AAP

A solid debut by Medibank Private could not stop the Australian share market falling in what has been a mostly downward run for most of November.

Shares in Medibank Private have made a solid start to trading on the stock market, debuting at $2.22 per share.

Western Australian racing and gaming minister Terry Waldron has resigned from Cabinet.

The Australian sharemarket has opened lower as resources lose ground after Monday's gains.

The Dow and S&P 500 have inched to new records ahead of a deluge of US economic data in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Global oil prices have fallen following a choppy session amid scepticism that OPEC would move aggressively to lift prices this week.

Gold prices have eased from a three-week high as investors weigh the likely path of global monetary policy.

The Australian dollar has handed back the gains it made after China cut its benchmark interest rates.

Billionaire Gina Rinehart says rules and regulations are killing jobs.

A downturn in mining activity has contributed to a 40 per cent fall in half year profit for laboratory services company ALS, but it expects earnings to grow in the current quarter.

Resource and energy stocks have jumped on news of a Chinese interest rate cut, reversing a five-day losing streak on Australia's share market.

WA Police have confirmed reports they are investigating allegations of fraud against billionaire Clive Palmer, using material supplied by his estranged business partner Citic Pacific Mining.

Mining explorer Heron Resources has been forced to hold a spill of its board of directors after suffering a shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting.

More than 400 people are set to lose their jobs at the ABC as the public broadcaster seeks to offset federal government funding cuts.

The Australian share market has opened higher after a surprise cut to interest rates in China boosted mining stocks.

BHP Billiton says it is upping the stakes in its efforts to grow production and cut costs, while also announcing more details of the management line-up for the company it plans to create from its proposed demerger.

As traders finished the last full week of business before Thanksgiving, Wall Street was feeling grateful for a week of fresh records, central bank stimulus and big corporate mergers.

The Australian dollar is higher after China cut it key interest rates and the European Central Bank flagged more economic stimulus.

Gold prices have closed at their highest level in nearly three weeks, spurred by a drop in the US dollar and tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The federal government has reaped almost $5.7 billion from selling off Australia's largest private health insurance company, Medibank Private, which makes its share market debut this week.

The world's largest fresh meat processor JBS will pay $1.45 billion to acquire small goods producer Primo Group as it looks to export pork to Asia.

A fifth straight day of falls has taken the share market to its worst weekly performance in more than a year.

A former financial adviser who stole shares from a retiree client in Perth has been jailed for two years.

Abundant supply is driving commodity prices lower, but the good news is that Chinese demand for Australian resources will continue as its economy evolves, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

Andrew Forrest bought $11 million worth of shares in his Fortescue Metals Group when their value hit a five-year low this week.

Myer chairman Paul McClintock has again taken a swipe at GST laws, saying they are unfair and harming trade.

The Australian Stock market is flat despite a positive lead from Wall Street.

The Dow and S&P 500 have notched fresh records on strong US economic data and a jump in oil company shares thanks to rebounding crude prices.

The Australian dollar is back above 86 US cents after flat American inflation figures made traders rethink a US rate rise.

Gold prices have fallen for a second day as investors refocus on the prospect of higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve.

Calls are mounting for a no-fault third party insurance scheme in Western Australia in light of a young car crash victim whose family is battling to pay for his care.

Wesfarmers attracted a record 1,700 shareholders to its annual meeting today, where it marked 100 years in the business, but it was also the subject of protests and criticism.