Luxury accessories retailer OrotonGroup's annual profit is up eight per cent and the company says sales so far this fiscal year have exceeded expectations.

Foster's Group says its planned $12.3 billion takeover by British-based brewer SABMiller will be good for local jobs and the company's branding overseas.

Australian shares closed around 2.5 per cent lower amid global uncertainty following big falls on Wall Street.

Australia's largest brick and tile maker Brickworks says it has axed 17 per cent of its workforce and will close two more factories before Christmas.

Lynas has flagged a 30 per cent jump in full year pre-tax loss due to higher costs at its Mt Weld rare earths mine in WA as production is ramped up.

The Australian dollar briefly fell below parity with the greenback on Thursday afternoon, on concerns the US was not doing enough to stimulate its economy.