made by the country's sovereign wealth fund.

Tourism industry executives blamed the strong Australian dollar for the slump in tourism revenues as foreign visitor spending declined to a four-year low of $2.63 billion in February.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union (CFMEU) foresees the prolonged labour dispute at the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) at the Bowen Basin coal mines may last longer, possibly until the end of April.

The Australian sharemarket ended a little lower for the third time this week with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.4 pct or 16.6 pts to 4402.3. Our miners have struggled this week, with BHP Billiton (BHP) down 0.86 pct or 30 cents to $34.44 while Rio Tinto (RIO) dropped 1.66 pct or $1.10 to $65.29 today.

The Australian share market has started the final day of the shortened trading week on a negative note, as profit takers move in ahead of the Easter break and following weakness on offshore markets overnight. US and European markets retreated following a disappointing Spanish bond auction and as investors anxiously debated what markets would look like without more stimulus from the US Federal Reserve. In early trade on the local market, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 34.5pts or 0.8pct to...

ANZ Bank Chief Executive Philip Chronican said on Thursday that the bank would continue its rate setting policy independent of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decisions even if bank customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lender.

The productivity commissions of Australia and New Zealand are asking for public comment on a proposal to have a single currency for the two Oceania nations.

Australia's exports declined 2 per cent in February which contributed to a trade deficit of $480 million. It is the second largest trade deficit for the country since early 2010.

The federal government of Australia is axing hundreds of jobs in various departments to meet its promise to deliver a $1.5-billion budget surplus in 2012-13. The layoffs and redundancies are part of the spending cut announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan last week.

The Australian sharemarket had an uninspiring session today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.1 pct or 5.5 pts to 4418.9. Shares were down by as much as 0.5 pct at one point following some worse than expected economic data out at 11.30am (AEST). As the day wore on shares steadily wiped away those early losses.

The local share market has followed Wall Street into the red, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 17.3pts or 0.4pct in early trade to 4407.1.

Two hundred U.S. Marines from the Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines are now in Darwin as part of a new bilateral defence agreement between Australia and the United States.

Over a period of a few decades, a German janitor employed by Stuttgart City managed to steal a total of 25 tonnes of office supplies which he kept in his home.

Even if BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) produces about one fifth of the global supply of seaborne coking coal, its declaration on Monday of a force majeure would have limited impact on coking coal prices, analysts said.

The mining construction boom in Queensland will end as early as 2014, BIS Shrapnel forecast on Wednesday.

OneSteel announced on Tuesday plans to change its name to Arrium Limited in a bid to bring in new investors and clarify the extent of its business.

Even if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept on hold the overnight cash rate of 4.25 per cent for the third straight month, the central bank did not discount the possibility that it may cut interest rate in May.

The local share market had a positive lead from offshore markets overnight but managed only a modest gain by close. As expected the Reserve Bank of Australia left the official cash rate on hold at 4.25pct for the third month in a row, despite official data released today showing retail spending remains sluggish. By close, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was up just 8pts or 0.2pct to 4424.4.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the overnight cash rate of 4.25 per cent on Tuesday, as forecast by economists and analysts.

The Australian sharemarket is slightly higher at lunch, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 0.3 pct or 13 pts to 4429.4. Most sectors are improving; however the industrials, healthcare stocks and the utilities are losing a bit of ground.

The Fair Work Ombudsman fined $1,200 the Sandringham branch of Buxton, a real estate agent, over the firing of a 23-year-old woman whom the agent found too young-looking and short for the job.

A study by weight loss company Jenny Craig found that waiters take 23,000 steps a day, more than double the recommended 10,000 steps a day to keep fit.

About half of companies in Sydney have changed their business hours due to the heavy traffic in the city. Over 30 per cent also extended delivery hours to meet deadlines.

BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP), the world's biggest miner, has declared on Monday a force majeure at its Bowen Basin coal mines in Australia due to the strikes and heavy rain.

The Australian sharemarket started the day off almost 1 pct higher and then gave away its gains as the day progressed. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) eased by 0.1 pct or 3.6 pts to 4416.4. The mining and energy sectors rose strongly while almost all other sectors lost ground today.

Qantas Airways and Jetstar will increase their ticket prices because of their higher aviation fuel bill.

The local share market has started the new trading week, month and quarter on a positive note thanks to strong gains offshore on Friday night and better than expected Chinese manufacturing data. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) hit a high of 4460.7pts in early trade but has come off that slightly at lunchtime in the East and at 12.15pm AEST is firmer by 18.1pts or 0.4pct to 4438.1.

Adelaide topped the list of Australian cities in terms of urban planning, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council said.

More Australians are pinching pennies and paying down their home mortgages in large numbers that thriftiness has become a normal way of life in the country.