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The Australian dollar has followed US stocks lower on concerns the US Federal Reserve might not raise its interest rate next week.

US stocks have finished sharply lower as a morning rally fizzled and Apple shares dropped after unveiling a suite of upgraded smartphone, tablet and television products.

Oil prices have tumbled as expectations of another increase in US inventories added to worries about the global oversupply.

Gold has fallen to a four-week low as stock markets strengthened and the US dollar firmed, though prices remained hemmed into a narrow range ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting.

Joe Hockey believes the Abbott government's economic plan is the best friend of consumers, even as another indicator pointed to tumbling confidence.

Australian shares have risen for the second straight session, helped by strong gains in overseas markets and rally in banking stocks.

Insurance giant QBE Insurance Group is being sued by Australian investors in a $200 million class action over the company's 2013 share price collapse.

The number of home loans approved in July was unchanged in Western Australia, while the national rate rose 0.3 per cent according to seasonally adjusted Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

The Abbott government needs to acknowledge its mistakes if it is to mount a comeback in the polls, and win the 2016 election.

Sport is taking over business in Perth as the AFL finals loom, with the ‘Go Freo’ sign on Woodside Plaza rivalled by a ‘Go Eagles’ sign on BHP Billiton's home at Brookfield Place, while the mining giant also committed to a new investment at the under-construction Perth Stadium.

Vanadium and uranium explorer Yellow Rock Resources has formed a new subsidiary with an unnamed local solar system installer to sell vanadium-based batteries in Australia.

Australians should look beyond their disappointment with recent sluggish economic growth and take heart from the economy's ability to cope with shocks, Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe says.

Local IT firm ASG Group has won a $9 million contract to provide managed services to the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET), under an initial two-year term.

Diversified miner Independence Group has slashed its workforce by 28 positions at its Long Operation in Kambalda, as it implements a number of cost-saving changes to its mining plan in response to the depressed nickel market.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent higher in the wake of strong leads from overseas markets.

Gold prices have firmed as a retreat in the US dollar index helped the metal end a four-day losing streak.

US stocks have powered higher, rallying with most global equity markets following a rise in Chinese stocks and improved eurozone economic data.

Oil prices have ended mixed with Chinese trade data showing imports and exports shrank in August, adding to concerns about energy demand prospects.

The Australian dollar has pushed its way above 70 US cents, helped by an outburst of optimism in global financial markets.

The resource sector’s safety record has been brought into doubt after a contractor was crushed while working at a liquefied natural gas plant and hospitalised, but the incident was not recorded as a lost-time injury.

Many small business owners are too busy getting their hands dirty in the day-to-day operations to take a longer-term strategic view.

Struggling iron ore miner Pluton Resources has fallen back into the hands of receivers and managers, less than six months after the board regained control of the company, as part of a new structuring proposal.

Independent candidate for the Canning by-election Teresa van Lieshout has had a warrant issued for her arrest after failing to appear in court.

Woodside Petroleum has spent the past 60 years focused on the development of its own projects in Australia, but in the space of one year, two major takeover deals collectively worth $15 billion look set to reshape the Perth-based energy giant.

The Australian share market has lifted more than 1.6 per cent despite US markets not trading and mixed economic data.

Online screening and verification company CVCheck has had a quiet first of trading on the ASX, closing 1 cent higher to 21 cents.

Booking a lunch appointment with a prospective customer is the first step; doing it right takes a bit more work.

The founder and non-executive chairman of Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has sold down a portion of his shareholding in the company for $7.24 million.

Medical device company Compumedics has won a contract to fit out the neurology department at the new $1.2 billion Perth Children’s Hospital.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum is considering growth opportunities in Papua New Guinea, announcing today it was evaluating a takeover offer for Oil Search through an all-scrip deal valued at more than $11 billion.

The Australian market has opened higher after gains in Europe overnight and positive economic data out of Japan.

Elections do at least allow the people to choose the kind of economy they want to live in.