AAP

The share market has closed slightly lower as higher prices for iron ore and oil boosted most major mining and energy stocks, but the banks went backwards.

South Australia will put up $50 million and has called on the next federal government to commit $100 million to help save Arrium's troubled Whyalla steelworks.

MP for Canning Andrew Hastie has been booted out of the Army Reserves after he defied a Defence request to remove photos of him in military garb from election campaign material.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Gold has risen more than one per cent to a three-week high, bolstered by a weaker US dollar on declining expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates any time soon.

The Australian dollar has hit a one-month high on improved risk sentiment and fading US rate rise expectations.

The Australian share market has had a flat finish due to weakness among the major miners and big four banks.

The value of investor housing loan approvals has fallen to a near two-year low, adding weight to the view the Reserve Bank of Australia could cut interest rates again without fear of restarting a price boom.

BHP Billiton has agreed to sell its majority stake in the IndoMet coal project in Indonesia to its local joint venture partner, Adaro Energy.

The Australian share market has opened half a per cent lower

Stocks have broadly gained, helped by buoyant oil prices, a day after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen pushed back expectations for an interest rate increase without raising concerns over the strength of the world's largest economy.

The Australian dollar is sharply higher after the Reserve Bank held its cash rate steady and gave no clues about its next possible interest rate move.

Gold has inched fractionally lower, but has held near the previous day's two-week high after the Federal Reserve further dampened speculation about an imminent US rate rise.

The Australian share market has given up earlier gains to close slightly higher after the central bank left the cash rate unchanged.

The boss of Woodside Petroleum has lambasted the gas industry for being complacent and for losing ground to rival fossil fuel players.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held the official interest rate at a record low, but it's still keeping an eye on inflation.

Changes to the private label offerings at Woolworths supermarkets are a defensive response to the growing popularity of German discount retailer Aldi, but won't have the impact the retailer hopes it will, according to a Sydney business academic.

Perth-based Avita Medical has expanded its Asian market, signing a deal to have its products distributed in Malaysia.

The Australian share market has started higher, taking cues from rises on Wall Street and after crude oil prices extended gains.

The Australian dollar has rallied as the greenback continues to be pounded on reduced odds of a near-term US rate rise.

Stocks have gained on markets worldwide, while the US dollar edged lower against major currencies after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said US interest rate hikes are likely on the way, but made no reference to the timing of any increase.

The share market has clawed back some of its recent losses to end its worst week in two months on a positive note.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has been fined $9 million over its involvement in cartel behaviour among Australia's biggest laundry detergent suppliers.

The Australian share market has opened higher, buoyed by major financial, mining and retail companies.

The Australian dollar is flat on mixed economic data.

Wall Street closed slightly higher, as fresh data gave a rosier view of the economy and further gains for healthcare shares countered declines in energy names.

The mining giants and major banks have dragged the share market to its third consecutive day of falls.

ALS shares surged more than 25 per cent after the testing, inspection and certification group rebuffed a $2.7 billion takeover bid from two private equity firms, setting the scene for a potential bidding war.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

Gold has turned negative, as the US dollar briefly pared losses following US manufacturing data and US equities came off their lows, while the market tried to assess how close the Federal Reserve is to raising interest rates.

The Australian dollar is flat on mixed US markets.

US stock prices rose slightly on the back of a late rebound in oil prices and an encouraging economic report from the Federal Reserve, but equity prices in other major world markets fell on worrisome Chinese and European factory data.