AAP

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.

Gold prices have slipped, as traders sell their metal holdings ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting later this week.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower after weak German economic data weighed on market confidence.

‘Mum and dad' investors can apply to buy shares in health insurer Medibank Private from tomorrow.

ANZ says "an abundance of caution" led it to request a stop to trading of its shares after the bank accidentally published its own profit data on its website.

The share market has made a strong start to the week, with a rebound by the banks pushing it higher.

Cash Converters International is considering more acquisitions after an increase in personal loans and sales in its company-owned pawnbroking stores helped lift the quarterly revenue by more than a quarter.

The Australian share market has opened higher as the banks continue to rally.

US equities have enjoyed their best week in months as buying fever returns to the market on solid earnings and easing anxiety about the Ebola virus outbreak.