AAP

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.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as markets wait for the release of the US September employment data.

US stocks have ended little changed as investors took a breather after last week's hefty gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7.45 points (0.05 per cent) to 15,392.20.

Paul Zahra has cited personal reasons for stepping down as chief executive of high-end department store chain David Jones.

The Australian share market has closed at a new five-and-a-half-year high, after US and European markets lifted at the end of last week as US government services were re-opened.

Western Australia has recorded one of the lowest local election turnouts in the state's history, with just over a quarter of enrolled voters taking part.

National Australia Bank has dropped to the bottom of the pack for satisfaction levels among business customers.

Western Australia remains the top economic performer but the fortunes of all the states and territories are expected to improve, following the election of a new federal government.

Australian stocks have jumped to fresh five-year highs in response to gains on global stock markets on Friday night.

Gold futures have declined as some investors worry that demand will falter after prices in the week climbed back above $US1,300 a troy ounce.

From Saturday, 19th of October:On Tuesday markets were staring at a global economic debacle because of the US budget and debt ceiling showdown.

The Australian dollar has hit an almost five-month high, helped by some stronger Chinese economic growth figures for the September quarter.