AAP

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.

Speculation about Premier Colin Barnett's leadership is being perpetuated by those who deliberately seek to undermine the government, Treasurer Mike Nahan says.

The share market has fallen after surprisingly strong economic growth figures cast doubts on the prospects of another interest rate cut.

The Australian share market has opened around one per cent lower

Spot gold has risen one per cent, rebounding from the prior session's three-and-a-half-month low, but remains on track for its biggest monthly decline since November on US dollar strength and growing expectations of an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate rise.

The S&P 500 wrapped up its third straight month of gains on a flat note as weaker energy shares countered a rise in safe-haven utilities.

The Australian dollar is nearly flat as markets await the release of key economic data.

The Australian share market has closed in red territory, dragged lower by retail giants Wesfarmers and Woolworths as well as banking stocks.

China's biggest private airline operator is set to take a 13 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, boosting the Australian carrier's access to the burgeoning Chinese travel market.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Gold has fallen below $US1,200 for the first time since mid-February, as comments from Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen on the likelihood of higher US interest rates sent the US dollar to two-month highs.

The Australian dollar is a touch higher after the greenback fell from a two-month high.