AAP

The sale of the Ten Network to US media giant CBS would likely cause havoc for rival broadcasters Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment, a senior analyst has warned.

The Australian share market has opened strong on the the first trading session of the new month, with investors taking cues from a positive finish on Wall Street last week.

The Australian dollar is little changed against the US dollar with most major currencies either steady or range-bound since the last local trading session.

Gold prices have edged lower as slightly weaker US inflation and consumer spending data did little to dampen expectations of an interest rate hike in December.

The share market has ended a choppy session in positive territory with a respite in falling iron ore prices helping materials and resources stocks recover lost ground.

Fortescue Metals Group has partnered with ANZ Banking Group to set up a $50 million leasing facility for indigenous-owned businesses that have contracts with the iron ore miner.

The Australian share market has turned lower early on its last trading day of the month after a confused start when key indexes moved in and out of positive territory.

The Australian dollar is higher against its US counterpart, recouping the losses it suffered in its previous onshore session as the greenback's tax-plan inspired gains were partly forfeited.

Oil prices have slipped, further backing off from 2015 peaks hit earlier in the week as tension around northern Iraq following the Kurdistan region's vote in favour of independence spurred fresh supply concerns.

Gold has rebounded above a six-week low, as the US dollar has turned lower and ushered in short-covering.

The Australian share market has ended the day modestly higher, while a surge in the US greenback has helped push the Aussie dollar to its lowest level in more than two months.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts insists the state government will not budge on its $1,000 pay increase offer to the police union, saying to capitulate would trigger a flow-on effect across the rest of the public sector.

Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy has agreed to buy Origin Energy's conventional oil and gas business Lattice Energy, which has a major stake in two operations in the Perth Basin, for nearly $1.6 billion.

The Australian share market has opened higher, after Wall Street rose following the release of President Donald Trump's tax reform plan and increased expectation of a Federal Reserve interest rate

The Australian dollar is slightly lower against its US counterpart which has strengthened amid optimism over proposed US tax reforms.

Brent prices have fallen while WTI (US) crude has rallied, after oil stockpiles in the world's top consumer unexpectedly drew down with refiners coming back online following Hurricane Harvey in August.

Heightened expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again this year has driven gold to a one-month low, extending losses after the biggest one-day loss in almost two years during the previous session.

The share market has lost ground as investors tread cautiously ahead of a speech by US President Donald Trump that is expected to detail his plans for tax cuts and reform.

Failed Ten Network Holdings bidders Bruce Gordon and Lachlan Murdoch may be analysing their own independent expert's report ahead of making a decision on challenging the sale of Ten to CBS, a court has heard.

Premier Mark McGowan has lashed the state police union's leadership after a short-lived escalation of industrial action over a pay dispute, saying they went rogue and took the law into their own hands.

The Australian market is flat at the open following a mixed lead from Wall Street and reversing from positive indicators on the futures market ahead of the start of trade.

Oil prices have ended one per cent lower after investors took profits following a rally to 26-month highs spurred largely by threats from Turkey to cut crude exports from Iraq's Kurdistan region.

The Australian dollar has slipped against a strengthening US dollar which rose overnight alongside climbing US interest rates and as risk aversion appeared to fade.

The share market has closed slightly lower as investors contemplate the ongoing war of words between US President Donald Trump and North Korea.

The company behind the Australian Securities Exchange believes it has found the global 'sweet spot' for attracting companies to list on the local market.

Grain co-operative CBH Group has been ordered to pay more than $40,000 after insufficient guarding on machinery led to a worker being so badly injured she had to have one finger amputated.

Adventure gear retailer Kathmandu's annual profit has risen 13.5 per cent, thanks to strong sales, innovative products and cost cuts.

The Australian market has opened slightly higher, with investors seemingly shrugging off the risk aversion shown in Wall Street's negative lead.

Oil prices have soared more than three per cent, with Brent hitting its highest in more than two years, after major producers said the global market was on its way to rebalancing, while Turkey threatened to cut oil flows from Iraq's Kurdistan region toward its ports.

Gold prices have risen, reversing earlier losses as geopolitical risks drove safe-haven buying.

The Australian share market has broken a three-day losing streak as some buyers returned to the market despite negative overseas leads, however volumes were muted with no strong theme directing trading.

Talks between Seven West Media and regional broadcaster Prime over combining their assets into a single media company have ended with the two unable to come to an agreement.