AAP

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has rallied, with analysts tipping it to hit 77 US cents, as global risk appetite increases and after the greenback fell on weak US business productivity data.

Gold prices have edged higher as the US dollar slipped lower against a basket of currencies and concerns over the global economic outlook trumped some expectations that US Federal Reserve could raise interest rates this year.

Oil prices are lower after preliminary data showed a surprise US crude stockpile build last week, heightening worries about a global petroleum glut.

Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have labelled the reinstalled WA Nationals leader's plan to slug them with higher taxes "ill-conceived" and "damaging".

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher, with the big banks holding up the bourse in light trading following a weak lead from US markets

The WA Liberals can govern without the support of the Nationals, who are still deciding who will lead their party, Premier Colin Barnett says.

News Corporation's full-year earnings have dropped about 28 per cent as growth in its real estate classifieds businesses fails to offset declines in news and book publishing.

ANZ Banking Group's cash profit has slipped 3 per cent in the first nine months of its financial year, weighed down by restructuring charges and bad debts.

The Australian share market is trading mildly higher as investors await clear direction after a tepid session on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is being resilient, lifting against the greenback despite softer Chinese trade numbers on Monday.

Gold has steadied after falling to a one-week low as downward momentum from stronger-than-expected US jobs figures lost steam, with concerns over negative global economic sentiment lending support.

Oil prices are more than two per cent higher amid renewed speculation that OPEC will try to restrain output, easing oversupply worries that's pressured the market to three-month lows.

State National Party MPs met at Parliament House today as former leader Brendon Grylls tried to retake the leadership from Terry Redman, claiming the Liberal/National alliance was not in a winnable position for the upcoming state election due in March.

Investor interest in energy and financial stocks drove the Australian sharemarket higher on Monday, ahead of a flurry of company results this week as earnings season gets under way in earnest.

One Nation senator Rodney Culleton is one step closer to holding on to his new job after successfully applying to the Armidale Local Court, in regional NSW, to have a larceny conviction annulled.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar is weaker after a surprisingly strong US jobs report lifted the greenback.

Gold has fallen as much as 1.7 per cent, as the greenback rose after data showed that US employment increased more than expected in July, raising the probability of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this year.

Crude oil prices have ended little changed as short-covering returned in late trading, after some weakness earlier in the session as the US dollar rose on robust US jobs data.

Qantas is holding off taking delivery of eight A380 superjumbos ordered more than a decade ago because they don't fit with its current plans for growth in Asia.

The share market has closed higher after a rally in prices for oil and iron ore boosted energy and mining stocks.

Virgin Australia has posted a full year net loss of $224.7 million, after taking charges related to fleet simplification and other efficiency activities.

The ASX200 index has opened 26.1 points higher at 5,501.9 this morning.

Global stock markets have risen and sterling has dipped after the Bank of England cut interest rates and revived a bond-buying program to cushion the economic blow from Britain's June 23 vote to leave the European Union.

Wall Street stocks have ended little changed as investors kept to the sidelines ahead of Friday's US payrolls report for July.

The Australian dollar could hit a one-month high after the Bank of England announced a much stronger stimulus program than expected.

National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn will tell a parliamentary committee that his bank had to balance the needs of borrowers, savers, investors and shareholders when it decided not to pass on in full the Reserve Bank's latest rate cut.

The share market has closed modestly higher after a positive lead from US markets and a lift in the oil price which boosted energy stocks.

Downer's full-year profit has dropped 14 per cent due to a slowdown in its main mining and construction divisions and write-offs related to an unsuccessful metro rail bid.

Chemmart and Terry White chemists are set to merge into one of Australia's largest retail pharmacy chains, with an estimated turnover of $2 billion.

The Australian share market has opened strongly, with energy firms and global miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto leading the benchmark index back above the 5,500 mark.