AAP

An appeal against the murder acquittal of former prominent Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney has been dismissed in the WA Court of Appeal.

Investment firm Macquarie Group still expects its profit to rise in the current fiscal year, so long as financial market conditions continue to improve.

China's manufacturing activity expanded in September to a six-month high, a further sign that a rebound in the world's second-largest economy is gaining momentum on improving demand.

Clive Palmer's political party is now in prime position to win a Senate seat in Western Australia.

Western Australia's Future Fund is a disaster set to worsen with the state losing its AAA credit rating, the opposition says.

Today's young workers can expect to have an average $1.1 million in their superannuation by the time they retire but it won't be enough to maintain a comfortable post-work lifestyle.

The world's largest drilling company Boart Longyear says it will reduce the size of its revolving credit facility from $US450 million to $US140 million.

The Australian share market has started the week in negative territory, down nearly one per cent in early trading.

Gold futures have slumped as comments from a slate of Federal Reserve officials cause traders to reassess their expectations for the duration of the central bank's bond-buying program.

The Australian dollar has fallen against a stronger US dollar, after a senior US Federal Reserve official said the Fed still could taper its bond purchases this year.

From Saturday, Sept 21st:

The Australian market looks set to open lower after Wall Street gave up much of the gains made on the Federal Reserve's no-taper decision to finish lower at its last session.

The Australian share market closed weaker with traders unwilling to push stock prices beyond the five-year plus highs they hit during the week.

Resources giant BHP Billiton says its new $US1.5 billion gas plant will supply 20 per cent of the state's domestic market amid hopes of doubling capacity.

Billionaire Clive Palmer is on track to win a seat in federal parliament, as the end of vote-counting in the Queensland seat of Fairfax nears.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he won't be changing the GST despite calls from within his own party for a fresh look at the tax.

The Australian stock market has opened lower, giving up some of the significant gains made during Thursday's rally.

US stocks have closed mixed, cooling off after Wednesday's torrid rally in the wake of the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain an aggressive stimulus program.

The Australian dollar is lower as the dust settles on the US Federal Reserve's unexpected decision to maintain its economic stimulus program.

The Australian dollar held steady above 95 US cents today for the first time in three months after the US Federal Reserve made a surprise decision to keep its stimulus measures.

The Australian share market has hit a five-year high, gaining more than one per cent after the world's largest economy decided to continue its stimulus program.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane promises to visit Holden's troubled Adelaide car making plant next month but warns he won't be carrying a "pocket full of money".

Port assets are being sized-up for sale by the Western Australian government in a bid to restore the state's AAA credit rating.

Struggling surfwear company Billabong International has appointed a new chief executive and struck a long-term refinancing deal.

Angry teachers have converged on Gloucester Park protesting cuts to education, leaving more than 60 schools closed for the morning.

he Australian share market has opened higher after the US Federal Reserve surprised investors by deciding to continue with its $US85 billion-a-month stimulus scheme.

Brickworks has nearly doubled full year profit on the back of stronger earnings out of its building products group and property development business.

The Australian dollar has soared more than one-and-a-half US cents after the US Federal Reserve unexpectedly decided to leave its economic stimulus program in place.

Australian shares are weaker as cautious investors wait for direction from the US Federal Reserve on its stimulus program for the world's biggest economy.

Australia's online retailers are more likely than traditional store owners to hire staff in the next year.

Tony Abbott sacked three department heads within minutes of being sworn in as prime minister but one of the nation's most influential public servants, Martin Parkinson, defied speculation and retai

Western Australia's prized AAA credit rating was cut today, with ratings agency Standard & Poor's criticising the Barnett government's "limited political will" to improve its budget.