AAP

The share market has lost ground as falls across the materials and energy sectors offset gains by some financial companies.

Already facing intense price competition from Aldi, supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths could lose some of their high-spending customers to David Jones' new upmarket food stores.

The WACA has started construction of a full set of drop-in wickets to be used at the new Perth Stadium, with hopes one of them will feature during the 2017-18 Ashes series.

Australia's consumer watchdog has started legal action in the Federal Court against German carmaker Volkswagen and its Australian subsidiary accusing it of misleading claims about diesel vehicle emissions.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

US and European shares fell as a drop in oil prices weighed on energy stocks, while two-year US Treasury yields ended August with the biggest monthly increase since November on growing expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.

The Australian dollar has outperformed and risen against the greenback ahead of the release of key local retail sales figures.

Gold has fallen to a two-month low after forecast-beating US jobs data stoked speculation that the Federal Reserve will move ahead with plans to raise its official interest rate, briefly propelling the US dollar index to its highest in three weeks.

The share market has closed weaker as a higher US dollar hurt resources and energy stocks and investors chose caution ahead of key US jobs numbers that are likely to help determine the timing of a hike in US interest rates.

A national boom in housing construction and renovation has driven a surge in Harvey Norman's furniture, whitegoods and homewares' sales, offsetting a weak result in Western Australia due to the the mining downturn.

Lower write-downs have helped Atlas Iron post a full-year net loss to $159 million, as the junior miner seeks to stay afloat amid weaker iron ore prices.

The Australian share market has opened lower, hurt by losses across the board following a disappointing session on Wall Street and a rally in the US dollar.

US stocks slipped after strong US economic data stoked concerns about the impact of a potential Federal Reserve interest rate hike this year and a drop in technology shares, while European stocks and the dollar hit multi-week highs.

Oil prices have fallen, with Brent losing nearly two per cent, as the US dollar rallied and glut worries grew amid forecasts for higher US crude stockpiles and Iran's remark that it was on target to reach peak production.

The Australian dollar has fallen against the US dollar, amid strong demand for the greenback ahead of the keenly anticipated US labour market report.

Gold has fallen to a six-week low after Federal Reserve officials sounded a hawkish note on interest rates, boosting the US dollar, while attention turned to US payrolls data this week for further clues on the pace of rate hikes.

The Australian share market lost steam throughout the afternoon session to close slightly higher as gains in health care, resource and banking stocks offset losses in Woolworths and Telstra.

Mining giant BHP Billiton says it was not aware that the tailings dam at its Samarco joint venture in Brazil was at risk of collapsing, despite a series of efforts over years to fix its structural defects.

Slater & Gordon shares dropped nearly 18 per cent after the embattled law firm announced a $1.02 billion full-year loss and the continued underperformance of its troubled UK business.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar has risen as investors hunt for yield and amid a general lack of dovish comments from the Reserve Bank.

Gold has rebounded from a near-five-week low as the US dollar dropped, shrugging off earlier pressure by top Federal Reserve officials' comments fuelling speculation that US interest rates would rise sooner rather than later.

The share market has fallen as growing expectations of a US rate hike later this year rattle investors.

Billionaire James Packer has reduced his majority stake in casinos and hotels operator Crown Resorts, reaping around $448 million.

US retailer Lowe's has begun Federal Court action against Woolworths over the failed Masters hardware chain.

Premier Colin Barnett has reportedly told Agriculture and Transport Minister Dean Nalder not to attend a regional cabinet meeting because his presence would be a distraction.

Embattled mining services business McAleese Group has gone into voluntary administration after failing to secure a lifeline from Hong Kong-based debt trader SC Lowy.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Gold has pared gains, while the US dollar has turned up and US stocks have fallen, as investors struggle to decipher the timing of a US interest rate increase following comments by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and other officials.

The Australian dollar has lost ground against the greenback after the US central bank left the door open for an interest rate hike as early as September.

Oil prices are largely unchanged following a volatile session, as traders reacted to comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen and reports of missile activity in Saudi Arabia.

The share market has lost ground as investors moved cautiously ahead of a speech by US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen which could provide clues on the timing of a US interest rate hike.