AAP

Gold futures have climbed to a one-month high, lifted by expectations for continued easy-money policies from the Federal Reserve after a slate of mixed US economic data.

US stocks have risen amid a mixed bag of earnings reports, as investors punished underperforming companies while bidding the overall market higher.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as traders take profits after the currency's three-week rally.

Australian shares have finished higher, driven by strong gains among the big banks.

Non-mining investment is at levels not seen since the 1990s recession but a falling Australian dollar, low interest rates and improving business confidence should turn things around.

Newcrest Mining's chairman and chief executive have told shareholders they acknowledge how disappointed they are with the company's performance and are taking action.

The federal government has announced the first stage of its promised sell-off of Medibank Private, saying a scoping study will be completed by the end of February 2014.

New laws to repeal Labor's mining tax could save the federal government $13 billion over the next four years, as it also plans to scrap a range of measures designed to assist small business and families.

Up to 100 hospital support staff will walk off the job at one of Perth's major hospitals on Thursday to protest against potential job losses.

Australian shares are firmer as stronger demand for banking stocks offsets losses across the resources sector.

Wesfarmers has reported generally positive quarterly sales results from its retail businesses, with Bunnings achieving the most rapid growth while Coles' supermarkets and liquor stores lifted turno

Oil prices have declined after a US oil inventory report showed a surprisingly large build in crude supplies.

US stocks have ended lower, a decline that analysts have attributed to a mix of profit-taking and a couple of prominent earnings disappointments.

The Australian dollar is lower amid concerns about an apparent increase in bad debt in China.

The perks of the mining boom are not translating to areas where the workers live, a Perth study has revealed.

Australian shares have fallen for the first time in seven trading sessions following a jump in China's money market rate.

Premier Colin Barnett says there is no link between Perth Glory boss Tony Sage donating $25,000 to the Nationals and the club receiving compensation over the refurbishment of nib Stadium.

Utility giant AGL Energy says Australians want cheap, reliable energy with no impact on the environment but that was not yet technically or economically possible.

Australia's inflation rate was higher than expected in the September quarter, prompting economists to review whether the Reserve Bank will agree to any further interest rate cuts.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says it is "almost inconceivable" the government's commission of audit will recommend tax increases.

The Australian share market has opened higher with investors confident the US central bank will continue its economic stimulus program following weaker-than-expected jobs figures.

The federal government is giving the Reserve Bank of Australia $8.8 billion to strengthen its ability to implement monetary policy and foreign exchange operations.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but gold does.Australian researchers say looking for tiny flecks of gold in the leaves of eucalyptus trees could lead miners to new bonanzas.

The Australian dollar is higher against a much weaker US dollar after the release of a disappointing US employment report.

US stocks have risen on generally solid corporate earnings and increased confidence after a weaker-than-expected jobs report that the US Federal Reserve will not soon scale back its stimulus progra

Australian shares have reached a fresh five and a half year high as the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton drove market gains.

The Abbott government has named leading businessman Tony Shepherd and former WA bureaucrat Robert Fisher as members of a federal commission of audit with very broad terms of reference.

Southern Cross Media's shareholders have delivered a first strike against the broadcaster for its executive pay policy.

Mining giant Rio Tinto is likely to axe hundreds of back office jobs after signing an outsourcing deal with US technology company IBM.

Australian shares are firmer as rosier production figures from the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton helps boost the overall market.

Property group Mirvac says it is on track to reach its full-year earnings targets as it works to put a disappointing 2012/13 result behind it.

Oil prices have sunk to three-month lows after the US government said crude inventories had increased much more than expected, stoking concerns about demand in the world's largest economy.