AAP

Foster's suitor SABMiller is likely to introduce more international beer brands into the Australian market, which could result in the sector looking very different in 10 years, says a market analys

The coalition will continue to shun a push by business lobby groups to revive statutory individual employment contracts.

Many retailers are struggling because households are saving more and when they do spend, the money goes on services rather than goods, a senior reserve bank official says.

The Australian dollar fell to a six-week low - and back near parity - after the US Federal Reserve announced new measures to support its ailing economy.

US stocks dived Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced new measures to support the flagging economy that left investors cold.

The Australian dollar was three-quarters of a US cent higher amid growing optimism the US Federal Reserve will take action to help the struggling American economy.

Many Australians are headed for lean times in retirement, having only about a third of the superannuation that's needed for a comfortable life, National Australia Bank's head of wealth management s

Changes to federal environment laws will add an "unnecessary level of bureaucracy" for state national parks, state Environment Minister Bill Marmion says.

Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett says he's disgusted by the racial vilification of Aboriginal land owners who support a gas hub near Broome.

Brewer Foster's Group says a decline in the Australian beer market is easing, and the market should grow again once the current period of economic uncertainty ends.

The Australian share market has recovered to finish in positive territory, pushed up by positive economic data out of China.

Union leaders will join industry and the government to help connect skilled workers with jobs through a fast-tracked national agency.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says proper science and economics would compel a future Labor government to reinstate carbon pricing if it was scrapped by a coalition government.

Workers coming to Australia under the Pacific Seasonal Worker Scheme will pay less tax under new draft laws.

David Jones is working on a five year plan to turn around sales as the department store faces a grim Christmas season.

Qantas passengers could face delays next week after the Transport Workers Union (TWU) flagged further strikes as part of an ongoing row over pay and conditions.

Atlas Iron has succeeded in its $240 million takeover of fellow iron ore miner FerrAus, gaining just under 95 per cent of the target.

Australia's economy is expected to slow in the second half of the year due to weakness in consumer spending and ongoing weakness in the property market.

The federal government has released updated Treasury modelling on the impact of its carbon tax, showing personal incomes will grow 0.1 percentage points less per year to 2050 under the scheme.

The Australian share market opened higher this morning as a better-than-expected performance on Wall Street drew some investors back into the heavily sold-off local market.

The Australian dollar was more than half a US cent firmer, as equity markets in Europe bounced back overnight and ahead of tomorrow's announcement from the US Federal Reserve.

US stocks drifted mostly lower Tuesday amid Greek debt concerns and as investors awaited the end of a Federal Reserve policy meeting hoping for new stimulus for the economy.

The Australian dollar fell to a five-week low on renewed concerns about Europe's debt crisis after Italy's credit rating was downgraded.

The federal government's proposed carbon tax will have a minimal impact on the value of Australia's top listed companies, according to analysis from a major bank.

Nearly half of senior Australia executives say new technology will drive the biggest change in their companies in the coming decade.

Australian shares fell more than one per cent ahead of scheduled talks between Greece, the IMF and EU, and a meeting of the US Federal Reserve.

The federal opposition has stepped up its challenge to the Gillard government to release its new carbon tax modelling ahead of tomorrow's "shotgun" parliamentary inquiry.

Future Fund chairman David Murray says the federal government could use money from the fund to stabilise the budget, if the rules governing the fund are changed.

Cape Lambert Resources says its Marampa iron ore project in Sierra Leone will cost $US1.5 billion ($A1.47 billion) to develop.

If Australia does nothing to mitigate the effects of climate change other countries will be "significantly discouraged", the federal government's adviser on climate change says.

Straits Resources will pay $US120 million ($A117 million) to restructure an existing sales deal with a JP Morgan company for copper from its Tritton mine in NSW to reflect lower prices for the meta