Sharon Olalia

The Australian bourse finished lower on Monday amid some profit-taking, although heavyweight mining and bank stocks partly recouped their losses after a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens described a "robust economic upswing" in Australia.

The mining sector may become a "major target" for both parties seeking votes in the upcoming state election, according to the Minerals Council of NSW.

The Central Bank today hinted an increase in interest rates as Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said policy makers would manage what he described as a "robust economic upswing".

The Australian currency is trading higher as the greenback weakens in the lead up to a lunchtime speech by the Reserve Bank of Australia governor.

After hitting a four-month high last week, the Australian stockmarket backpedalled at Monday noon, as miners and banks suffer profit-taking.

Some of the largest employers of NSW secretly planned to flee the state after their power and gas bills soared up to 50 per cent, it has been revealed.

Spending picked up as Australian consumer outlook marginally improved, but is not a "cause for celebration" according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA).

The Australian currency was higher at Friday noon, nearing a two-year high, as traders take stock after a dramatic week on currency markets.

The Australian currency finished at two-year high on Friday, returning to heights held before the financial crisis.

The competition watchdog has blocked Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd's proposal to raise fees for regional airlines that operate from Australia's national gateway because it could not show that costs had increased enough to warrant the rise.

The Australian bourse finished higher on Friday, extending its rally for three consecutive weeks as miners posted all-time high gains.

Australia will play a key place in meeting a potential global shortfall in the supply of uranium, which is emerging as a worldwide energy solution, according to an Adelaide-based uranium miner.

In his first statement as Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd chairman (ASX:CBA), David Turner has described the 2011 outlook as "somewhat uncertain" and warned that universal banking regulations will increase costs or reduce credit availability.

The Australian stockmarket was half a per cent stronger at Friday noon, as the resource giants continued to post gains, despite lacklustre overseas leads.

Foster's Group, Australia's biggest brewer, is on the top of a $45.6 billion list of local companies compiled by broking house RBS Equities that are seen as targets especially for foreign buyout firms.

The Australian currency was slightly higher at Thursday noon as further speculation of quantitative easing in the US and currency devaluations by other countries kept it in a tight range.

The political uncertainty of having a minority government in Australia is not a particular problem for the economic outlook, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) assistant governor Philip Lowe said on Thursday.

The Australian currency finished lower on profit-taking after Japan did not step in a second time to weaken the yen against the greenback.

The Australian sharemarket finished sharply lower on Thursday as the big miners sank on weaker metal prices.

The latest Westpac-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) survey of industrial trends showed local manufacturing activity declined in the three months to September as global concerns and election uncertainty at home outweighed a generally favourable economic background.

The Australian sharemarket was weaker at Thursday noon, as profit takers drive losses among materials and financial stocks.

Australian consumers expect prices to increase in September, opposing falls over the past four months, thanks to a string of strong economic data, a survey shows.

The Australian currency was half a cent stronger at Wednesday noon and trading near a two-year high after the greenback weakened on reports of US quantitative easing overnight.

The Australian dollar reached a five-week peak against the yen on Wednesday, while holding not far from two-year highs on the greenback, as Japan stepped in to sell yen.

The Australian stockmarket ended Wednesday with its strongest performance in over four months, bolstered by regional markets and with National Australia Bank and gold miners posting solid gains.

Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) announced today it will sign an agreement with the governments of Papua New Guinea and Queensland to support the potential development of a renewable hydroelectricity project.

Japan is selling yen to stem a rise that is threatening economic recovery.

Mark McInnes, former chief executive of Australian department store David Jones Ltd (ASX:DJS), has disposed about a fifth of his shares in the company since his departure in June, in order to raise $1.2 million to settle a tax obligation linked to his hasty exit.

The Australian stockmarket was half a per cent stronger at Wednesday noon, as higher prices for base metals and gold bolstered resources shares.