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Strong currency RBA’s rate cut dilemmaThe strength of the Australian dollar is the one element that may prompt the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut rates

The share market has ended the week with a fall, hurt by financial and resources stocks amid concerns about Deutsche Bank's future and the possible implications of its financial woes.

The former chief executive of a Western Australian shire, who stole almost $600,000 over four years and gambled it away, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

WTI oil has jumped more than one per cent and Brent has neared $US50 a barrel on optimism over OPEC's first planned output cut in eight years, although gains were limited by doubts the reduction would make a substantial dent in the global crude glut.

Gold is up a shade after the US dollar flip-flopped in the wake of mixed US data and as scepticism grew over whether OPEC members would be able to implement production cuts that could fuel inflation.

The Australian dollar has fallen against its US counterpart after global risk appetite took a hit on news hedge funds have concerns about Deutsche Bank.

Tourism, farming sectors informed lower backpacker taxThe new 19 per cent backpacker tax rate was based on recommendations from stakeholders including the tourism and agri

The share market has closed at its highest level in a month after major oil producers surprisingly agreed to cut production, giving energy and resource stocks a boost.

Clive Palmer has lost a bid to sue the liquidators of Queensland Nickel for not returning assets to his possession when the company collapsed, with a judge saying the proposed lawsuit would be a "startling affront to justice".

The state government will establish a rural fire service in response to January's deadly bushfires at Yarloop, but it won't be ready in time for this summer.

The Australian share market has jumped nearly one per cent in early trade on the back of positive news for the energy sector after OPEC struck a deal to limit crude output.

Wall Street ended higher after an OPEC agreement to limit crude output fuelled a rally in oil and more than offset nervousness about a tight race for the US presidency.

The Australian dollar is edging up against the greenback after OPEC producers agreed to cut output.

Oil prices have settled up nearly six per cent after OPEC struck a deal to limit crude output at its policy meeting in November, its first agreement to cut production since 2008 and after the market crashed on oversupply.

Gold prices have fallen for the second straight day and hit a one-week low, pressured by earlier strength in the US dollar and as investors assessed Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's testimony before a congressional committee.

Extra tax perks to boost R&DBigger businesses will be eligible for millions in extra tax incentives under a plan that would extend the government’s innovation agenda w

The share market has closed slightly higher after slipping from its early gains.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher.

Crude oil futures ended the session giving back most of what they gained the previous day.

Gold has fallen as the US dollar and stocks gained ground on the view that Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton got the better of Republican rival Donald Trump in their first debate, denting the safe-haven appeal of bullion and bonds.

The Australian dollar is slightly weaker against its US counterpart after the greenback rose following the first US presidential debate.

Tourism slams departure tax slugAn angry tourism sector is unhappy the government has increased the departure tax – which already raises $1 billion a year – to help fund a

The Australian share market has finished lower, however it did claw back some earlier losses following signs Hillary Clinton may be leading Donald Trump after the first US presidential candidate debate.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has gained against the US dollar as investors await the US presidential debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrats Hilary Clinton.

Oil has settled up three per cent as the world's largest producers gathered in Algeria to discuss ways to support prices, with nervous trade driving volatility to its highest since a similar meeting to freeze output in April in Doha which failed.

Gold has steadied, after a retreat in the US dollar helped it build on last week's gains but moves were muted with markets awaiting a US presidential debate for pointers as to the outcome of November's election.

Labor says bank profits are too highFederal Labor MP Pat Conroy will demand to know why Australian banks have higher returns on equity than those in other countries when h

Australian shares have ended the week in positive territory after a strong US market pushed local stocks to a fourth consecutive day of gains.

ASX boss Dominic Stevens has apologised for the "unacceptable" outage that stopped trading on the Australian stock market on Monday but defended its handling of the situation.

State government gaming agency Lotterywest has beaten its revenue budget and grabbed its biggest share of spending per capita for three years, but it continues to watch the threat of online gambling and other web-based gaming products from outside Western Australia.