AAP

The share market has closed lower due to a broad sell-off of banks, insurers and other financial stocks.

A Senate committee will inquire into the future of rugby union in Australia, a day after the ARU's victory in its fight to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby.

Schoolchildren across Western Australia may be exposed to lead-contaminated water because the same plumbing materials plaguing Perth Children's Hospital could also be in schools, an expert has warned.

Mines Minister Bill Johnston has been criticised for holding a scientific inquiry to decide the future of fracking in the state, with the industry saying it's unnecessary and creates damaging uncertainty.

The Australian market has opened lower, following a negative lead from Wall Street and the major bank stocks all trading lower.

Gold prices have climbed to a one-year high on Tuesday as the US dollar eased and safe-haven buying demand remained robust due to continued concerns over North Korea's nuclear tests.

The Australian dollar has risen against its US counterpart, which fell following the release of weak US durable goods data.

Crude oil prices rose and gasoline fell by about three per cent on Tuesday as the gradual restart of refineries in the US Gulf that were shut by Hurricane Harvey raised demand for crude and eased fears of a fuel supply crunch.

The Australian share market has overcome a poor start to close slightly higher, helped by a late rally in bank stocks and support for the miners on the back of recent improvements in commodity prices.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the official cash rate on hold at 1.5 per cent and repeated its concern that an appreciating Australian dollar could slow economic growth.

A roofing company has been fined $70,000 after a labourer was seriously injured when he fell five metres through a skylight in Bicton.

Billionaire backer Andrew Forrest has vowed to continue the Western Force's fight with the Australian Rugby Union after losing an appeal to remain in the Super Rugby competition.

Australian services sector activity has continued to expand for the sixth straight month, but the rate of expansion has slowed.

IMF Bentham has confirmed it will fund a Federal Court open class action against the Commonwealth Bank relating to allegations the lender breached anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding laws.

The Australian market has opened lower, following the negative lead of international bourses with investors unnerved by North Korea's nuclear missile test.

Brent crude prices have fallen while US crude oil prices have edged higher and petrol prices have slumped to pre-Hurricane Harvey levels, as oil refineries and pipelines in the US Gulf Coast slowly resumed activity, easing supply concerns.

The Australian dollar has slipped against its US counterpart, which also fell, but less so, as gold and defensive currencies fared better than equities and bonds amid quiet markets.

Gold prices have shot up to their highest levels in close to a year as investors bought safe-haven assets on worries that North Korea might launch more missiles after Sunday's nuclear test.

The Australian share market has closed lower after North Korea's latest nuclear weapon test unnerved investors.

US broadcast giant CBS has made a $143 million loan to the Ten Network Holdings to refinance the struggling local outfit's debt - advancing its interest even as a potential challenge to its takeover still stands.

A motion to financially secede Western Australia from the federation drew gasps of disbelief around the nation when it was narrowly passed, but even those proposing it admit it's unlikely to happen.

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi has been disqualified from holding any office for 18 months after failing to disclose gifts and travel, but her lawyer will seek to halt the penalty pending an appeal.

The Australian market has opened ignored Wall Street's modes positive lead and opened lower.

Gold has risen to its highest in nearly 10 months after US jobs growth slowed more than expected in August, but pared gains when investors judged that the figures were unlikely to change the outlook for US interest rate rises.

The Australian dollar is higher against its US counterpart which itself has lifted against a basket of currencies despite disappointing key US jobs figures.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher on Friday after strong gains on Thursday, with heavyweight Commonwealth Bank weighing on the index and blood products and vaccines giant CSL providing some lift.

Telstra boss Andrew Penn will take home $5.2 million this year, almost $1.6 million less than he did a year ago, as the telco's plunging share price weighs on his share entitlements.

Australian shares have opened higher, boosted by a strong overnight lead from Wall Street, with the local market currently on track to recover the week's losses.

The Australian dollar has bounced back against its US counterpart as geopolitical tensions and uneven US data continue to plague the currency.

Petrol futures have surged more than 13 per cent, and crude oil has settled nearly 3 per cent higher, as almost a quarter of US refining capacity remained offline and traders scrambled to reroute millions of barrels of fuel.

Widespread gains led by miners, banks and healthcare giants have driven the share market to its best daily gain in almost three weeks.

Cattle exporter Wellard says the China market has potential but only if prices for Australian cattle come down.