AAP

The finance industry hopes Malcolm Turnbull's new economic team will hit the ground running on a reform agenda.

Credit provider and market debutant zipMoney says the amount of money it has lent to consumers has climbed 80 per cent in the past three months.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower.

The Australian dollar is lower as last week's decision not to raise the US Federal Reserve's interest rate begins to be seen as a bad sign for the US economy.

Gold has risen to a near three-week high as the Federal Reserve's decision to leave US interest rates unchanged rattled investors' outlook on the global economy and weighed on equity markets in developed economies.

The Australian share market has closed higher after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates in the US on hold.

Shares in credit information provider Veda have soared on news of a $2.28 billion takeover proposal from Equifax Inc.

The militant construction union has agreed to pay up to $9 million to building materials company Boral as part of a "ground breaking" settlement that leaves open the possibility of further payments if the union breaches the deal.

SeaLink Travel Group is set to become Australia's largest marine tourism and transport company through its acquisition of Transit Systems Marine for $125 million.

The Australian share market slipped in early trade after the US Federal Reserve deferred its interest rate hike on global economic worries.

The Australian dollar is higher as traders bank on a US central bank rate rise later in the year.

The Australian dollar has briefly shot up to a four-week high after the US central bank's decision to keep its interest rate unchanged, before falling away.

The Dow and S&P 500 have fallen while the Nasdaq advanced slightly in a choppy session after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates at zero.

World oil prices have dipped as traders weighed a Federal Reserve decision to keep its benchmark interest rate at zero, citing worries about global growth.

Gold has risen to a two-week high after the Federal Reserve said it was holding its benchmark interest rate steady following a two-day policy meeting, sending the US dollar index to a three-week low.

The Australian share market has climbed higher as the US Federal Reserve decides whether to hike its benchmark interest rate.

After an explosive few days in Australian politics, financial markets are bracing for an equally volatile end to the week.

The competition watchdog has raised concerns that Shell's proposed $70 billion takeover of BG Group could lead to higher gas prices.

Mining giant BHP Billiton's chief executive has backed a call for the US to lift its ban on crude oil exports, ahead of a likely vote on the issue in the US Congress.

The Australian share market has opened higher, following a strong lead from Wall Street and commodity prices.

US stocks have risen strongly for the second straight session ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on whether to raise interest rates for the first time in nine years.

Crude prices have rallied after a US petroleum supply report showed lower inventories and oil production.

Gold prices have rallied more than one per cent after a surprise drop in the US inflation rate dented expectations the Federal Reserve will raise its interest rate this week.

The Australian dollar has edged up to 72 US cents for the first time in three weeks helped by a surge in US stocks and commodity prices.

The Australian share market has closed higher as it continues to swing wildly ahead of a decision from the US Federal Reserve on whether or not to raise interest rates.

Battered mining services companies face an uphill battle to pay back debt amid signs the sector has hit rock bottom.

Amid speculation he will be the highest-profile casualty of a ministerial reshuffle the new prime minister will unveil on Monday, Mr Hockey brought to parliament tax-avoidance measures aimed at multinational corporations, and ordered the sale of five additional residential properties unlawfully held by foreign nationals.

Australia is facing a period of slow economic growth likely to stretch into next year, but that will not necessarily prompt another interest rate cut.

Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer has backed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's vision of a tech-rich Australian economy and says it can help keep the country's slow growth from turning into a recession.

The former boss of Kimberley Diamonds, Alexandre Alexander, is facing jail and a hefty fine for allegedly misleading the stock market.

The Australian share market has got off to a positive start after strong leads from Wall Street, but traders remain wary ahead of a Federal Reserve rate decision later this week.

The Australian dollar has hit a two-and-a-half-week high, getting a boost from higher commodity prices and a rally on stock markets.