All 170 employees of troubled stockbroking firm BBY have been made redundant, as negotiations continue over the sale of the business to AIMS Financial Group.
The board of gold miner Ramelius Resources has given its approval to begin mining at the company's Vivien project near Leinster, while also announcing a $10 million facility secured with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Wall Street stocks have fallen sharply on a strengthening US dollar despite news of Charter Communication's $US78.7 billion ($A100.6 billion) deal to buy Time Warner Cable.
The head of institutional banking at Westpac is leaving after almost 30 years with the company and will be replaced by one of Commonwealth Bank of Australia's most experienced executives.
The S&P 500 has finished at a new record following strong earnings from Best Buy and news that CVS Health would acquire senior pharmacy services company Omnicare for $US12.7 billion ($A16.13 billion).
The Australian share market has closed higher as bargain hunters piled into most of the major banks, and the big miners found support from investors betting on further economic stimulus measures in China.
US stocks have finished mostly lower after a short-lived jump that came when the Federal Reserve's policy meeting minutes cast doubt on an interest rate hike in June.