Westfield has agreed to invest in a retail joint venture at New York's World Trade Center site, after the company withdrew to simplify the rebuilding.

Origin Energy has posted record full year production and sales revenues after boosting its results in the June quarter.

US stocks are swinging between gains and losses as investors try to guess whether the debt standoff in Washington will be resolved.

The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton has announced a $A254.24 mln expansion of its manganese operations in the Northern Territory.

Australian shares were lower at noon as US politicians continue to squabble over how to resolve their country's debt issues.

Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday.