AAP

Oil prices have fallen nearly two per cent, hitting April lows and with US crude headed for its biggest monthly loss in a year, on growing worries that the world was pumping more crude than needed.

The Australian dollar has fallen against its US counterpart as the greenback staged a minor rebound.

Gold has turned lower after hitting a two-week peak as the US dollar pared losses and US stocks climbed from their lows ahead of a possible Bank of Japan announcement to expand monetary stimulus on Friday.

Australian shares have continued their slow upward push, ignoring a weak lead from Wall Street.

Telstra will be challenged to replace all earnings lost to the National Broadband Network when the rollout of the NBN is completed, says credit ratings agency Moody's.

Virgin Australia will post an annual loss of $224.7 million due to the impairments and charges it expects to record from its plans to position the airline for future profitability.

The fatal Samarco mine disaster in Brazil will dent BHP Billiton's bottom line by up to $US1.4 billion ($A1.9 billion) for the 2015-16 financial year.

The Australian share market has opened about a quarter of a per cent higher.

The Australian dollar has gained some ground after the US dollar weakened on signs the Federal Reserve is not ready to lift interest rates in September.

Gold has extended its climb above $US1,330 an ounce after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged as expected and the US dollar pared gains against a basket of major currencies.

Wall Street has ended lower after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged but opened the door to a possible rate increase later this year.

The share market has squeezed out another tiny gain in a choppy session dominated by the release of weak inflation numbers that may prompt the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate next week.

The High Court has dismissed a class action by ANZ Banking Group customers against the bank's "excessive" credit card fees.

The Australian dollar has fallen and economists say a Reserve Bank rate cut is more likely next Tuesday following the release of data showing annual inflation is at its lowest level since June 1999.

Fortescue Metals Group is targeting further cost reduction in the current fiscal year as it seeks to match the cost structure of larger rival Rio Tinto in an effort to boost returns.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Gold has risen as the US dollar hsa fallen, but remains hemmed in to a range at the start of a two-day US Federal Reserve policy meeting which is being closely watched for clues on the outlook for interest rates.

US stocks were mixed as Federal Reserve policymakers kicked off a two-day interest rate meeting and investors braced for quarterly scorecards from Apple and Twitter.

US crude prices have fallen, hitting three-month lows, on renewed worries of a glut while Brent settled higher due to its better fundamentals versus US crude.

The Australian dollar has slipped slightly against its US counterpart in overnight trade, but is expected to be steady ahead of key local data.

The Australian share market has finished slightly higher as investors punt that second quarter inflation figures will prompt the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates next week.

Australia's retail broadband market, which is dominated by Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom, needs to lift its game and give consumers better information on broadband speed, the competition regulator says.

Seven West Media says it will put shareholders first as it weighs various options in the wake of joint venture partner Yahoo's takeover by Verizon.

Gold miner Northern Star Resources has posted a 65 per cent jump in full-year profit on the back of higher gold prices and a reduction in costs.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has slipped slightly against its US counterpart in overnight trade, weighed down by continuing expectation of a lift in US interest rates.

Gold has pared losses as the US dollar and world stock markets turned lower ahead of central bank meetings in the United States and Japan.

The Australian share market has resumed its upward course, boosted by expectations of an interest rate cut, and a big lift in the shares of Woolworths after the ailing supermarket giant announced restructuring plans.

Newcrest Mining has scraped into meeting its full-year production guidance, despite posting lower output in the June quarter as it continued to struggle with disruptions at various operations.

Struggling supermarket giant Woolworths is slashing 500 jobs and will incur a charge of $959 million in its full year results as it continues restructuring its operations.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Oil prices have settled lower, losing four per cent on the week, after the fourth weekly rise in the US oil rig count added to worries about a global crude glut.