Optimism among small and medium size firms about future profits is at its highest level since before the global financial crisis , a survey finds. The National Australia Bank (NAB) Quarterly Small Business Survey found business conditions and consumer confidence rebounded strongly in

The high Australian dollar is to blame for the number of locals heading overseas far outnumbering foreign tourist arrivals over the past year, an economist says. CommSec chief economist Craig James said the gap between tourist arrivals and Australians travelling abroad was the largest