AUSTRALIA’S sharemarket is on track for its biggest two-day gain in a year after a rally led by resources and financial stocks.

GLOBAL markets remained stuck in a volatility trap yesterday after a wild 48 hours marked by heavy losses from China to Europe.

Fast-growing Melbourne payments company PromisePay is ramping its growth plans in the global platform economy.

TREASURY Wine Estates chief Michael Clarke is pledging to jettison his cheap commercial brands in the US.

It could be a matter of time before a Chinese airline tries to buy a strategic stake in Qantas.

SWISS trader-miner Glencore has criticised Rio’s capabilities and strategy as a phony war between the pair continues.

DAVE Hyman is just one of the several new disruptive faces eyeing the financial services sector’s billions of dollars in profits.

Stocks drifted higher throughout the day on light stock-trading volume ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Three people are charged in connection with an alleged million-dollar gold theft in Western Australia's Goldfields, in which police say more than 8,000 tonnes of gold-bearing ore was stolen.

THE life insurance industry in Australia has been hit by a $650m loss as disability claims increase.

The auction for the Port of Melbourne has come down to a three-way race with bidders lodging indicative bids.

LOW consumer confidence has forced Flight Centre to downgrade its pre-tax earnings guidance by up to 4 per cent.

ONE of the Murray inquiry’s signature recommendations to improve competition has been disputed by analysts and investors.

LEIGHTON Holdings has wiped more than $1.5 billion worth of debt from its balance sheet in the space of a week.

FAIRFAX Media is plotting to clinch a triumvirate of deals before Christmas to lay the ground for a full-blown merger.

A federal parliamentary committee suggests grants, tax breaks, and ABC-SBS partnerships will help regional newspapers remain sustainable amid rising costs and a loss of journalists. 

AUSTRALIAN businesses need to recognise the growing economic importance of women, says US sociologist Marianne Cooper.

MEDIA mogul Bruce Gordon wants the power to veto the chief executive of Ten in a move that will up the ante in the battle for control.

BHP Billiton is facing calls to drop its $14.5bn South32 spin-off because of the effect of slumping iron ore and coal prices.

Investors were bracing for the outcome of emergency talks on Greece, but Australian shares had another good week.