Breaking news business
BMW fined $US3m for US recalls
9:29am Carmaker BMW has agreed to pay $US3 million ($A2.79 million) for delays in reporting safety defects and recalls to the US government.
Spain's govt approves labour reforms
Daniel Woolls & Ciaran Giles 9:49am Spain's government has passed labour market reforms deemed crucial to creating jobs to chip away at Europe's worst unemployment figures.
Westpac raises mortgage rates
7:24pm Westpac has become the second of the big banks to raise its variable mortgage rate in defiance of the central bank.
AFL files notice of appeal in Optus case
4:14pm The AFL has filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court after losing a court battle to prevent Optus offering its TV Now service.
ANZ hikes interest rates, breaks with OCR
Alison Bell 7:29pm ANZ Bank raised interest rates on home and business loans by 6bps, becoming the first bank to break the link between banks' rates and the OCR.
Newcrest CEO tips $US2,500/oz gold price
2:29pm Newcrest chief executive Greg Robinson says gold could reach prices of up to $US2,500 an ounce, from about $US1,732.
RBA signals steady rates outlook
Garry Shilson-Josling, AAP Economist The RBA in its quarterly monetary policy statement has repeated the message of its rates decision on Tuesday - on hold with flexibility to cut if needed.
RBA cuts inflation and growth forecasts
Evan Schwarten The RBA has cut its inflation and growth forecasts as uncertainty about Europe's debt crisis weighs on the local economy.
James Hardie wins $300m tax dispute
James Hardie will be paid more than $300 million after winning a legal dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.
Transfield confirms full-year guidance
Transfield Services says net profit for the 2012 financial year will be towards the lower end of its previous forecasts.
Murdoch named Ten Network chairman
Lachlan Murdoch has been appointed chairman of the Ten Network, with his predecessor Brian Long taking on the deputy chairman's role.
Newcrest delivers record profit
Newcrest Mining's first-half profit grows by 50 per cent to a record high on stronger sales of gold, silver and copper.
Aust bonds firm after Greek austerity deal
Australian bonds firmed after eurozone ministers raised doubts about the effectiveness of a Greek austerity package.
Stocks to watch at close on Friday
Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange at close on Friday
Commodities markets summary
Commodities news from around the world
International markets roundup
News from the world’s major stock markets
$A lower on Greek worries
The Australian dollar fell one US cent amid lower inflation forecasts and a setback to Greece's efforts to avoid a default on its debt
Aust Stocks close lower
The Australian share market has finished lower amid a soaring Australian dollar, the RBA's hold on interest rates and uncertainty of Greek debt.
Kodak to stop making cameras
Eastman Kodak says it will stop making cameras, marking the end of an era for the company that brought photography to the masses more than a century ago.
ECB leaves key interest rate at 1%
The European Central Bank has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low 1.0 per cent.
James Hardie goes into trading halt
James Hardie has gone into a trading halt ahead of an application by the taxation office in the High Court.
Aluminium writedown slashes Rio profit
Mining giant Rio Tinto has booked a 59 per cent slump in net profit, primarily due to a hefty impairment charge for the aluminium business.
China inflation rises to 4.5% in January
China's inflation has rebounded in January, defying forecasts by analysts.
Weak property market hits Stockland profit
Property group Stockland's first-half net profit fell by 28 per cent due to tough economic conditions.
Sims Metal takes $614m impairment charge
Scrap metal recycler Sims Metal Management writes down value of its North American business by $614 million.
News Corp flags lower newspaper revenues
News Corp warns of a massive revenue slide at its newspaper businesses and fears the cost of the phone hacking scandal will be higher than expected.
NZ unemployment rate drops to 6.3 per cent
Paul McBeth New Zealand's lower jobless rate of 6.3 per cent masked a 0.8 per cent fall in full-time workers in the December quarter.
Investor confidence sends Aust bonds lower
Australian bond prices fell as confident traders shifted their money to higher-risk assets
Tabcorp lifts underlying profit
Wagering and gaming firm Tabcorp lifts first half underlying profit by 14.1 per cent and expects a similar performance in the second half of the year.
Telstra says 1H12 NPAT up 22.9pct
Telstra has reported a 22.9 per cent lift in half year net profit to $1.468bn, lower than market watchers had been expecting.
