Sharon Olalia

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells panels and systems, today announced its completion of a 505-kilowatt solar power installation for Horizon Power, a government-owned utility servicing remote and regional communities and resource operations in Western Australia.

Family doctors will resent comments made by the Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon that GPs who have medical practices near government-funded Super Clinics need to question the services they offer, said Dr Adrian Sheen, President of Doctors Action.

Patterson Cheney Toyota in Dandenong Victoria has become the first car dealership in Australia to achieve a 5 Star Toyota Environmental Dealership (TED) rating.

The High Court has ordered one of Australia's major banks, Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC), to pay a former real estate agent $50,000 in damages for defamation resulting from its mistaken dishonouring of his company's cheques.

Australia's home price growth slowed less than predicted in the three months to June, as interest rates climbed and buyer demand weakened.

Australian residents made a record 6.8 million short-term trips overseas in 2009-10, according to the latest data issued today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Activity in the service sector contracted in July, as government stimulus fades, according to a report.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has started a prosecution against Stewarts Transport & Logistics Pty Ltd, a Bendigo transport company, for allegedly underpaying a worker $3200.

The Australian currency opened higher on Wednesday, amid strong commodity prices and a weaker US dollar as traders await a round of profit-taking during the domestic session.

Global miner Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is planning to invest another $US790 million ($A866 million) to grow its iron ore operations in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

The Australian stock market has received a weak lead from Wall Street where dismal earnings and economic data put an end to the recent rally.

The Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged for the third consecutive month today, giving borrowers another few weeks of relief from soaring mortgage repayments. The official cash rate stays where it has been since May at 4.5 per cent.

The Australian dollar climbed after falling slightly on weak retail and building approvals figures late this morning, ticking back up about a fifth of a US cent after the Reserve Bank announced cash rates would remain on hold at 4.5 per cent until at least next month.

The Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged for the third consecutive month today, giving borrowers another few weeks of relief from soaring mortgage repayments. The official cash rate stays where it has been since May at 4.5 per cent.

After parodying Julia Gillard's climate policy in a TV ad earlier this month, GetUp, an independent Australian advocacy organisation, has turned its attention to Tony Abbott in a new commercial featuring the Coalition leader's statements about abortion, the cervical cancer vaccine and the role of women in society.

Another decline in dwelling approvals in June is further proof of a wavering residential building upturn, and notwithstanding a monthly increase, there has also been a significant fall in non-residential building approvals as the boost from the Government's economic stimulus fades, according to the peak body for the building and construction industry, Master Builders Australia.

Bleak retail growth of only 0.2 per cent in June is very disappointing and reflects challenging times for retail as it climbs out of the crater left by the global financial crisis, said Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) CEO Margy Osmond.

The latest Retail Trade figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate retail sales edged up 0.2 per cent in June, seasonally adjusted, compared with an increase of 0.2 per cent the previous month.

The total number of dwellings approved slumped in June this year, and has been in the downward trend for three months in seasonally adjusted terms, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Building Approvals.

The total number of dwellings approved slumped in June this year, and has been in the downward trend for three months in seasonally adjusted terms, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Building Approvals.

Working people in the Northern Rivers are concerned about what an Abbott-led Coalition Government would mean for them, according to Secretary of Unions NSW, Mark Lennon, who has spoken to labor forces in the area over the last 24 hours.

A record $37 million lawsuit brought against Australian department store David Jones (ASX: DJS) by one of its employees is overshadowing the retailer’s launch of its spring-summer fashion collection.

A record $37 million lawsuit brought against Australian department store David Jones (ASX: DJS) by one of its employees is overshadowing the retailer’s launch of its spring-summer fashion collection.

The Virgin Blue Group of Airlines this morning sent off its first Sydney to Uluru service.

Recent interest rate hikes have influenced the purchasing decisions of almost one in two Australians with a mortgage over the past six months, based on a retail insight survey conducted by the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) and American Express.

Navitas, which offers university preparation, English language training, workforce training and migrant settlement services, has reported a 31 per cent increase in annual net profit and expects strong earnings growth in financial year 2010-11.

The Australian dollar opened more than half a US cent stronger as equity markets rallied and commodity prices surged overnight.

The Australian share market is expected to jump after it has received positive leads from offshore trading overnight.

Caltex Australia (ASX:CTX) today launched a high ethanol-based fuel designed for use in Holden's VE Series II Commodore flex-fuel vehicles to be released later this year.