Rio asks for pitches on coal assets

Rio Tinto has asked banks to pitch for a role advising on the divestment of its last remaining coal operations in Australia.

China reserves 'more than ample': S&P;

China's foreign-exchange reserves falling below $US3 trillion doesn't threaten its sovereign credit rating, according to S&P.;

Goldman bullish on metals

A rerun of China's massive stimulus during the financial crisis is set to offer another boost to global metals prices.

Vale produced record iron ore in 2016

Brazilian miner Vale said it produced a record 349 million tonnes of iron ore in 2016, above its own guidance.

Fox News' sexual harassment payments under investigation, lawyer says

The US attorney's office is looking into the way Fox News handled payments related to sexual harassment cases to determine whether the company misled investors, according to the lawyer for a woman who is suing the network.

TV networks under 'severe duress' as ad revenue shrinks

Channel Ten says its industry is "under severe duress" and it may report annual losses of $30 million for this financial year.

Telstra plunge keeps cap on ASX gains

Telstra's biggest plunge in more than six years weighed on investor sentiment on Thursday, but the overall market still managed to eke out a small gain.

'Stuff ups' and discounts cost David Jones plenty

In the 26 weeks to December 25, David Jones sales increased by 4 per cent, compared to an 11.2 per cent spike in sales growth in the previous corresponding period.

Is it time for Cameron to find her Caribbean Black Prince?

Now let us be clear. Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron is not saying she is the Curacao-based Black Prince, which is the single largest shareholder in the rather soiled formula maker Bellamy's.

How Australia can avoid becoming the 'white trash' of Asia

• COMMENT

I know how Jules Verne must have felt. My recent trip to New York plus three days in Israel and two more in London was a fascinating circumnavigation but thanks to Qantas and the LLJets I did it quicker than 80 days in a balloon.

Mergers and acquisitions set to explode in 2017

Healthcare regulation, mining exploration and Chinese interest is likely to give M&A; a boost in 2017.

'I am no criminal': franchisee hits back at Domino's boss

A former franchisee has lashed out at Domino's Chief Executive Don Meij after being lumped in with other franchisees as a blackmailing 'criminal'.

Bellamy's shareholders warned off supporting Cameron board spill

Bellamy's shareholders told not to back the push to grab board control of the troubled company

To avoid blackouts, overhaul the electricity market: Origin

The electricity market operator should be given additional power so it can intervene directly in the energy market, the head of Origin Energy has said.

Full-time jobs plunge as unemployment rate ticks down to 5.7%

Full-time employment collapsed to its weakest point in 16 months in January after two months of gains were reversed, leaving Australia with 56,100 fewer full-time workers than in January 2015.

Slater and Gordon closes at new low as investors face wipeout

• UPDATED

Investors slammed shares in Slater and Gordon as the troubled law firm said it was yet to reach a deal with its lenders and revealed its trading performance was weaker than expected.  

David Jones sales sag in first half

In the 26 weeks to December 25, David Jones sales increased by 4 per cent, compared to an 11.2 per cent spike in sales growth in the previous corresponding period.

Mark Butler denies Labor has ditched 2030 renewable energy goal

Labor's climate change spokesman Mark Butler has dismissed as "rubbish" widely circulating claims that Federal ALP had dropped its goal of achieving half of the nation's electricity will be supplied by renewable sources by 2030.

Telstra reports surprise profit fall as revenue drops

• UPDATED

Australia's largest telecoms company has posted an unexpected 11.8 per cent fall in first-half profit, dragged down by falling revenues for its mainstay fixed-line and mobile telephone business.

Fraser review rejects 'independence' quotas for industry super funds

A long-awaited review into the governance of industry super funds by former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has found no grounds for legislation that would force boards to have a minimum number of "independent" directors.

Markets Live: Telstra's day to forget

Shares eke out a small gain despite Telstra suffering its worst session since August 2010 on a heavy day of earnings, while the Aussie dollar recovers its post-Trump losses.

Sydney Airport in push to ease flight cap

Australia's largest airport argues the government-imposed restrictions on flights are two decades old and detrimental to the state's tourism industry.

Clive Palmer paid $250,000 to fly Kyrgyz woman to Singapore

Asked why he chartered the private flight, Mr Palmer said it was for staff safety reasons.

$A extends rally after jobs data

The Aussie extends its stunning 2017 rally, even after a surprise jump in US inflation increased the chances of a Fed rate rise.

South 32 hangs on to its cash as metal prices rally

South 32, the spin-out of orphan assets from BHP Billiton, has benefited handsomely from the surge in metal prices in the latter part of 2016, but has opted to hang on to a large chunk of its cash.

Buck passed over hiring of IT workers on 457 visas

The NSW government has passed the buck for labour market testing to a contractor which hired IT workers from overseas on 457 visas.

Mirvac profits from housing boom but settlement defaults rise

The diversified property group's profits surged 7 per cent in first half of the year, although defaults on its residential settlement have hit 2 per cent as investors struggle to get finance.

CFA member stood aside over change room creep camera

• UPDATED

Victoria's Country Fire Authority has stood down a senior member of a large Victorian brigade amid allegations he has been filming women getting changed in a shed without their knowledge.

'Criminals': Domino's CEO slams wage fraud whistleblowers

Domino's CEO Don Meij has admitted more than 2000 of the pizza chain's employees have been underpaid while blasting whistleblowing franchisees as blackmailing "criminals".