A Perth-based Mitsubishi dealer says car buyers shouldn't be affected by the company's decision to close its Adelaide plant.

Australia's tight labour market conditions may be easing, a survey shows.

The Federal Government has criticised a push by the Deputy Opposition Leader to save Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

Britain's plans to extricate itself from the collapse of mortgage bank Northern Rock stumbled as it faced the prospect of an auction with only two bidders.

Newmont Mining Corp, the world's second largest gold miner, is casting its net wider in west Africa.

MELBOURNE, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to open sharply lower on Wednesday after fresh data pointed to a U.S. recession, but resource stocks could find support as investors wait to see whether BHP Billiton BHP.AX launches a

Angola is hoping to boost investment in iron ore exploration as the south-western African nation diversifies away from oil and diamonds.

The New South Wales Farmers Association says it is disappointed with the Reserve Bank's decision to increase the official cash rate.

Macquarie Group CEO Allan Moss is to retire and will be replaced by the head of Macquarie Capital, Nicholas Moore, from May 24.

The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton, has reported a & #36;6.7 billion half year profit.

SYDNEY, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Macquarie Group Ltd MQG.AX, Australia's top listed investment bank, named Nicholas Moore as its new chief executive, replacing the outgoing CEO Allan Moss, and forecast a record full-year profit.

BHP Billiton will have to announce today whether it intends to push ahead immediately with one of the world's biggest corporate takeovers, or the mining giant has to leave the deal for six months.

The Federal Opposition says interest rates are more likely to rise again if the Federal Government goes through with plans to change industrial relations laws.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The vast services sector of the US economy contracted in January for the first time in nearly five years, a closely watched private survey showed Tuesday.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Wall Street shares slid at the open Tuesday after a surprisingly weak reading on US service sector activity intensified fears about a recession in the world's biggest economy.

The union representing Qantas engineers says a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement will prevent engineering jobs from being moved overseas.

LONDON (AFP) - Europe's main stock markets fell on Tuesday, retracing some of last week's gains after losses overnight on Wall Street and earlier in Asia, dealers said.

BRUSSELS (AFP) - A service sector slump in January plunged business activity in the nations sharing the euro to the lowest level in over three years, a widely watched survey showed Tuesday.

LONDON (AFP) - The dollar rose against the euro and yen on Tuesday, with the European single currency hurt by weak economic data, traders said.

LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices moved lower on Tuesday as supply fears faded over the recent closure of a shipping channel serving a Texas port, analysts said.