AAP

It may be a while before the official employment data will be fully trusted but other indicators show that things are looking a bit better for job seekers.

Business leaders' confidence in the Abbott government has slumped to the lowest level since the coalition won power, with almost two-thirds seeing no benefit in scrapping the carbon tax.

The Australian share market is lower as a large fall in commodity prices overnight weighs on the market.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has delivered a surprisingly strong $2.3 billion quarterly profit, putting paid to suggestions its best days are over.

Wall Street stocks have finished mostly lower following lacklustre US economic data and some disappointing earnings reports.

The Australian dollar is higher following the Reserve Bank's steady-as-she-goes statement after its monthly board meeting.

Oil prices have plunged, with Brent hitting a four-year low after Saudi Arabia slashes its export prices for the US market to counter demand for shale fuels.

Gold prices have fallen, as investors believe the European Central Bank will take further measures to boost the region's economy, after the Bank of Japan unveiled a fresh round of stimulus last week.

Most voters would support a rise in GST if the money went to health and hospitals, a new poll has found.

The share market has closed slightly higher as poor trade figures and an upward revision to recent unemployment figures muted the response to strong growth in retail spending.

Interest rates are unlikely to move any time soon with the Reserve Bank of Australia still concerned about the high Australian dollar.

Education provider Navitas says a rising number of foreigners are pretending to be students to get visas.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is having another stab at calculating its jobs figures, and the latest estimates will look a bit worse than the previous attempt.

Rising house prices and the release of new smartphones have tempted Australians out of spending hibernation.

The Australian share market is slightly higher following soft leads from overseas markets and as the nation prepares to mark Melbourne Cup day.

The Australian dollar has fallen to an almost three-week low after the release of weak local building approvals figures and Chinese manufacturing data.

US stocks have finished little changed following mixed economic data as markets paused after last week's records.

Oil prices have plunged late in the day, after reports that Saudi Arabia was slashing its export prices for the US market while hiking them for Asia.

Gold has extended its four-year low as the US dollar advanced against other currencies and stocks hit new record highs.

Australia's big four banks have made a record total profit of $28.6 billion as property prices continued to surge.

The share market has closed weaker as softer commodity prices hit the big miners and Woolworths delivered disappointing sales growth.

Shares in supermarket giant Woolworths have fallen in the wake of disappointing first quarter sales.

The share market is flat after Westpac's cash profit rise and supermarket giant Woolworths's sales figures failed to excite investors.

Billionaire Gina Rinehart has quit the board of the Ten Network.Mrs Rinehart, who is one of Ten's major shareholders, will be replaced on the network's board by John Klepec.

Westpac Bank has beaten expectations by lifting its full year cash profit by eight per cent to $7.63 billion.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-week low as worries about economic growth in China and Japan escalate.

US equities have powered to fresh records after the Bank of Japan's surprise stimulus ignited a rally on global stock exchanges.

Gold futures have sunk to a four-year low after Japan's plans to expand stimulus efforts catapulted the US dollar near a seven-year high against the yen and breathed new life into the equities rally.

Shipbuilder Austal expects to deliver a dividend this financial year as its works through $2.6 billion in orders for the US Navy and Australian Customs.

The share market has closed higher as the big miners rebounded from recent falls and ANZ's record profit helped the banks.

Australia is expected to become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas within four years, according to an HSBC report.

Wealth manager Macquarie Group's profit has surged by 35 per cent on the back of strong demand for fixed-income investments and a weakening Australian dollar.