AAP

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.

Australia Post has returned to profit despite a record decline in letter volumes.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Oil prices have risen one per cent on US-Iran military tensions in the Gulf and speculation the US dollar will fall on a monetary policy speech due from the US Federal Reserve chair.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower against the greenback as traders wait for US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen to speak at a global central bankers meeting.

Gold has hit four-week lows, under pressure from upbeat US data in the run-up to a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen this week that will be watched for clues on monetary policy.

Resource heavyweights, including Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, weighed on the Australian share market on Thursday amid another wave of mixed company earnings results.

A judgement ordering One Nation senator-elect Rod Culleton and his wife to pay former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester more than $200,000 in damages has been upheld.

Nine Entertainment has negotiated its way out of a costly contract to broadcast US TV shows and is refocusing on local content in response to disappointing ratings.

Businessman John Poynton has denied interfering in Premier Colin Barnett's leadership of the state government amid an outcry about a poll commissioned by powerful businessmen showing the Liberal Party on track to lose the March election.

Woolworths has slipped to a $1.23 billion full-year loss after a big decline in earnings from its Australian food and drink business and more than $2.6 billion of write-downs.