Labor cabinet member Bill Shorten has warned Tony Abbott would hike the GST rate if elected as prime minister in September. The federal government claims Mr Abbott's plan for a tax "white paper" ...

* S&P 500 hits fresh record high * U.S. gasoline futures up for 9 out of last 12 sessions * Dollar/yen hits 4-1/2-year high * U.S. consumer sentiment rises to highest level in six years (Updates to settlement, ...

* US gold futures down 1.6 pct, down 5 pct on week * Traders see more losses, could take market to 2010 level * Fed officials pressure for stimulus end, driving dollar up * Strong US consumer data, stock ...

* Dollar/yen hits 4-1/2-year high * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * U.S. consumer sentiment rises to highest level in six years (New throughout, updates prices and market activity, adds ...

* Dollar/yen hits 4-1/2-year high * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * U.S. economic activity gauge rises to five-year high * U.S. consumer sentiment rises to highest level in six years (New ...

* Dollar lifted by Fed official's comments on QE * Gold prices set to end the week down 5 pct * Palladium, platinum outperform after Platinum Week (Updates prices, adds comment) By Jan Harvey LONDON, May ...

* Brent crude heads for weekly gain on dip-buying * Dollar rises near 10-month high * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * Coming up: Univ of Michigan consumer sentiment data (Updates prices, ...

* Brent crude heads for weekly gain on dip-buying * Dollar rises near 10-month high * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth (Updates prices, repeats ...

* Brent crude heads for weekly gain on dip-buying * Dollar rises near 10-month high * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth (Updates prices) By ...

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Gold prices extended losses on Friday to fall more than 1 percent, hitting one-month lows, as the dollar rose to its highest since July 2010 against a basket of currencies. Spot ...

* Dollar lifted by Fed official's comments on QE * Gold prices set to end the week down nearly 5 pct * Palladium, platinum outperform after Platinum Week (Updates prices) By Jan Harvey LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) ...

* Dollar near 10-month high, then eases * Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline stops again - source * Brent crude on course to end week little changed * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth (Recasts with ...

Diamonds don't just come in all shapes and sizes: they come in a rainbow of colours, from cherry blossom pinks and the deepest ruby reds to deep ocean blues and icy whites. Rio Tinto had 64 of them on ...

* Dollar near 10-month high as markets reassess Fed outlook * Brent crude on course to end week little changed * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth (Previous SINGAPORE, updates prices) By Alex ...

Shares in engineering giant WorleyParsons plunged to four-year lows after it blamed a slowdown in Western Australia's mining industry for a profit downgrade. The announcement surprised investors given ...

The Australian share market closed higher on Friday, led by investors picking up cheaper mining stocks after heavy selling in recent days. The market was still slightly lower for the week. The mining giants ...

* Dollar near 10-mth high, regional Fed chief foreshadows QE wind-down * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth * Russia says Iran must take part in proposed Syria talks * Brent oil to fall to ...

A federal opposition plan to repeal the carbon tax if it wins government has been labelled immoral by a senior Labor minister, who says such a move cannot go ahead. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet ...

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed claims by Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart that the nation's economy is heading for a collapse like those seen in Europe. In a video recorded speech delivered ...

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says a coalition government would have to make further budget cuts to cover a $26 billion shortfall in revenue. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Thursday night said in his ...

* Dollar near 10-mth high, regional Fed chief foreshadows QE wind-down * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth * Russia says Iran must take part in proposed Syria talks * Brent oil to fall to ...

If businesses ran their budgets like the federal government they would face corporate charges, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says. Speaking at the Australian Mines and Metals Association conference in Melbourne, ...

* Gold's 7-session drop is longest losing streak in 4 years * Physical demand slow as consumers await further price fall-dealers (Adds details, updates price) By A. Ananthalakshmi SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) ...

If you're planning an overseas holiday any time soon, this will come as bad news: the Australian dollar is down and staying down. Two weeks ago, one dollar was buying around 103 US cents; today it's buying ...

Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart has been criticised by Prime Minister Julia Gillard for saying the nation's economy is heading for a collapse like those seen in Europe. The multi-billionaire mining ...

China's state-owned electricity company is set to spend about $6 billion for a major stake in Australian electricity and gas assets. The largest utilities company in the world, Sate Grid Corporation of ...

A major business group has pledged to lobby an Abbott government to scrap its "ill-conceived" paid parental scheme, which it says will cost large companies in excess of $100 million a year each. ...

* Gold down for 7th straight session, near 4-week low * Physical demand slow as consumers await further price fall-dealers (Adds quotes, updates prices) By A. Ananthalakshmi SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) ...

* Dlr near 10-mth high, regional Fed chief foreshadows QE wind-down * Evidence mounts of slower U.S. economic growth * Russia says Iran must take part in proposed Syria talks * Brent oil to fall to $102.42 ...

Higher costs of generating electricity have contributed to a rise in the producers price index.

The Australian market was higher at noon due to strong gains from the mining giants. RBS Morgans Brisbane senior client adviser Bill Chatterton said resources stocks were performing well but mining services ...

SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - Gold edged up on Friday as stock markets paused after rally, but the metal was still on track for its worst weekly decline in a month as investors cut exposure to bullion, ...

The resources sector is being used like an ATM machine and Australia's record debt is unsustainable, mining magnate Gina Rinehart says. Ms Rinehart, Australia's richest person, made the comments in a video ...