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    • Labor and coalition rule out GST hike AAP - 1 hour 6 minutes ago
      Labor and coalition rule out GST hike

      For all their bickering, Labor and the coalition appear to be unified on one policy front. Both have adamantly ruled out hiking the GST rate if elected in September, with Labor claiming it would hurt poorer ...

    • Coalition planning GST hike: Shorten AAP - 5 hours ago
      Coalition planning GST hike: Shorten

      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" ...

    • UPDATE 9-Oil rallies for third day, shrugging off firm dollar Reuters Australia - 12 hours ago

      * 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, ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold hits 1-month low as Fed pressured to end stimulus Reuters Australia - 13 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • UPDATE 8-Oil rises for third day, despite firm dollar Reuters Australia - 15 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • UPDATE 7-Oil edges up for third day on strong U.S. data Reuters Australia - 17 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold falls to 1-month low as Fed comments lift dollar Reuters Australia - 18 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • UPDATE 6-Oil rises towards $105, shrugs off firm dollar Reuters Australia - 19 hours ago

      * 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, ...

    • RPT-UPDATE 5-Oil rises towards $105, shrugs off firm dollar Reuters Australia - 19 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • AB UPDATE 5-Oil rises towards $105, shrugs off firm dollar Reuters Australia - 19 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • Gold prices slide 1.3 pct to one-month lows Reuters Australia - 20 hours ago

      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 ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold falls as Fed comments lift dollar Reuters Australia - 20 hours ago

      * 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) ...

    • UPDATE 4-Oil edges up to $104, demand worries weigh Reuters Australia - 21 hours ago

      * 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 ...

    • Argyle offers rare red diamonds in 2013 AAP - 23 hours ago
      Argyle offers rare red diamonds in 2013

      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 ...

    • UPDATE 3-Oil below $104 on demand worries, strong dollar Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 8:41 PM NZST

      * 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 ...

    • WorleyParsons shares hit four-year lows AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 7:28 PM NZST

      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 ...

    • Aust shares close higher AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 7:22 PM NZST

      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 ...

    • UPDATE 2-Brent slips, stays below $104 on demand worries, firm dollar Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:58 PM NZST

      * 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 ...

    • Coalition carbon price cut immoral: Combet AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:56 PM NZST
      Coalition carbon price cut immoral: Combet

      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 ...

    • Gillard rejects Rinehart economy analysis AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:56 PM NZST
      Gillard rejects Rinehart economy analysis

      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 ...

    • Abbott falls $26 billion short: Gillard AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:39 PM NZST
      Abbott falls $26 billion short: Gillard

      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 ...

    • UPDATE 1-Brent slips, stays below $104 on demand worries, firm dollar Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:22 PM NZST

      * 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 ...

    • Fed budget wouldn't fly for business: Oppn AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 6:08 PM NZST
      Fed budget wouldn't fly for business: Oppn

      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, ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold falls further in longest losing streak in four years Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 5:59 PM NZST

      * 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) ...

    • $A down and staying down AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 5:26 PM NZST

      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 ...

    • Gina Rinehart warns of Euro-style collapse AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 5:18 PM NZST
      Gina Rinehart warns of Euro-style collapse

      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 buys into power network AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 5:01 PM NZST

      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 ...

    • Drop 'unfair' parental scheme, Abbott told AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 4:52 PM NZST

      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. ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold falls on stronger dollar, heads for worst week in a month Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 4:25 PM NZST

      * 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) ...

    • Brent slips towards $103 on demand growth worries, stronger dollar Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 4:15 PM NZST

      * 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 ...

    • Electricity costs bumped up price index Newstalk ZB - Fri, May 17, 2013 2:26 PM NZST

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

    • Aust stocks higher as miners gain AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 2:26 PM NZST

      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 ...

    • PRECIOUS-Gold edges up, headed for worst week in a month Reuters Australia - Fri, May 17, 2013 1:19 PM NZST

      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, ...

    • Miners are not ATMs, Rinehart says AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 1:05 PM NZST
      Miners are not ATMs, Rinehart says

      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 ...

    • Aust market edges higher AAP - Fri, May 17, 2013 12:41 PM NZST

      Gains by miners and the big four banks have driven the Australian share market higher despite a fall on Wall Street overnight. Property stocks were also higher, helping to offset losses among gold companies ...