AAP

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.

The Australian dollar is still rising strongly and as reached a four-month high against its US counterpart which remains unchanged ahead of key US jobs figures.

Oil prices have 1.3 per cent after much stronger demand in China overshadowed a downbeat report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that showed higher production by key OPEC exporters.

Gold has retreated from earlier gains as the US dollar has turned higher and global stocks gain on upbeat data, even as investors wager that policy tightening in the United States will be glacial at best.

Gains have been made in nearly all sectors of the share market as it rose by more than 1 per cent, following signals from the US Federal Reserve that it will gradually tighten interest rates.

Gold miner Northern Star Resources achieved record production in the June quarter, taking full-year production to the top end of its guidance. 

Human skeletal remains have been found at the building site of the new WA Museum in Northbridge and the Homicide Squad has been brought in.

Print communications provider IVE Group Australia has signed a four-year deal with Seven West Media's publishing arm to produce its entire stable of regular mastheads. 

The Australian share market has opened higher with all sectors in the green on the back of a strong lead from Wall Street, where the Dow Jones closed at a record high. 

The Australian dollar is again heading upwards against its US counterpart, which has remained steady, and toward 77 US cents.

Oil futures have risen as a report showing hefty drawdowns in US crude inventories are offset by data pointing to lacklustre petrol demand.

Gold prices have risen, edging further from this week's near four-month low after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen curbed speculation that US interest rates would rise more than once this year.