AAP

Evolution Mining has lifted output and cut costs in the June quarter, helping it comfortably achieve its full-year production and cost guidance.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has posted a 6.6 per cent fall in second quarter production following outages at some of its facilities and lower share of pipeline gas from the North West Shelf. 

Shares in South 32 have fallen after the diversified miner's annual production of several commodities, including coal, dropped and the company missed its full-year production guidance on some of them.

The big banks and local energy companies have fuelled a strong start to trade on the Australian share market.

The Australian dollar has continued to make gains, helped by a recovery in iron ore and oil prices and as traders stay bullish ahead of employment data later on Thursday.

The major US stock indices have closed at record highs, helped partly by technology stocks, which surpassed a long-standing mark despite gains on the Dow being capped by a sharp drop in IBM shares.

Gold slipped back towards $US1,240 an ounce on Wednesday, after three straight day's of gains, as the U.S. dollar's recovered slightly from a 10-month low.

Australia's biggest banks will have to find billions of dollars of extra cash by 2020, but the new requirement does not look like being much of a problem for them.

Big gains by the major banks on softer-than-expected new capital requirements have driven the share market higher, while the Australian dollar remains at a two-year high.

BHP Billiton has met full-year production targets in its main iron ore and petroleum businesses, with a record result achieved at its Western Australian operation, but fell just short in its troubled copper business due to an extended strike at a Chilean mine.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed as "complete and utter waffle" Western Australian federal Labor MPs' submission to an inquiry into the GST.

The Australian share market has lifted in early trade on the back of a rally in financial stocks, but weakness in materials and energy stocks is expected to cap gains during the session.

The Australian dollar has held on to its two-year high against its US counterpart on the back of an upbeat assessment of the economy in the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's July policy me

Oil prices rose slightly as Saudi exports fell and solid demand soaked up some of what is seen as an oversupplied market, but Ecuador's decision to opt out of an OPEC-led supply reduction pact complicated the outlook.

Gold prices hit a more than two-week high supported by expectations of stronger demand from the physical market and as the dollar fell on fading prospects of an imminent increase in US interest rates.

The share market has ended the session sharply lower after a spike in the Australian dollar hit export-oriented companies, while the financial sector led broad-based losses.

Construction and contract mining giant CIMIC Group has rewarded shareholders with a 25 per cent increase in dividends, as revenue growth in all of its core businesses contributed to a 22 per cent rise in half-year profit.

Spotless Group's directors have reluctantly recommended shareholders accept a $1.3 billion takeover bid from engineering company Downer.

Rio Tinto has slightly pared back expectations for full-year shipments of iron ore, as ongoing rail track maintenance work slows down its ability to export the steel making ingredient.

The Australian share market has opened lower, as broad-based losses follow an uneventful Wall Street session. 

The Australian dollar has slid from its two-year high against its US counterpart, falling back below 78 US cents.

Oil fell one per cent lower as investors continued to await strong indications that an OPEC-led effort to drain a glut was proving effective but output increases in some top producers eased, keeping losses in check.

Gold climbed \and was likely to see further gains after the dollar slumped to multi-month lows on the back of data that pointed to weak US inflation and dampened prospects for rate hikes.

Declines from the heavyweight banks and health care companies have partly offset strong gains from the miners and energy players to send the Australian share market lower.

Shares in Perth-based Family Zone Cyber Safety have risen 20 per cent following news it will launch a suite of family-safe online digital products into the Indonesian market.

The share market was flat after a choppy first half hour of trade for the week, despite a positive lead from US markets.

Gold prices jumped 1.4 per cent to the highest level in nearly two weeks on Friday after data pointed to weak U.S. inflation, reaffirming doubts that the U.S. central bank would again hike interest rates this year.

The Australian dollar has retained most of its gains against its US counterpart after surging to a 15-month high on Friday following disappointing US inflation data.

The Australian share market has closed out another volatile week of trade on a positive note, with gains across the board led by a resurgent energy sector.

Greens senator Scott Ludlam is leaving federal parliament after finding out he was improperly elected more than a decade ago.

Woolworths, Big W and BWS liquor stores nationwide will stop giving out free plastic shopping bags within the next year.

The Australian share market has opened higher with all sectors except telecommunications posting gains.