Sharon Olalia

US industrial production fell by 0.2pct in September after rising by 0.2pct in August. Analysts had tipped a 0.2pct gain.

The Australian Dollar slid to 0.9800 against the US Dollar as investors continued to buy back the Greenback in a wave of profit taking.

The AUD has opened this morning higher after weak sentiment towards the USD continued overnight; currently just trading around USD0.9900.

The Australian share market closed weaker on Monday, dragged lower by banks and miners, as investors remain cautious about the US economic outlook.

Local stocks closed in the red today, weighed down by concerns about foreclosures for US financial companies and the scrapping of a major joint venture by Australia's two largest listed mining companies.

The Finance Sector Union (FSU) today slammed Westpac's decision to cut its Asgard work force in Perth by one third. The bank's decision will see 120 jobs lost from Westpac's wholly owned subsidiary, Asgard's Perth operation.

Most Australians no longer appreciate the value of a Northern Territory holiday, according to new research by Brand Asset Consulting (BAC).

Supermarket giant Coles is now set to shake up Australia's home and contents insurance market, following the launch of its car insurance product.

After years of continuous growth in the number of Australians choosing GreenPower electricity plans, the green tide has turned as 138,000 households ditched their GreenPower plan over the last 12 months.

Almost half of all working Australians are spending more time doing business outside the workplace than they were five years ago and they're attributing that to better technology and increased flexibility of employers, according to a Telstra survey.

History was made late Friday night in our Financial Markets when the Australian Dollar traded ever so briefly and in very thin conditions, above Parity with the US Dollar, for the first time since the currency was floated in December 1983.

A rally across technology companies following strong earnings from Google led the Standard & Poor's 500 index higher Friday.

US retail sales rose by 0.6pct in September, exceeding forecasts for a gain of 0.4pct.

The Australian Dollar hit parity for the first time since it was floated in 1983 following the US Federal Reserve announcing the commencement of its second round of quantitative easing will start in November.

The Australian share market closed lower on Friday on profit-taking following Thursday's rally.

Sections of three local highways in the South West Region have been closed due to flooding.

A strong weather front moving across eastern Australia may cause disruptions to flights today, according to Airservices Australia.

Global miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have noted with disappointment the statement today by the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) that its current intention is to prohibit the companies' proposed iron ore production joint venture in Western Australia.

Despite the proposed amendments, adverse environmental impacts will continue to occur as CSG companies still retain the right to extract unlimited amounts of groundwater under the Petroleum and Gas Act (PGA), according to Nigel Parratt from Queensland Conservation Council.

Continued consumer disinterest in traditional shopping periods threatens the recovery of Australia's retail industry.

"Today's reported announcement by the NSW Premier about stepping away from national OHS laws and comments regarding the Barangaroo development are extremely retrograde and out of step with the community's interests," Ai Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout said today.

The Gillard Government has increased funding for maternity training for doctors that will see more obstetric and anaesthetic services and support for women in rural and remote areas.

The Australian Dollar traded to another new high overnight of USD0.9990 before falling victim to some profit taking, with the currency pair back to around USD0.9900 this morning.

US producer prices rose by 0.4pct in September, above expectations for a 0.2pct gain.

The Aussie came within a whisker of parity during overnight trade hitting a high of 0.9993, its highest level against the US Dollar since the currency floated in 1983.

The Australian share market closed higher on Thursday as demand for resources and banks lifted the local bourse, while the local currency approached parity with the US dollar.

Local stocks rallied today, buoyed by strength in the Asian region and the Australian dollar.

Australians continue to pay tribute to Mary MacKillop, soon to be canonised as Australia's first saint.

Australian consumers are bracing for higher inflation in the year ahead, increasing chances of official interest rate hikes by the central bank to cap prices.