AAP

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.

Wall Street stocks have finished with decisive gains on modestly higher US retail sales ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later this week.

World crude prices have risen modestly as traders eye signs of slowing US oil production that could ease the global oversupply.

Gold has eased back toward last week's one-month low as US retail sales data lifted the US dollar index, and as caution ahead of this week's Federal Reserve announcement on interest rates keeps buyers on the sidelines.

The Australian share market has fallen steeply on uncertainty surrounding global growth and the prospect of an interest rate rise in the US.

The Reserve Bank of Australia appears content to keep its interest rate at a record low for the time being as Australia's non-mining industries begin to show signs of improvement.

Seven West Media has launched a $75 million share buyback just days after its market value hit a record low.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower, the morning after Malcolm Turnbull ousted Prime Minister Tony Abbott to become federal Liberal leader.

The Australian dollar has hit a two-week high, getting a boost after Malcolm Turnbull became the new leader of the Liberal party and prime minister designate.

US stocks have finished lower as traders looked ahead to a Federal Reserve meeting later this week that could result in the first interest rate hike in over nine years.

Gold has turned slightly higher, clawing above the prior session's one-month low on uncertainty ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting that will be scrutinised for clarity on when the US central bank will raise interest rates.

World crude prices have extended their losses, pressured by persistent concerns about the global supply glut as OPEC lowered its demand growth forecast for next year.

The Australian share market has ended higher ahead of the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.

Ten Network Holdings has rejected the concerns that has led the competition watchdog to hold up Foxtel's bid for a 15 per cent stake in the broadcaster.

Oil Search has rejected an $11.6 billion takeover bid from energy giant Woodside Petroleum, branding the offer as "highly opportunistic".

The Australian share market has opened one per cent higher, buoyed by gains among the big banks and a positive finish to the week on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is higher, maintaining the positive tone set last week on the back of surprisingly good local employment figures.

Gold has fallen to a one-month low, heading for a third successive weekly loss, as uncertainty over the timing of the US Federal Reserve's first interest rate increase in nearly a decade weighed on appetite for the metal.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors fret over whether the US Federal Reserve will lift its benchmark interest rate.

The value of Western Australia's resources industry has plunged almost 20 per cent in the past year as iron ore and oil prices slumped.

Star West Coast Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis appears likely to miss tonight's qualifying final against Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares have gone into a trading halt as the lender completes a retail bookbuild for the remainder of its capital raising.

The Australian share market has opened lower as investors shaken by recent volatility sit on the sidelines ahead of the US central bank's interest rate decision.

The Australian dollar has briefly hit 71 US cents, as the currency gets continued support from strong local jobs figures.

Apple and some other technology stocks have led US markets higher ahead of next week's hotly anticipated Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting.

World oil prices have risen as investors focused on a decline in US crude production instead of a bigger-than-expected jump in inventories.