AAP

US stocks have ended mostly lower on fairly quiet trading during which some investors fretted about the possible pullback of the Federal Reserve's aggressive bond-buying program.

The Australian dollar dipped to a three-year low then bounced back following weaker than expected retail spending data.

The Australian share market has posted a slight fall, ending two weeks of gains by the market's largest companies.

John Gay, the face of one-time Tasmanian timber giant Gunns, could spend time in jail after pleading guilty to insider trading.

Airline Virgin Australia expects to book an annual loss of $95 million to $110 million, blaming the difficult economy, competition, restructuring costs and the carbon tax.

Retail spending figures for June were below market expectations but it appears that the big retailers are seeing an improvement in sales.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has written to two of her children, making an offer which she hopes will bring their litigation to an end, a court has heard.

The rate of inflation increased in July but it's still within the Reserve Bank of Australia's two to three per cent target band.

The Australian stock market has started the week slightly lower, ahead of the release of official monthly retail figures.

Labor plans to inject an extra $200 million into the car industry and ensure 100 per cent of the commonwealth car fleet is Australian-made.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher after the release of weaker-than-expected US employment figures.

A tax hike on cigarettes and a levy on bank deposits could be maintained under a federal coalition government.

A jam-packed week of economic data and corporate earnings amounted to only modest movement in US equities, as stocks closed out a hectic week of news only somewhat higher.

The Australian share market has hit its highest point in more than two months as good signs from the United States overshadowed weaker local economic forecasts from the federal government.

A shipping container carrying lead carbonate has buckled at Fremantle Port and cannot be secured for export.

Business groups believe Treasurer Chris Bowen has missed an opportunity to improve Australia's competitiveness, encourage economic growth and provide jobs.

Paladin Energy has completed a heavily discounted capital raising after scrapping the sale of a stake in its flagship African uranium mine after it failed to attract a high enough bid.

The Rudd government's revenues have taken a $33 billion hit amid worsening economic conditions.

Tony Abbott has moved to neutralise the issue of education ahead of the federal election by dropping his opposition to the government's school funding plan.

Casino operator Crown is shaking up its senior management in a move that sees its Perth resort boss promoted at the expense of his Melbourne counterpart.

Liza Harvey will become Western Australia's new tourism minister, replacing Kim Hames who was forced to give up the portfolio after admitting an expenses bungle.

The Australian share market has opened nearly one per cent higher.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a fresh three-year low as strong US economic data raised the possibility the Federal Reserve will start winding down its economic stimulus program soon.

US stocks have rallied on strong economic data from China, Europe and the United States, pushing the S&P 500 to an all-time closing high.

Andrew Forrest has condemned the naysayers who have declared China's and Australia's economic boom is all but over.

The share market has edged higher despite the negative impact of speculation banks could be hit with a deposit levy.

Debt-laden Elders has sold its car interiors business Futuris Automotive to a US private equity firm for $69 million.

Another cut to interest rates may not help the economy, but it won't hurt it either, the boss of National Australia Bank says.

Treated waste water from toilets, showers and washing machines will be pumped back into the state's water system following a three-year trial.

Finance Minister Penny Wong has declined to say whether or not the government plans to impose a deposit levy on banks, despite a fall in share market values.

Export and import prices fell by exactly the same margin in the June quarter.