AAP

Palladium rose to its highest level in nearly three months following strong car sales, continuing a trend in which the component of petrol engine autocatalysts gains at the expense of platinum.

Premier Colin Barnett has detailed a $1.5 billion commonwealth funding wish list, mostly for rail projects.

The Australian share market has closed higher for a second session in a row in the wake of positive overseas leads and better-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data.

Dwelling prices rose by an average of 0.9 per cent in Australia’s capital cities in September, with Perth prices up 0.5 per cent.

Struggling steel and mining group Arrium says it is shortlisting parties to undertake due diligence for its mining consumables business, and has embarked on a fresh round of cost cuts.

ANZ Banking Group insists chief executive Mike Smith is stepping down on schedule after fulfilling a pledge to help David Gonski settle as chairman and give the bank time to identify his successor.

The Australian share market has got off to a firm start helped by gains in the US and Europe overnight as investors returned after recent heavy falls.

The Australian dollar has bounced higher, helped by weak European inflation data which leaves the option open for more economic stimulus from the European Central Bank.

Wall Street stocks have finished a painful third quarter on a positive note, joining big European and Asian markets in rallying on speculation of more monetary stimulus.

Oil prices are little changed after a mixed US petroleum market showing an unexpected rise in crude inventories and a dip in crude production.

Gold has hit its lowest level in two weeks and recorded its biggest quarterly loss in a year as US jobs data came in stronger than expected and the market awaited clarity on the timing of a hotly anticipated US interest rate rise.

The share market has recovered more than half of the $56 billion lost on Tuesday, as the mining giant at the centre of the plunge assured the world it is financially robust.

Energy producer and retailer Origin Energy has unveiled nearly $5 billion worth of plans to help bolster its balance sheet.

TPG Telecom's 320,000 mobile users will be moved onto the Vodafone Australia network, which will be upgraded by TPG as part of a $1 billion link-up between the companies.

Rio Tinto has struck a $865 million deal to sell its 40 per cent stake in the Bengalla open cut coal mine in NSW to New Hope Corporation.

The Australian share market has opened sharply higher.

Platinum prices have fallen below $US900 an ounce for the first time since January 2009, hurt by fears that the Volkswagen emissions scandal would cut demand from carmakers, but later pared losses as bargain-hunting investors swooped in.

Oil prices have risen, benefiting from a more benign outlook for commodities as shares of mining giant Glencore rose and equity markets stabilised.

The Dow and S&P 500 have finished higher but the tech-rich Nasdaq fell for the sixth straight day following a choppy session for US stocks.

The Australian dollar has bounced from its recent lows helped by some encouraging US consumer confidence figures.

LABOR treasury spokesman Chris Bowen insists a GST increase can’t be the linchpin of widespread tax reform because it won’t be enough to pay for measures to boost Australia’s sluggish economy.

The Australian share market has plunged well over 3 per cent, pulled down mainly by a big sell-off of resources stocks, especially global miner BHP Billiton.

Struggling grocery supplier Metcash is beginning to see signs of improvements thanks to its renewed focus on fresh food and private label brands.

Outdoor clothing and goods retailer Kathmandu has announced it will quit the UK, on the same day it posted a 51.7 per cent slide in full-year net profit to $NZ20.4 million.

The Australian share market has slumped in early trade, joining the overnight retreat by US and European equities on deepened worries about China's economy.

US stocks have fallen sharply, joining European equities in retreat after poor Chinese industrial data deepened worries about the world's second-biggest economy.

The Australian dollar has slipped below 70 US cents after Chinese industrial profits figures added to evidence that the Chinese economy is slowing.

Oil prices have dropped in the wake of a sharp fall in industrial profits in China, the latest sign of weakness in the world's largest energy consumer.

Gold had its worst session in two-and-a-half weeks, extending Friday's losses ahead of a key US jobs report later in the week that could boost bets the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year.

Heavy falls by energy stocks have pulled the share market lower, reversing early gains.

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson is in doubt for Friday night's AFL preliminary final against Hawthorn because of a back injury, according to reports.

Australia Post has notched up its first full-year loss in more than 30 years.