AAP

Gold prices have slid to the lowest level in nearly a month and other precious metals have also fallen sharply, as hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve and strong US economic data indicate the central bank could raise interest rates sooner than expected.

Declining national income is another headache for Treasurer Joe Hockey as he prepares for his mid-year budget review.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett says he's fighting fit and intends to stand for re-election in 2017.

The share market has closed higher as the big banks continued their strong run, despite a fall in profit for National Australia Bank.

Broking firms have made bids of almost $12 billion for the Abbott government's sale of health insurer Medibank Private.

National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn says the company must get out of its troubled UK banking business to improve returns.

A lack of housing supply, rather than foreign or domestic investors, are driving house price rises, property developer Mirvac Group says.

The Australian share market has opened higher despite a drop in US markets overnight.

A solid lift in sales at Coles supermarkets and hardware chain Bunnings have pushed Wesfarmers' latest quarterly retail sales above $13.5 billion.

The Australian dollar has dropped more than one US cent after the Federal Reserve issued an upbeat assessment of the American employment market.

Wall Street stocks have finished lower after the US Federal Reserve ended its quantitative easing stimulus program, but said it would continue to keep its benchmark interest rate low.

World oil prices have rallied after a smaller-than-expected increase in US crude inventories and the OPEC chief's comments that recent price falls are unjustifed.

Gold prices have extended their losses in electronic trading Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve said it would end its bond-purchase program and modestly upgraded its view on the job market.

The share market is weaker as investors cautiously wait for the big banks to deliver their full-year results.

If you thought last week's inflation numbers were tame, the actual cost of living is even more benign for some at the moment.

Treasurer Joe Hockey believes people are getting ahead of the game talking about the need for changes to the GST.

Suncorp's chief executive is calling on Treasurer Joe Hockey to tackle the competitive disadvantage of the smaller banks.

The falling Aussie dollar is starting to have an impact on the Australian economy, giving company revenues a boost.

The Australian share market has opened higher after Wall Street rose on upbeat US consumer confidence.

The Australian dollar has hit a three-week high after weaker-than-expected economic data caused a sell off in the greenback.

The Dow has jumped back above 17,000 following a strong report on US consumer confidence and another round of mostly solid corporate earnings.

Global oil prices have risen, lifted a bit by a weaker dollar and ahead of the weekly US inventories report.

Gold prices have closed nearly unchanged as investors cautiously await the outcome of the Federal Reserve's policy-setting meeting, while palladium futures rise on hopes of improved industrial demand.

The share market improved from a poor start but still closed marginally lower, due to weakness in sectors exposed to commodities.

Engineering firm WorleyParsons expects challenging conditions in global resources markets to continue.

Virgin Australia's chairman Neil Chatfield is relinquishing his post after seven years.

Motorists face higher petrol costs within weeks after the Abbott government bypassed the Senate to reintroduce fuel excise indexation.

BHP Billiton will try to sell the Arkansas gas assets that marked its first entry into the US shale industry in 2011.

The share market has opened weaker as another disappointing German business confidence reading reignited European growth concerns.

BC Iron's shares have plunged as a disappointing quarterly report showed the junior iron ore miner is struggling to break even.

Wall Street stocks have finished little changed as the market absorbed losses in petroleum stocks while looking ahead to a two-day US Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting.

Oil prices have headed lower as Goldman Sachs sliced its price forecast for crude amid mounting stockpiles around the globe.