US crude oil prices fell on Tuesday as tropical storm Hermine did not disrupt oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. The strength in the US dollar also weighed on the oil price.

The Australian dollar opens lower as investors move away from risk assets.

Crude oil prices fell as fears about the global economy resurfaced following reports that European banks may have more risky government debt.

Stocks of interest on the Australian Stock Exchange today.

The Australian stock market has received a negative lead from offshore markets, after Wall Street closed lower and oil prices fell.

US stocks have closed lower following new worries about Europe's debt problems.

Gold prices settled at a record high Tuesday following renewed worries about European banks and the global economy.

The chief executive of OceanaGold Corporation has resigned for personal reasons after less than a year in the role.

China rejected pressure over currency on Tuesday amid a visit by two high-level US envoys, saying Beijing will set the pace of exchange rate reforms.

Junior iron ore miners have welcomed Independent MP Rob Oakeshott's announcement of a tax summit and say they hope any new mining tax will be an improvement on the current plan.

Currency, fixed interest and equity markets had some jitters in the lead up to the decision by independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor to hand Labor the governing lead in federal parliament.

Small-to-mid tier miners continue to hope the planned new mining tax will be scrapped altogether.

Shares in Macquarie Group Ltd lost another 2.2 per cent after four brokers cut price targets on the stock following the investment bank's profit warning.

The Australian dollar closed lower in the wake of the decision by two Independent MPs to back a minority Labor government.

Australia's economy will be strong and is on the upswing for a boom within the next decade, a leading economist says

Consumers will gain confidence from the end of the political uncertainty, the National Retailers Association (NRA) says.

Royal Dutch Shell says it's not preparing to take over Woodside Petroleum Ltd.

The Australian share market has finished flat, after rebounding from intra-day lows following news the Labor Party would be returned to power.

Listed investment companies Milton Corporation and Choiseul Investments agree on terms for a to merger to create a $2 billion entity.

Stocks to watch on the Australian Securities Exchange at close.

Mortgage sales jumped 11 per cent in August as homebuyer confidence strengthened and mortgage delinquencies stabilised.

MetroCoal says it has not yet released a resource estimate for its Columboola project in Queensland that complies with Australia's mineral reporting code.

Across Asia, regional markets are mostly lower in afternoon trade, with the lack of leads from US markets due to their Labor Day holiday offering traders little in the way of direction.

Asian stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday but losses were limited amid easing worries over the pace of the global economic recovery.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate unchanged at 4.5 per cent on Tuesday, and gave little indication of what the future holds.

Leighton has declined to comment on speculation that the company will announce the end of chief executive Wal King's 23-year reign within days.

$A falls as rates remain unchanged at 4.5 per cent.

Oil and gas producer Drillsearch has increased its interest in four wet gas discoveries in South Australia's Cooper Basin.

Australia's unemployment rate is expected to have fallen in August as the nation's economy continues to pick up steam, economists say.

Homebuyers are more worried about meeting their repayments or buying property than they were a year ago, a survey has found.