AAP

The Australian dollar is trading higher ahead of the second US presidential debate and after disappointing US jobs figures.

Oil has fallen just over one per cent as players took profits on a rally over the past week that propelled prices nearly 15 per cent to four-month highs on hopes of OPEC crude output cuts.

Gold has fallen for the ninth straight session, briefly tapping a four-month low as computer-generated selling offset support from weak US payrolls data, but bullion was on track for its biggest weekly drop in more than three years.

The share market has ended the week with a fall as markets wait for the latest US jobs data that is likely to influence the timing of an expected US rate hike.

Two different proposals from the Western Australian government to change the way Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton pay an iron ore charge is already damaging the state's reputation as an investment destination, a business lobby group says.

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan has ruled out extending a ban on fracking beyond three regions if he wins the March state election.

Two interest rate cuts are yet to trigger a boom in retail spending, MasterCard says.

Milk processors have agreed to develop a code of conduct with dairy farmers aimed at preventing controversial farmgate price cuts.

Engineering construction helped overall building activity return to expansion in September.

The Australian share market has edged slightly lower in early trade, despite a nearly flat session on Wall Street and continued strength in oil prices.

The Australian dollar has slipped against its US counterpart as investors back the greenback going into Friday's key US jobs report.

Gold fell for the eighth straight session on Thursday, slipping to a four-month low, pressured by a stronger dollar after U.S. weekly jobless claims fell and ahead of key data that could put the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates this year.

Oil rose more than 1 per cent to four-month highs on Thursday, spurred by another informal OPEC meeting on output cuts and plunging U.S. crude inventories, with some saying the market has overshot itself with a near 15-per cent gain in seven sessions.

Changes to freeway merging lanes have provided a welcome boost to Perth drivers, with the recent changes improving traffic flow and cutting journey times.

Strong gains by energy and mining stocks and the major supermarkets have driven the share market higher.

Perth-based Hillcrest Litigation Services is transforming into a baby food company after signing an agreement to acquire the manufacturer of Bubs Organic products.

One Nation Senator Rod Culleton has attacked the judiciary in a press release after his latest court loss, demanding the civil matter be heard by a jury.

The Australian share market is higher in early trade, helped by positive cues from Wall Street and strong gains in energy prices.

The Australian dollar has fallen against the greenback with stronger-than-expected economic data lifting the US currency.

Gold is little changed with the US dollar paring gains, after bullion inched down to the lowest in more than three months following the previous day's sharp sell-off and a technical break well below the key $US1,300-an-ounce level.

Oil prices have settled up about two per cent, hitting their highest since June, after the fifth unexpected weekly drawdown in US crude inventories added to support on hopes that major producers will agree to cut output next month.

The share market recovered some of its early falls but still closed in negative territory as sentiment remained subdued on strengthened expectations of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

One Nation Senator Rod Culleton has again failed in his bid to challenge a three-year-old court judgment ordering him to pay $205,000 in damages to former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester.

ANZ Banking Group has pledged to consider cutting credit card rates and stopping its millions of dollars in political donations, as its boss apologised for failing customers.

South African retailer Woolworths Holdings, the owner of David Jones and Country Road, is set to add Politix, another Australian brand, to its mix.

The Australian share market has opened lower

The Australian dollar is half a cent lower against its US counterpart after risk sentiment soured on the back of a report saying the European Central Bank would taper its bond buying program.

Oil has settled slightly lower in choppy trade as a surging US dollar and anticipation of higher US crude stockpiles offset optimism about planned OPEC output cuts that initially took Brent to four-month highs.

Gold has slumped more than three per cent, reaching its lowest price since Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union in June, as the US dollar has rallied after upbeat US data.

The Australian share market has rebounded to finish slightly higher after the Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 1.5 per cent.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia boss Ian Narev would be the first to admit his bank could improve in some areas, but he has told a parliamentary committee the bank was doing better at listening to customers and was committed to efficient redress.

Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton say they have no intention of taking up the state government's offer to change how they pay the controversial iron ore lease rental that Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls wants to hike.