Shares close lower despite an afternoon recovery, with a rallying CBA tempering losses among the other banks, while miners forged higher.

Shares have halved early losses as better than expected local jobs data lifts spirits, and the dollar, but the overnight tumble in oil prices is still weighing heavily on the energy sector.

Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens' wish for a further dive in the Aussie dollar might be granted.

Shares close higher after investors responded to the Murray report by driving bank stocks higher, while Qantas surges on an earnings update and Coke announces job losses.

Timbercorp bought back several million dollars worth of projects from favoured investors while hard sell continued on others.

Authorities are investigating members of an alleged "fake debt bankruptcy fraud ring" accused of using sham debts to shield millions of dollars in assets from Timbercorp creditors and investors.

Shares close down but well off their early lows after strong oil prices drive a relief rally in energy stocks and amid some bargain hunting in the mining sector, while the Aussie threatened to break below 82 US cents.

Payment providers are divided in their reactions to the Murray inquiry attempt to cut down payment surcharges and fees – and it largely comes down to whether they’re a dominant incumbent, or a new kid on the block.

Qantas has officially pushed the reset button on its financial prospects having lined up the foundations for a full-year profit that could easily exceed $600 million based on pre-tax profit guidance for the current half of up to $350 million.

The battle for supremacy in the cosmetics market, triggered by the recent arrival of Sephora, is in full swing, but analysts are already pointing to department stores as the biggest potential losers.

Billions of dollars in undeclared and untaxed wealth hidden offshore has been revealed by hundreds of rich Australians as they rush to take advantage of the ATO's last-ever tax amnesty.

How big can Aldi get in Australia? And how much secrecy is too much?

The Australian dollar is edging closer to a 70s-handle, dropping to a new four-year low of US82.35¢ on Tuesday on the back of poor business confidence figures and another major bank switching into the rate cut camp.

Local stocks sink, led down by a rout in the energy sector as BHP plunges below $29 and Santos crashes, while the dollar dives again as NAB joins the rate-cut camp.

Crowd-sourced equity funding to help start-ups in Australia looks a step closer, with the Abbott government releasing a new discussion paper.