AAP

Ten Network creditors have met with newly appointed administrators to begin the process of trying to keep the embattled TV broadcaster afloat.

Shipbuilder Austal has won a $779 million contract to build another littoral combat ship for the US Navy.

The Australian share market has opened higher with all sectors marginally up, following a mainly positive lead from Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is hardly changed against its US counterpart even as the greenback weakens slightly amid mixed data and comments from the Federal Reserve.

Oil futures have edged higher with a lift from a weaker US dollar, but have finished a fifth straight week lower as OPEC-led production cuts have failed to substantially reduce a global crude glut.

Gold prices have climbed to one-week highs, boosted by a weaker US dollar, economic and political uncertainty around the world, and the limited prospect of further interest rate rises in the United States.

The Australian share market has ended in positive territory, despite a tumultuous day for the major banks after fresh talk of state government imposed levies.

State Treasurer Ben Wyatt says the South Australian government's controversial bank levy is an attractive option and he'll watch with interest ahead of delivering his own budget in September.

National Australia Bank has followed its peers by raising its variable rates for interest-only mortgages in a bid to slow down riskier lending.

The Australian share market has edged fractionally higher as gains by most of the big mining and energy stocks, CSL and Telstra outweigh weakness among most of the major banks.

Oil has risen, a day after hitting 10-month lows, but market sentiment remains negative because the global crude glut has persisted despite OPEC-led output cuts.

The Australian dollar is lower against its US counterpart which has remained steady in the offshore session.

Gold has risen, lifting quietly above the prior session's five-week low as the US dollar steadied and the 200-day moving average provided short-term support below the market.

Dental services account for almost half of the extras claims made by customers of private health insurance giant Medibank, at more than $500 million, latest figures show.

The share market has regained some of Wednesday's big losses as banks, energy producers and miners all posted gains.

Perth-based Iluka Resources plans to put its Hamilton mineral separation plant in Victoria on care-and-maintenance status, resulting in a $150 million pre-tax impairment charge in its half-year accounts.

The Australian share market has opened higher, on the tail of its worst session of 2017 in which about $29 billion was wiped from its value. 

The Australian dollar has extended losses against its US counterpart, despite the greenback's underperformance, as the price of oil falls another two per cent.

Gold has rebounded from a five-week low as an oil price slump pushes down stock markets and a weaker US dollar makes bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Oil prices have ended down more than two per cent, hitting a 10-month low in volatile trade, as growing US production and reduced Chinese refinery activity fed mounting concern over the stubborn global crude glut.

About $29 billion has been wiped from the share market's value in its worst session of 2017, as lower oil prices and a souring outlook for commodities hit energy and mining stocks, and the negative sentiment infected the big banks.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has not demonstrated any insight into her wrongdoing or indicated she won't fail to disclose gifts again, the State Administrative Tribunal has heard.

AGL Energy has appointed non-executive director Graeme Hunt to take over as chairman when Jerry Maycock retires.

The Australian share market has slipped in early trade, taking the lead from a decline on Wall Street after a sharp drop in energy prices.

The Australian dollar is sharply down against its US counterpart as the greenback lifts against most currencies, except the yen and the kiwi dollar, in a lively session.

Oil prices have fallen two per cent per cent, with Brent settling at seven-month lows and US crude at its cheapest level since September, after increased supply from several key producers overshadowed high compliance by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers with a deal to cut global output.

Gold has inched down to a five-week low as the US dollar lifts following hawkish comments from an influential US Federal Reserve official and dovish remarks from the Bank of England governor.

The stock market has closed 0.8 per cent, or 47.9 points, lower at 5,757.3.

The ASX closed 47 points lower after shares in Australia's big four banks were hit by a long-term credit ratings cut by Moody's, due to risks associated with the local housing market.

The Australian Competition Tribunal has waved through the proposed $11 billion merger between gaming rivals Tabcorp and Tatts Group.

The Australian share market has opened in the red despite strong gains on Wall Street overnight where the Dow and the S&P 500 closed at new record highs. 

The Australian dollar is down sharply against the greenback, falling back below 75 US cents, as the US dollar gains after an influential Federal Reserve official expressed confidence that rising wages would help revive domestic inflation.