AAP

The Australian economy is expected to have returned to growth in the June quarter after a contraction in the previous three months because of natural disasters over the summer.

Magnetite iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources has agreed to purchase by-product from Venture Minerals's Mt Lindsay tin and tungsten project in Tasmania.

Coal miner and iron ore explorer Aquila Resources says it will cost $368 million to develop its wholly owned Washpool coking coal project in Queensland.

Western Australian stocks proved resilient when the domestic sharemarket fell to a two-year low in August, with the market capitalisation of the state's top 100 firms easing by just 2.8 per cent.

Activity in the Australian services sector expanded in August for the first time in four months, despite continuing softness in household spending.

The federal government won't be bringing back individual workplace agreements despite a push by a major industry group for more flexibility, frontbencher Craig Emerson says.

The Australian share market has opened lower after weak US jobs data renewed fears of a second global recession.

The Australian dollar was trading around one US cent lower this morning, weakened by last week's poor US economic news.

Business calls for flexible contracts – The Aus; Barnett's ambitions as big as his state – The Fin; Royalties impair 42pc tax claim – The West; High dollar is a profit season blow – The Fin; Crunch time for Alcoa's Warro-4 gas venture – The Fin

Another down week in US stocks has capped off the dismal month of August, with bad jobs figures and a sweeping government lawsuit against banks over mortgage-backed securities cancelling out a tent

South Boulder Mines expects to start production at the world's first open pit potash mine by 2016 and possibly sooner, with start-up costs expected to be half the average for underground potash min

Predator SABMiller has claimed that takeover target Foster's Group made misleading statements when it reported its annual financial results.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors expect poor US employment data to push the market even further down.

Borrowers can breathe easy for the next few months, as economists don't expect an interest rate rise for the remainder of 2011, while some are tipping a cut in the new year.

Uranium explorer Extract Resources says it is advancing financing talks for its $US1.66 billion Husab uranium project in Namibia, which is set to be the world's third-largest uranium-only mine.

The Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (SSDP) has been officially opened three months ahead of schedule and will soon begin to produce 50 billion litres of freshwater for the state.

Shares in Excalibur Mining jumped after the gold exploration minnow unveiled a new direction and capital structure, including a planned dual listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Shares in Pluton Resources jumped after the junior minerals explorer signed a deal to acquire Cockatoo Island iron ore assets in the Kimberley.

Nationals MP Tony Crook says he's changed his view that the Gillard government will go a full term as pressure builds on her leadership.

Qantas Airways has reported improving yields - or average fares per passenger - across the airline group for July.

Ansett employees have finally received their final payout, a decade after the airline collapsed.

Tiger Airways will resume flights to Perth next week, their first since its six-week safety ban was lifted last month.

The Australian share market opened lower as cautious investors anticipated poor US employment data.

The Compass Hotel Group's portfolio will be sold to the Woolworths-backed ALH Group, following an agreement reached with receivers.

The Australian dollar is a few pips higher this morning after a mixed night of trading, as data showed manufacturing is performing better than expected in the US but has tumbled to a two-year low i

Investment boom is more than mining – The Fin; Jobs to go in GESB revamp – The West; Oswal loses bid to stall $100m Burrup case – The Aus; Prices to soar as homes dry up – The West; ALH grabs Compass pubs – The Fin

US stocks dropped more than one per cent on Thursday, a day before a closely watched report on the jobs market will show whether prospects are improving for the world's largest economy.

Treasurer Wayne Swan believes the latest surge in building and equipment spending by business highlights the "great faith" investors have in the nation's economic outlook.

Sundance Resources continues to say that a $1.44 billion takeover bid by the iron ore explorer's largest shareholder is not sufficiently priced.

The average price of Australia's export commodities rose 0.4 per cent in foreign currency terms, hitting a new all-time high in the process.

Worldwide iron ore production growth will need to grow by at least 100 million tonnes a year over the next eight years to meet rising demand, Rio Tinto says.