AAP

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as falls by most major banks and gains among industrial stocks resulted in a flat day of trade.

The fate of Western Australia's Senate election looks set to be decided in court - or with a new election for six WA senate seats - after the Australian Electoral Commission admitted it had lost more than 1,300 votes.

The surprise discovery of coal in the Pilbara signals there may be many more valuable resources still undiscovered in Western Australia, according to Premier Colin Barnett.

Federal authorities have been drafted in to help investigate the discovery of a large haul of chemical explosive in a Western Australian estuary, which has been confirmed to be the highly-volatile TATP.

Woolworths has enjoyed a three per cent sales increase despite subdued retail conditions, with its supermarkets, petrol stations and hardware stores posting gains.

Bega Cheese's takeover play for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory has been given a boost, with the competition regulator greenlighting the bid.

Uranium miner Paladin Energy says an employee has died, almost a month after receiving significant burns in an electrical incident at its Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia.

The Australian market has opened lower following falls in US stocks after the Federal Reserve hinted at when it may start to unwind its stimulus program.

LinkedIn says it has surpassed five million Australian members as more people apparently try online networking for a career boost.

The Australian market has opened lower following falls in US stocks after the Federal Reserve hinted at when it may start to unwind its stimulus program.

The Australian dollar has recovered somewhat after dipping to a three-week low following the US Federal Reserve's announcement it will keep its aggressive economic stimulus program in place for now.

US oil prices have fallen for a second day in a row after an inventory report showed a surprisingly large increase in US supplies.

US stocks have closed lower after the US Federal Reserve maintained an aggressive monetary stimulus program and reiterated that it will await stronger economic conditions before scaling it back.

The grocery industry has warned that a price war between the nation's big two supermarket chains could hurt consumers in the long run if food suppliers don't have money to invest in their businesses.

Australian shares have finished firmer as investors expect the US Federal Reserve to maintain its economic stimulus measures.

Construction giant Leighton says it will fight a class action filed by shareholders seeking to recover losses stemming from the company's massive profit downgrade in 2011.

Crown chairman billionaire James Packer says an ambitious program to expand the number of its integrated hotel and casino resorts in Asia and Australia is affordable.

Telco giant Telstra is suing the National Broadband Network Company over a commercial dispute that could be worth more than $100 million.

Australian stocks have opened higher after Wall Street's Dow Jones and S&P 500 both hit fresh record highs.

Fortescue Metals Group is looking to take advantage of favourable credit market conditions to lower the interest repayments on its debt.

Gold prices have pulled lower amid investor caution ahead of the start of the two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting.

The Dow and S&P 500 has closed at fresh all-time highs one day before a US Federal Reserve decision that is expected to maintain aggressive monetary stimulus.

The Australian dollar has fallen below 95 US cents for the first time in three weeks after Reserve Bank of Australia boss said the persistently high currency would eventually get weaker.

Japanese dairy and beverage company Lion has entered the takeover battle for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, taking a 9.99 per cent stake in the company.

UGL has told shareholders that its property and engineering arms are being split as quickly as possible and will be standalone companies by June 30 next year.

Property developer Stockland says Australia's housing market is improving, as deposits on new homes rise to a three year high.

The Australian share market fell as investors took profits after the recent record highs reached by three of the big four banks.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder says Australia's supermarket trade is not a duopoly controlled by Coles and Woolworths and online retailer Amazon is a far greater threat to local retailing.

Small businesses are being gouged by bank fees while big business gets off lightly, Reserve Bank data shows.

The federal government has announced plans to streamline visa applications for Australia's international education sector but the tourism industry says its own outdated visa system risks robbing the country of billions of tourism dollars.

Demand for skilled labour is on the rise and expected to continue climbing as a recovery in new home building takes hold.

With hopes fading that non-mining sections of the economy will take up the slack of a waning resources investment boom any time soon, an independent forecaster believes government infrastructure spending must be encouraged.