THE International Monetary Fund overnight proposed the sale of 403.3 tonnes of gold for about $US11 billion ($11.94 billion) as part of a wide-ranging financial overhaul, managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.

RIO Tinto said it was still dismissive of the $135 billion ($145 billion) all-stock hostile takeover bid by BHP Billiton and that Rio was doing fine on its own.

CREDITORS of collapsed stockbroker Opes Prime are gathering in Melbourne this morning to hear whether they will recover any of their money.

PRIVATE sector economists have quickly defended embattled Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens but he has won little support from politicians.

SEX Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick and union and business leaders have joined forces to call for a national, taxpayer-funded, paid maternity leave scheme.

AUSTRALIAN coal exporters are expected to enjoy a tripling in prices this year after an unprecedented standoff with China that sent the trade deficit plunging.

FARMERS claim there is clear evidence of a widening gap between farm gate prices and what consumers are being charged at the checkout.

ANZ BANK revealed yesterday its provisioning for bad debts would hit almost $1 billion - a sign of how much pain it is feeling from the financial crisis.

BUSINESS confidence has fallen to its lowest level since September 2001, as the local economy hits the brakes sooner than expected.

FORMER underworld boss Mick Gatto and a group of Melbourne business associates will leave Australia this morning to hunt down more than $1 billion worth of assets they believe are hidden inside collapsed stockbroker Opes Prime.