AAP

Iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources may on-sell some of the 800,000 tonnes of product it has contracted to ailing steel maker BlueScope Steel this financial year.

Premier Colin Barnett says the growth of the mining industry has blinded the federal government to the weaknesses of the manufacturing sector.

The Reserve Bank Australia (RBA) has been torn between low economic growth and high inflation when deciding rates over the past year, a senior central bank official says.

Norton Gold Fields has returned to profitability as the gold price continues to march towards $US2,000 an ounce, and says its balance sheet is set for more improvement.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon is outraged that BlueScope Steel is shedding 1000 jobs while the company's senior executives are paying themselves $3 million in bonuses.

Mining giant BHP Billiton should spend more of its enormous profits to protect the environment in the expansion of its Olympic Dam project in South Australia, the Greens say.

Residential property prices are expected to remain flat with little growth in the foreseeable future, one of Australia's biggest property developers, Mirvac, says.

Foster's Group has foreshadowed more job cuts, reporting an annual net loss and a continued drop in the Australian beer market.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan will investigate claims that contracts for big resources and energy projects have shut out Australian steelmakers.

Oil Search has more than doubled its first half net profit due to higher oil prices, and has reiterated its full year production guidance.

The Australian share market opened higher after a positive lead on Wall Street sparked by the apparent downfall of Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

Earthmoving equipment firm Emeco Holdings is back in the black after a rise in resources sector activity in the first half.

It was another day of big swings in the Dow Jones industrial average, but at least Monday ended with a modest gain.

Steel push to secure local jobs – The Aus; Union must pay $1.5m to oil giant – The Aus; Miners to choose MRRT project value – The Fin; WA worried it can't meet green target – The Fin; Funding for regions to be reviewed – The West

The Australian share market fell back into negative territory to close lower after earlier positive trading on the back of takeover announcements and strong earnings results.

James Hardie Industries shares gained almost five per cent after a successful appeal to the Full Bench of the Federal Court over tax matter worth over $242 million.

Oil and gas giant Santos has been fined $84,000 over a 2004 explosion at its Moomba gas processing facility that put South Australia and NSW on gas rations.

Tiger Airways is keeping its new-look Australian service under wraps but says it's had solid bookings since returning to the air after a six-week grounding.

The Australian Greens have introduced a bill to make it easier to change banks a day after Treasurer Wayne Swan announced similar measures.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has told parliament he will abide by any plebiscite on a carbon tax.

Western Areas has booked a jump in full year net profit after exceeding nickel production targets at two of its mines in Western Australia.

Steelmaker OneSteel has moved to shore up its position in the booming iron ore industry by spending $346 million on several mines.

The competition regulator has given Qantas Airways a provisional go-ahead for its proposed joint business agreement with American Airlines.

The Australian share market opened slightly lower, following a weak lead from Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as optimism grows that the Eurozone will issue its own bonds in a bid to ease sovereign debt crisis.

A growing belief that the US is headed toward recession has given its stock market its fourth straight week of losses.

Steel exports dead, 1000 jobs lost – The Aus; Labor slams business in IR row – The Fin; WA coal seeks aid in uncertain times – The Fin; China cautious about WA – The West; Builders' fury at tax change – The Aus

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says three new agreements with the states and territories on heavy vehicle, rail and maritime safety regulation will save the economy tens of billions of dollars.

The nation must overcome the increasingly bitter conflict between the coal seam gas (CSG) and farming factions, with the country poised to become the "Saudi Arabia of gas", Regional Australia Minis

The Australian share market closed sharply lower on a mixture of poor company results and big falls on US and European bourses spooked by the poor global growth outlook.

BHP Billiton, Westfield, Billabong, News Corporation.