AAP

Gold prices have clocked their worst November since 1978, as a brighter economic landscape fanned fears of reduced stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve.

From Saturday, November 30:

The Australian dollar is starting the week higher ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) last interest rate meeting for 2013.

The share market has closed slightly lower on a day marked by a sharp fall in GrainCorp shares after the federal government blocked a foreign takeover.

NBN Co chief Ziggy Switkowski admits it will be "tough" to meet the federal government's 2016 delivery deadline for the national broadband network.

Mining giant Rio Tinto will close its Gove alumina refinery in the Northern Territory, bringing the axe down on up to 1,500 jobs and an entire mining town.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

European banks will require 280 billion euros ($A421 billion) of extra capital in 2014 to meet reforms aimed at avoiding a repeat of the global financial crisis, according to a report.

The Australian dollar has slipped a little lower after rallying on the back of some surprisingly good business investment data.

Treasurer Joe Hockey's blocking of a $3.4 billion foreign takeover of grains handler and marketer GrainCorp will have implications for the whole agricultural industry, the company says.

Murray Goulburn has lifted its offer for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter to $533 million to stay in the three way race for the historic dairy company.

The Australian sharemarket has finished flat ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

Gold miner Ramelius is working to get its flagship asset in Western Australia profitable next year despite a weaker gold price.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has offered the states and territories incentive payments to sell off public assets and put the money into new job-creating infrastructure.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann insists there is a budget emergency, but that doesn't mean the government has to act in a "panicked, chaotic fashion" to deal with it.

Australian stocks have opened higher following a solid night on global equity markets.

An easing of foreign ownership restrictions on Australia's national airline, Qantas, could devastate the iconic flying kangaroo, a federal parliamentarian warns.

US stocks have risen to new records following a stream of mixed economic data on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday.

US oil prices have tumbled to the lowest level in nearly six months after a weekly inventory report showed a surprisingly large increase in supplies.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a fresh three-month low as declining commodity prices and a rally in the US dollar puts the currency under pressure.

The Australian share market has lost ground as commodity price weakness led to losses among the big miners.

Bega Cheese is considering whether it will join legal efforts to stall Canadian firm Saputo's takeover offer for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.

There was a strong rise in construction work done figures for the September quarter but recent positive housing data does not seem to be translating into more homes being built.

Elders chief executive Malcolm Jackman says he is leaving the rural services provider in good shape - but not great shape.

Programmed Maintenance Services has recorded a flat half year profit despite taking a hit to revenue as a result of a slowdown in investment in the resources sector.

Australian stocks have opened virtually flat amid weakness in resources stocks and moderate gains for the big four banks.

The Australian dollar has recovered some ground after falling to a fresh three-month low amid increasing expectations of an interest rate cut in early 2014 and profit-taking.

US stocks have ticked slightly higher, but the Nasdaq has surged past the 4,000 mark for the first time in 13 years.

Retailer Harvey Norman says a rise in consumer confidence since the federal election has not provided a boost in its sales.

Almost 200 police officers are set to quit the Western Australian force under a voluntary severance scheme designed to ease pressure on the state budget and put more police on the streets.

The Australian sharemarket has closed higher for the third straight day, driven by gains among the big banks.

The federal government will go back to the drawing board on schools funding from 2015 after finding what it says is a $1.2 billion shortfall in Labor's scheme.