AAP

Premier Colin Barnett says he's concerned a blanket heritage listing for the west Kimberley region will create more red tape.

Retailer Harvey Norman says it remains cautious into fiscal 2012 due to global volatility and weak domestic conditions after posting a nine per cent increase in full year profit.

The federal government and the coal industry have criticised a new report which says Labor's carbon tax compensation package is too generous and will protect companies that don't deserve to survive

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has swooped on Count Financial, offering its shareholders $373 million to acquire the national network of financial planning accountants.

The home building sector could continue to stagnate for the next six months, with worse than expected home building approvals figures showing a recovery is not in sight.

Macarthur Coal has advised its shareholders to accept a revised, $4.8 billion joint takeover offer by the world's largest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, and US coal miner Peabody Energy.

The corporate regulator has proposed a significant number of changes to the way financial products are advertised, including outlawing indecipherable warnings or disclaimers.

Cash from the resources boom should be used to build a $100 billion rail link between Brisbane and Melbourne, federal Greens leader Bob Brown says.

The state government has rejected a call by mining giant Rio Tinto for it to consider using nuclear energy plants to supply some of the state's future electricity needs.

Resolute Mining says it swung back to profitability in 2010/11 and expects gold production to rise in the current year.

The federal government is defending a decision not to hold an inquiry into the ailing manufacturing sector as Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets sacked steel workers in Wollongong.

Atlas Iron appears poised to secure control of takeover target FerrAus, amid indications that a major Chinese investor in the iron ore explorer will accept Atlas' all-scrip $240 million offer.

The Australian dollar was half a US cent higher following positive leads from equity markets as investor sentiment continued to improve.

US stock markets rallied on Monday as upbeat data on consumer spending lifted hopes that economic growth would pick up speed, and Hurricane Irene caused less damage than feared.

PM rebuffs calls for industry, IR inquiry – The Fin; For consumers, the outlook is gloomy – The Aus; Rio tells Barnett to think nuclear – The West; Perdaman-Lanco coal deal 'will lapse' – The Fin; 'Strings' sink Neptune bid – The West

Australian shares pared back earlier gains, but still closed higher as strong company earnings at the end of the reporting season buoyed investor sentiment.

Franchisors are forecasting a 17 per cent increase in profit growth over the next 12 months after recording double digit growth last year, a report shows.

Oil and gas company AWE has posted a $117.6 million full year loss after taking hits on writedowns and unsuccessful exploration costs.

Tectonic Resources is holding talks with Chinese parties about funding for its $145 million, potentially wind-powered Phillips River copper and gold project near Ravensthorpe.

Federal Schools Minister Peter Garrett says the government's continued focus on skills will help the manufacturing industry more than changing the industrial relations system.

Tiger Airways Australia is losing another chief executive, with Tony Davis leaving the airline and its Singapore-based parent company.

QR National chief executive Lance Hockridge says he is open to cooperating with BHP Billiton on new rail projects in Queensland.

Homeloans has booked a 25 per cent drop in annual net profit and warns subdued housing market conditions are likely to continue for the first half of 2011/12.

The Australian share market opened higher on after a strong US lead as investors looked past a highly anticipated speech by US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke which dashed immediate hopes for

The industrial relations system is not working, especially for small businesses, the former head of the Australian Building and Construction Commission says.

Ways to boost the ailing manufacturing industry will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets unions and industry groups on Monday.

The Australian dollar was close to one US cent higher, reflecting broad-based US dollar weakness after a speech by the leader of the US central bank left markets cold.

US stocks closed solidly higher on Friday, shrugging off central bank chief Ben Bernanke's "no new stimulus - yet" message and locking on his statement that growth should pick up in the second half

Unions escalate IR war with 'out of touch' RBA – The Aus; Labor defends open economy – The Fin; Boom puts people on move – The Aus; Water restrictions on WA miners – The Fin; Reboot for rare-earth mine – The West

Bill payments operator BPAY has axed its Me and My Bank Online (MAMBO) project after ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank (NAB) withdrew from the online payments identity project.

Companies brave enough to provide detailed forecasts were even rarer than stellar performers this earnings season, analysts say.

Perpetual's shares jumped to a 10-week high after the wealth manager and trustee announced a $70 million off-market share buy-back and an annual profit in line with expectations.