AAP

The Australian dollar is trading slightly lower, as traders look ahead to a key meeting of the US Federal Reserve next week.

The Australian market closed lower on Friday after a seven-day run of gains that had pushed share prices to five-year highs.

The chief executive of Brockman Mining Luk Kin Peter Joseph has been charged with bribery offences over a $15 million company sale.

Twitter will face intense pressure to boost advertising revenue when it floats on the stock market later this year, Australian analysts say.

Aquila Resources has confirmed negotiations are under way with interested parties regarding the sale of a stake in the $7 billion West Pilbara iron ore project, in case battling joint venture partn

The world's largest drilling company Boart Longyear has had its credit rating downgraded as it braces for a tough year ahead.

Etihad Airways has increased its stake in Virgin Australia, surpassing Richard Branson's Virgin Group as the airline's third largest shareholder.

Australian shares are lower due to a weak lead from global markets.

US stocks have fallen, with uninspired trade putting a halt to the S&P 500's streak of seven straight gains.

The continued cooling of the mining industry is being blamed for Western Australia's rising unemployment rate, which has jumped to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5 per cent.

Engineeering and construction business Forge Group has been awarded a $100 million contract to expand a Pilbara iron ore mine owned by mining giant Rio Tinto.

The Australian share market has closed higher, shrugging off four-year-high unemployment figures.

Bega Cheese has made a $319 million play for fellow dairy producer Warrnambool Cheese and Butter that could create one of Australia's largest listed food companies.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has lost its final bid to claw back a stake in the large Rhodes Ridge iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Australia's largest beef cattle producer plans to raise almost $300 million through the sale of new shares.

Australian shares are flat as investors stand by for unemployment data for August.

Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes has criticised high wages costs and the GST as the department store's full year profit fell by 8.7 per cent to $127.2 million.

The Australian dollar is higher as strong business and consumer sentiment surveys drive optimism about the local economy.

US stocks have closed mixed, with the Dow surging sharply higher and Apple dragging down the Nasdaq after its iPhone launch missed expectations.

The Australian share market has hit a five year high as investors are inspired by China's economic growth.

Premier Colin Barnett says 457 visa holders deserve more information about plans next year to slug them $4,000 a year for their child's education.

An internet petition set up by a Liberal-voting student to save Labor's national broadband network has become Australia's largest ever online petition.

Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart is seeking to have a bitter dispute surrounding a family trust fund referred to arbitration.

The federal government's leading employment index fell for an eighth consecutive month in September, pointing to below trend jobs growth in coming months.

The Australian share market has opened higher as investors welcome solid Chinese economic data, the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the Syria chemical weapons issue and renewed business con

US stocks rose on better Chinese economic data and easing concerns about Syria, despite a fall in Apple shares following the launch of two new iPhones.

The Australian dollar has hit a six week high as investors get increasingly optimistic about the global economy.

Australian shares are close to their highest point for the year as investor confidence is boosted by a decisive federal election result and encouraging Chinese economic data.

Australia's biggest airlines face pricing pressure as they battle for fly-in, fly-out contracts in the wake of a recent downturn in the mining sector.

One of Western Australia's top judges has expressed anger in open court at the growing workload of the judiciary in the state.

Business confidence has soared to its highest level in more than two years, helped by lower interest rates and more certainty about the outcome of the federal election.

Former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski is well qualified to head NBN Co, coalition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull says.