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SKILLED vacancies fell 0.5 per cent in July, data shows.

GAMING firm Crown said it is no longer pursuing an investment in a proposed casino project in the Philippines with Bloombury Investments due to tightening credit conditions.

TREASURER Wayne Swan has warned banks to think twice before hiking home loans again, after figures out today showed inflation is at a near 17-year high.

INFLATION figures released today show prices are continuing to rise outside the Reserve Bank's comfort zone, although analysts say another rates rise is unlikely.

THE ASX closed almost two per cent higher following strong gains from the financial sector after a positive lead from wall street overnight.

MACQUARIE shares closed the day 11pc higher after the company said it had a solid start to the fiscal year, despite a drop in profit.

THE demand for fixed rate home loans fell sharply in June as borrowers resisted being locked into high interest rates that may begin to ease again, a new study finds.

THE ACCC says issues have emerged from its inquiries into the proposed $16bn takeover of St George Bank by Westpac.

BHP Billiton has booked full year production records for seven of its commodities, despite higher costs and supply disruptions.

AUSTRALIAN banking stocks benefited from a global shift out of miners into financials as US lenders unveiled better than expected results.