AAP

Woolworths is taking a massive profit hit from its price war with Coles and Aldi, with the supermarket giant conceding that a recovery could be several years away.

Westpac is offering refunds to more than 10,600 customers found to be paying for insurance they did not need.

Newcrest Mining's quarterly production is likely to be hit after the gold producer it confirmed a mill at a major mine will remain out of action.

WorleyParsons shareholders are seeking tens of millions of dollars from the engineering and construction giant, alleging they were misled over earnings forecasts.

ANZ Banking Group has lifted its cash profit to $7.22 billion, although its record result was at the lower end of analyst expectations.

The decision to keep rates unchanged in the US has given a note of confidence to the Australian share market, despite supermarket giant Woolworths shedding eight per cent of its value.

The Australian dollar has fallen below the 71 US cent mark after the US and New Zealand both left interest rates unchanged.

Gold prices have fallen in their weakest session in a month, with the market turning lower after the US Federal Reserve left the door open to a possible interest rate rise in December and the US dollar hit a two-and-a-half-month high.

Wall Street stocks have finished solidly higher after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero and modestly upgraded its US economic outlook.

Oil prices have surged after a US stockpiles report showed oil supplies rose less than expected last week, bringing a whiff of relief to concerns about the global glut.

The share market has fallen as weaker commodity prices and a disappointing profit from National Australia Bank outweighed increasing expectations of a Melbourne Cup day rate cut.

Electronics retailer Dick Smith has slashed up to $8 million from its profit forecast as it braces for a not-so-merry Christmas.

Tame inflation figures have given the green light to the Reserve Bank of Australia for an interest rate cut, but it remains unclear whether the central bank is inclined to step on the accelerator at its next monthly meeting.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources has upgraded its full-year production forecast after a better than expected September quarter.

National Australia Bank lifted annual profit to $6.34 billion and confirmed plans to sell its unprofitable UK business and the majority of its life insurance arm.

The Australian share market has opened lower, weighed down by weakness among the big banks and miners.

The Australian dollar is falling as commodity prices struggle.

Shares of pharmacy chain Rite Aid and Starwood Hotels have bolted higher on reports of possible takeover bids, but the broader market declined on mixed earnings and lacklustre economic data.

Oil prices fell Tuesday with the market expecting another rise in US stockpiles as mild weather limited demand and sent natural gas prices to three-year lows.

Gold has edged up as the beginning of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting has investors turning cautious, and moves are muted as buyers await clues on the timing of a possible US interest rate hike.

With investors practicing caution ahead the release of economic data and several central bank meetings, the share market has had a flat day of trade.

Australia's incoming chief scientist believes the country should work towards zero emission energy generation and must consider nuclear as part of the mix.

BC Iron expects to save about $2.3 million over three months after joint venture partner Fortescue Metals Group agreed to set the rail and port tariff for the companies' Nullagine project in accordance with varying iron ore prices.

The Australian share market has opened flat as investors wait on the outcome of this week's US Federal Reserve meeting.

The Australian dollar is fairly steady, regaining ground lost in the aftermath of China's surprise interest rate cut.

Gold has steadied, after a three-day losing streak as the US dollar's ascent paused and uncertainty persisted over the timing of the first US Federal Reserve rate increase in a decade.

Crude prices have extended last week's losses as the International Energy Agency warned of a further fall in oil investment.

The Dow and S&P 500 have finished lower as petroleum-linked stocks tumbled ahead of earnings this week from ExxonMobil and Chevron.

The Australian share market faded after a strong start to close flat on Monday.

Troubled streaming service Quickflix is cutting staff and negotiating deals with content providers as it strives to become viable in the highly competitive sector.

BlueScope's Port Kembla steelworks may still be on borrowed time despite a three-year tax break from the NSW government that secures the immediate future of its 4,500 workers.

Network Ten's full-year loss almost doubled to $312.2 million but the free-to-air broadcaster is predicting a big lift in advertising revenue thanks to its tie up with Foxtel's MCN.