SYDNEY, March 2 - Risks are dropping for a recurrence of the La Nina weather pattern, which brought record floods and cyclones to Australia recently, Australia's weather bureau said on Wednesday. "All available climate models...

MELBOURNE, Dec 8 - Japan's Itochu Corp has agreed to buy a 15 percent stake in a coal joint venture in Australia from Aston Resources for A$345 million ($341 million), Aston said on Wednesday. The...

SYDNEY, Nov 29 - Australia's competition regulator plans to take court action to prevent grocery wholesaler Metcash from buying the Franklin grocery chain in Australia from South Africa's Pick n Pay, Metcash said on Monday....

* Shipped extra product to Australia to meet demand * Sees strong Christmas selling season, no dip in confidence * Contrasts with subdued sales for local clothing chains (Adds quotes, background) MELBOURNE, Nov 26 -...

MELBOURNE, Nov 26 - U.S. clothing chain Gap said its first three months of trading in Australia have been at the high end of expectations and it anticipates a strong Christmas, defying a trend of...

SYDNEY, Nov 23 - Australia's central bank has decided to sell out of a bank-note joint venture at the centre of a police investigation into corruption allegations. The Reserve Bank of Australia said on Tuesday...

CANBERRA, Nov 23 - Australia and Japan will hold fresh negotiations on a free trade pact in January, Australia's Trade Minister Craig Emerson told parliament on Tuesday after talks with Japan's Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara....

SYDNEY, Nov 8 - Deutsche Bank has given the executive chairman of its Australia and New Zealand operations, John Macfarlane, the additional role of Chief Country Officer for Australia, the bank said on Monday. The...

* Newspaper predicts big expansion in military cooperation * Rudd would welcome more U.S. use of Australian ports MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 6 - The United States and Australia will discuss how to ensure supplies of...

SYDNEY, Oct 26 - Australian business conditions softened slightly last quarter but confidence rebounded sharply and expectations for the next 12 months improved, underpinning the outlook for solid economic growth. The results from National Australia...