AAP

Global testing services group Campbell Brothers has reported a 75.7 per cent rise in full year net profit and says it expects further growth in its business in the current year.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has shown little understanding of the iron ore industry in his attack on the state's budget.

Wesfarmers has downgraded its sales volume forecast for its Curragh mine in Queensland due to recent rainfall and a mechanical failure.

Australian shares have opened lower due to a weak lead from Wall Street and concerns about Europe's debt woes.

After three days of bad news about Europe's debt crisis sent Asian and European markets down on Monday, it was Wall Street's turn.

The Australian dollar was almost half a US cent lower this morning amid worries that the European government debt contagion is spreading.

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Traditional landowners have been granted native title over 26,000 square kilometres in Western Australia's north Kimberley region.

The Australian share market ended the day deeply in the red at a two-month low as finance stocks lost the most ground amid widespread selling.

Federal politicians struggling with parliament's extended sitting hours are demanding more moderate working hours.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is using a new report about global warming as a tick of approval for the coalition's direct action policy on climate change.

The solar-energy industry has warned that Western Australia's solar panel installers could go bust by the end of the year after changes announced to the government's feed-in-tariff scheme.

Shares in Australia's big banks have come under heavy selling pressure as short-sellers take their toll, attracted by banks' lending vulnerability amid a two-speed economy.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard remains concerned about a West Australian government plan to increase mining royalties on iron ore and says the issue remains up for discussion.

Junior minerals explorer Blackthorn Resources says mining giant BHP Billiton has terminated the Mumbwa joint venture partnership, withdrawing from the copper-gold project in Zambia.

BP says loading times at its Port Hedland fuel terminal in Western Australia have been cut by 40 per cent.

Agribusiness Elders has posted a $14.6 million first half loss, smaller than a year ago, and lowered its forecasts for full year underlying profit.

Virgin Australia is the latest airline to announce a new fare structure, reducing the number of fare options from five to three.

Australian shares have opened lower due to a weak lead from Wall Street and concerns about Europe's debt woes.

The Australian dollar was slightly lower after a sharp sell off in the euro on Friday night sparked by further Greek sovereign debt worries.

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Stocks closed broadly lower for a third straight week on signs that US consumer demand may be weakening.

Tiger Airways says its Australian operations will focus on flying profitably rather than growth in fiscal 2012, after natural disasters pushed the airline's business Down Under to a full year loss.

Australia's geothermal sector has responded to criticism it is not progressing fast enough, saying major new geothermal projects can take as long to develop as a liquefied natural gas plant.

The Australian share market closed moderately weaker, dragged down by materials stocks as investors digested lower base metals prices and the West Australian government's iron ore royalty hike.

Dairy farmers say Wesfarmers has acted with extreme arrogance in refusing a request from shareholders to hold an extraordinary general meeting to discuss Coles' ongoing milk price war.

Mining companies should fight the West Australian government for raising royalty rates like they fought Canberra over the mining tax, federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says.

Fortescue Metals Group has announced a maiden iron ore reserve estimate of 716 million tonnes (Mt) for the first stage of its Solomon Hub in Western Australia.

ANZ Banking Group signed another agreement with a major Chinese bank as it ramps up attempts to capture trade flows and cross-border deals between China, Australia and New Zealand.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is not worried that his budget may cause frustration for federal Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Australian shares have opened lower, with resources stocks weighing on the market after falls in commodity prices.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Western Australia will get less money for major projects and in GST payments following tax changes by the Barnett government.