AAP

Gold has slide to a two-week low after a mixed bag of US economic data prompted selling ahead of next week's US Federal Reserve policy meeting.

The Australian dollar has risen more than half a US cent as the greenback fell on disappointing US retail sales numbers, dousing market expectations of an imminent US rate rise.

Commonwealth Bank and its three big rivals have led the share market higher, despite falls by energy companies on the back of lower oil prices.

The two main features of the latest labour force figures appear to be telling different stories, with a falling unemployment rate obscuring underlying weakness in job creation.

BHP Billiton says its plans to invest in a huge new iron ore mine in the Pilbara are threatened by The Nationals WA's proposed new $5 a tonne mining tax.

Department store chain Myer has shown signs its turnaround plan is working after it more than doubled its full-year profit to $60.5 million.

Seven West Media can push ahead with its acquisition of News Corp's The Sunday Times and perthnow.com.au after the competition watchdog declared it won't hurt competition for consumers or advertisers.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has consolidated recent losses ahead of the release of the official August job figures.

Oil prices have fallen about three per cent for a second straight day, after data showing large weekly builds in US petroleum products offset a surprise draw in crude stockpiles.

Gold prices have risen, breaking a five-day decline as the US dollar slipped against a basket of currencies, with the market waiting for clues on the timing of an increase in US interest rates.

Consumer confidence has experienced a relatively stable six months, while economists expect the unemployment rate to have remained steady at 5.7 per cent in August.

Australian shares have gained ground for the first time in a week, recovering from a hefty selloff on Tuesday.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has apologised to customers and paid $180,000 in fines after a programming error caused Australia's largest bank to incorrectly approve almost 11,000 overdraft applications.

The Australian share market has opened barely changed.

The Australian dollar has fallen more than half a US cent on growing concerns about US and European interest rate rises.

Gold has fallen for the fifth straight day, weighed down by a firmer US dollar and a jump in Treasury yields as well as uncertainty about whether the US central bank will raise interest rates next week.

Oil prices have fallen as much as three per cent after both the world's energy watchdog and OPEC revised forecasts that signalled the global crude glut could persist for much longer than expected.

The Australian share market lost its early morning gains to close at its lowest level since July on concerns about future stimulus programs by central banks.

The builder of the $1.2 billion Perth Children's Hospital has not been blamed for asbestos found in ceiling panels but should have done more to protect the health of workers, an inquiry has found.

The Turnbull government has failed to comply with a Senate order to release documents about the largely federal-funded Perth Freight Link.

Leasing across Perth's rental market increased by 17 per cent in August, according to new data from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

JB Hi-Fi has struck a deal to buy whitegoods retailer The Good Guys for $870 million.

Iron ore exporter Fortescue Metals says it will repay $US700 million ($A925 million) of its debt, generating annual interest savings of about $US26 million.

Housing investment and construction in Australia are likely to wane in coming years, with an accompanying drop in their contribution to the strength of the economy, the Reserve Bank says.

The Australian share market has opened confidently higher.

Oil prices have risen as a softer US dollar and stronger US equity markets helped crude futures rebound from an early drop pressured by worries about increased drilling activity for oil in the United States.

The Australian dollar has edged higher as the greenback lost some ground after a Federal Reserve official cast doubt on the chances of a US rate rise in September.

Gold has steadied, recovering from earlier weakness after dovish comments from US Federal Reserve policymakers lowered expectations for a September US interest rate rise, and the greenback fell.

The Australian share market has slumped to a two-month low as investors dumped stocks from all sectors on fears the US Federal Reserve could hike interest rates this month.

Health insurer BUPA has admitted to rejecting more than 7,000 claims over five years without having the refusal assessed by a doctor as required by law.

The corporate regulator has blasted the insurance industry over expensive, poor-value add-on policies sold to car buyers, warning there are "serious problems" in the market that must be fixed immediately.