The share market has squeezed out another tiny gain in a choppy session dominated by the release of weak inflation numbers that may prompt the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate next week.
Gold has risen as the US dollar hsa fallen, but remains hemmed in to a range at the start of a two-day US Federal Reserve policy meeting which is being closely watched for clues on the outlook for interest rates.
US stocks were mixed as Federal Reserve policymakers kicked off a two-day interest rate meeting and investors braced for quarterly scorecards from Apple and Twitter.
US crude prices have fallen, hitting three-month lows, on renewed worries of a glut while Brent settled higher due to its better fundamentals versus US crude.
The Australian share market has finished slightly higher as investors punt that second quarter inflation figures will prompt the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates next week.
The Australian dollar has slipped slightly against its US counterpart in overnight trade, weighed down by continuing expectation of a lift in US interest rates.
The Australian share market has resumed its upward course, boosted by expectations of an interest rate cut, and a big lift in the shares of Woolworths after the ailing supermarket giant announced restructuring plans.
Local entrepreneur Zhenya Tsvetnenko has tendered his resignation from the boards of listed companies DigitalX and Tech Mpire after being indicted by US prosecutors for participating in a scheme to defraud mobile phone customers.
Oil prices have settled lower, losing four per cent on the week, after the fourth weekly rise in the US oil rig count added to worries about a global crude glut.
Gold prices have fallen, reflecting tension between a global backdrop of easier interest rates and the chance of US monetary policy being tightened before the end of the year.
Gold and copper producer Oz Minerals says it is on track to achieve its full-year production guidance, despite an unscheduled plant closure and bad weather during the June quarter.
The Australian share market has opened lower after Wall Street eased overnight on disappointing company earning results and the European Central Bank's decision to hold fire on stimulus.
Gold has rebounded above a three-week low and has risen per cent, as the US dollar fell and the key stock indexes hovered below record highs after the European Central Bank left key interest rates unchanged.
Wall Street has cooled off as disappointing quarterly reports from tech stalwart Intel and from transportation companies stalled momentum in a US corporate earnings season that has been better than feared.
