Sharon Olalia

The Australian unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 per cent (seasonally adjusted) in August, according to official data released today.

Australian fashion designer Dana Mathers has been credited with leading a new fashion trend in the US.

The Australian currency recuperated on Wednesday as it attracted steady demand below 91 US cents, helping it withstand losses in Asian stocks.

The Australian stockmarket closed in negative territory on Wednesday, with financials and miners dragging down the market.

The Australian currency was lower at Wednesday noon after poor offshore trading overnight carried over into the local session.

The Australian stock market was weaker at Wednesday noon, following a slide on Wall Street, but wine manufacturer Foster's Group Limited (ASX: FGL) was soaring on takeover news.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Australia announced today that they have initiated a safety recall on its top-selling HiLux ute.

Australia's quarterly energy and mineral resource export earnings climbed 41 per cent to the second-highest, according to government data released today.

The Australian currency eased from one-month highs on Tuesday following the decision by two Independent MPs to back Labor to form a minority government.

The Australian bourse finished flat on Tuesday, with gains in financials opposed by falls in the big miners.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a widely expected decision on Tuesday as it kept rates on hold and gave borrowers yet another month to breathe easy over mortgage repayment costs.

The Australian dollar was still lower on Tuesday noon even after regaining from a dip in morning trade caused by a report which claimed Europe's major banks had not been adequately stress-tested.

The Australian stockmarket was flat at Tuesday noon, as investors took extra caution while waiting for the Reserve Bank of Australia's move on rates and a possible announcement on which political party will rule.

The confidence of Australia's executives is showing clear signs of improvement, according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Business Expectations Survey released on Tuesday.

Australia's economy is set to boom within the next 10 years, according to a leading economist.

Resource giant Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) announced on Monday it is midway through a share buyback program designed to simplify its dual-listed structure.

Willmott Forests has been placed in receivership by its bankers, emulating the downward spiral of collapsed managed investment scheme (MIS) operators Timbercorp and Great Southern.

The Australian currency closed stronger on Monday after a rally on the local bourse augmented last week's gains.

The Australian bourse ended Monday's trading day strongly, with gains accelerating in the afternoon as banks and miners rose, overshadowing heavy losses by Macquarie Group after the investment bank announced a profit downgrade.

Miners are threatening to restart anti-tax campaign, potentially bringing back the controversy over the government's resource levy.

The Australian share market was higher at Monday noon, buoyed by most financial and mining stocks.

The Australian currency was stronger at Monday noon, trading in a very tight range following a rally on US jobs data during the offshore session.

Australia's largest supermarket chain Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) plans to offload $900 million of its retail sites from its property portfolio.

The Australian currency on Friday finished flat in contrast to volatile trading earlier in the week as investors turned cautious before a US jobs report that could make or break the latest tentative improvement in risk appetite.

The Australian stockmarket on Friday ended the week with a third successive strong performance as investors regained some confidence in the outlook for the global economy.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:SIP) says it has been advised of a shareholder class action lawsuit over its alleged failure to disclose its financial position before a capital raising in September 2009.

The Australian share market is holding on to gains, after losing some ground with all four major banks slipping into the red.

The Australian currency was stronger by Friday noon on reports China could diversify its foreign exchange reserves into commodity currencies.

Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) today denied claims it breached a funding agreement with a New York hedge fund that owns 8 per cent of the iron ore miner.