AAP

US crude prices have edged higher after traffic was halted on a key petroleum-industry waterway in Houston due to an oil spill.

The Australian dollar has hit a new three-month high as speculation grows that the Chinese central bank will have to give its economy a boost.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has confirmed the Abbott government has temporarily frozen a controversial rollback of Labor's financial advice laws.

Investment bank Macquarie Group is set to post its largest profit in six years, as financial market conditions continue to improve.

The share market has overcome early falls and weaker than expected Chinese economic data to post a small gain.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has denied any wrongdoing after it became the latest Australian company set to face a class action from disgruntled shareholders.

The Australian share market has opened higher following a solid lead from markets in the United States and easing concern over Ukraine.

Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss says his party would be open to a free trade agreement with China if it contained the same protections for agriculture as Australia's recent deal with South Korea.

Palladium prices have jumped to their highest level in two years on fears that top exporter Russia will retaliate against US sanctions by cutting exports of the precious metal.

Paul Howes calls it quits

Cheap funds and signs of US economic strength after a lull kept Wall Street buyers cautiously in action this week, despite the Ukraine crisis and the Fed's interest rates misfire.

The Australian dollar continues gain ground helped by the local interest rate outlook and the strength of the economy.

A charter helicopter company in Western Australia has been grounded and its chief pilot removed from his position by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The Australian share market has risen on the back of encouraging US economic data.

A former Western Australian settlement agent has been ordered to pay more than $150,000 after making unauthorised withdrawals from a trust account.

The federal government will try to pressure Labor over the repeal of the mining tax next week as the re-run of the Western Australian Senate election looms.

The federal government is warning it could take days to find the objects thought to be wreckage from a missing Malaysian Airlines plane, as bad weather hampers the 23,000 square kilometre Indian Ocean search southwest of Perth.

Shares in grocery wholesaler Metcash have slumped almost 11 per cent after the company downgraded its earnings guidance and announced a $480 million overhaul of its business.

The Australian share market has opened higher following a solid lead from markets in the United States and easing concern over Ukraine.

US stocks have rebounded from the previous Federal Reserve-sparked losses, as markets turned to favourable US economic data for inspiration.

US oil prices have slipped below $US100 ($A110.86) a barrel as the dollar strengthens on raised expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike sooner than previously thought.

The Australian dollar is starting to bounce back from its post Federal Reserve meeting fall, getting a boost from some mildly encouraging US economic data.

Woodside Petroleum plans to operate its Browse offshore floating LNG project for 50 years, with the first production well due to be drilled in 2017.

Western Australian farmers are disappointed after being told the roll-out of a much-needed federal drought package will be delayed for several months.

The share market has fallen more than one per cent on the prospect of higher interest rates in the United States.

The Abbott government has failed in its first bid to scrap the carbon tax, with the Senate refusing to pass a package of bills to repeal the Gillard-era climate change policy.

Myer shares have fallen by almost five per cent after a slide in the retailer's half year profit.

The share market has opened lower after the US Federal Reserve flagged the possibility of an interest rate hike in 2015.

Australia will resume exporting sheep and cattle to Egypt after the government struck a deal with Egyptian importers to ensure animal welfare standards.

Gold futures have extended their losses after the Federal Reserve announced another reduction in bond purchases and delivered a more positive view of the US economy than some expected.

US stocks have dropped after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen offered a rough timetable for when the central bank could raise benchmark interest rates.

The Australian dollar has regained some ground after falling more than one US cent following the Federal Reserve's announcement it would keep winding back its bond-buying program, designed to stimulate the US economy.