AAP

If Joe Hockey is relieved that Australia's triple-A rating remains intact, he isn't about to show it.

The Maritime Union of Australia has called off a strike at Mermaid Marine's Dampier supply base, saying recent constructive talks will hopefully lead to settlement of a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

Outgoing National Australia Bank chief executive Cameron Clyne rejects the assertion that banks are bastards.

Gold miner Northern Star has easily beaten its quarterly production target following a string of acquisitions.

Last-ditch talks between Argentina and the US hedge funds it has branded "vultures" failed to reach agreement, effectively pushing the country into default.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed Clive Palmer's call for a mini-budget as the government struggles to win crossbench support for its tough measures.

Australians can pay up to 50 per cent more to legally download movies than elsewhere in the world, a disparity Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull warns is not helping the case against internet piracy.

Woodside Petroleum's plan to buy back $US2.7 billion worth of shares from Royal Dutch Shell appears set to fail.

The Australian dollar is lower after US economic growth bounced back in the June quarter after a decline earlier in the year.

Gold futures have continued their losses after the Federal Reserve's monetary policy statement turned out to be in line with investors' expectations.

Wall Street stocks have finished mixed after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero and government data showed surprisingly strong second-quarter US economic growth.

Oil prices have fallen, putting the US benchmark futures contract within a whisper of $100 a barrel despite a larger-than-expected decline in US crude supplies and heightened geopolitical tensions.

The Australian share market has reached a new six-year high, finishing above 5,600 for the first time since the GFC.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources has reduced its cash costs and produced more than 25,000 ounces of gold in the June quarter.

The latest mining tax take would barely cover the annual salary of a single senior public servant.

The Australian share market is higher with resource stocks the early gainers.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower amid more signs the US economy is improving.

Oil prices in New York have fallen on a weak US crude demand outlook, while European oil prices have risen on concerns about Libya and new European Union sanctions on Russia.

US stocks have finished lower after the United States and European Union broadened sanctions on Russia, overshadowing US economic data and earnings reports.

The share market has closed slightly higher after iron ore miners reversed early losses.

Business confidence appears to be improving if the increase in the number of business startups is anything to go by.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has joined the leaders of other major resources companies in calling for the scrapping of the mining tax.

Chemical giant Orica said it has regretted a series of pollution incidents which resulted in it being fined more than $750,000 and has pledged to improve the facilities where the problems happened.

Hundreds of hospital support workers in Perth will stop work today to protest against potential job losses when the new Fiona Stanley Hospital opens.

The Australian share market is slightly lower after a weak lead from the US and another profit downgrade from insurer QBE.

US stocks have finished mixed following prominent corporate deals and a drop in pending home sales as investors look ahead to fresh earnings and labour market data.

The Australian dollar is back above 94 US cents, getting a boost from improved Chinese industrial profits.

Oil prices have dropped in spite of worsening violence in Libya and ongoing trouble in other petroleum hotspots as traders focus on the lofty state of oil supplies.

The share market has fallen slightly as gains by iron ore miners were outweighed by falls by most banks and retailers.

Mining services company Boart Longyear has said the fall in demand for its products may be over, but warned analysts are over-estimating what the company will earn in 2014.

Education provider Navitas's full year profit has fallen 31 per cent after writedowns to its university division overshadowed stronger revenues.

The Australian share market has opened lower after US markets fell on disappointing company earnings reports.