AAP

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.

Global equity prices have slipped for a third straight day due to growing nervousness about US central bank policy, even as Wall Street eked out a modest gain.

The price of gold has retreated from the three-week high set in the previous session, after a rise in the US dollar on the back of strong economic data.

The Australian dollar has held ground just above its Wednesday close but remains in a tight range against the greenback ahead of the release of local retail trade.

Oil prices have jumped more than three per cent, with US crude futures returning to above $US40 a barrel, after a larger-than-expected petrol draw offset a surprise build in crude stockpiles in the No 1 oil consumer.

The Australian share market has posted a sharp fall, hurt by weakness in all sectors, particularly financial and healthcare stocks.

Qantas and Tourism Australia have signed a $20 million, three-year deal to promote the nation to the world, marking a big step in repairing the pair’s strained relationship.

Kerry Stokes' diversified media, mining equipment and energy group, Seven Group Holdings, has swung to an annual profit and is cautiously confident that trading conditions will stabilise this year.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has risen more than half a US and is back above 76 US cents.

Weak US economic data and disappointing auto sales numbers drove Wall Street down, further dragging on global equity prices after the approval of a fiscal stimulus package by Japan's cabinet failed to cheer markets.

Gold has risen to a four-week high as European and US shares fell and the US dollar hit its lowest in more than a month after last week's soft US growth data dented expectations for a near-term interest rate rise.

The price of US oil has fallen below $US40 a barrel for the first time since April as persistent worries of both a crude and refined fuel glut and a slide in US equities offset an early boost from a weak US dollar.

The Australian share market has closed lower amid concerns over the big banks' net interest margins, following the Commonwealth Bank's decision to lift deposit rates and not pass on in full the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate cut.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates to an all-time low, but already economists are wondering if more will be needed to get the country's economy moving.

Seven West Media shares fell more than 15 per cent after the company forecast a big drop in earnings for the year ahead because of a still-softer advertising market and the cost of broadcasting the Olympics.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

US crude has tumbled below $US40 per barrel for the first time since April, as oil prices settled down more than three per cent on heightened worries of a crude glut despite peak northern summer fuel demand.

The Australian dollar has slipped against a stronger greenback and amid a steep fall in oil prices overnight.

Gold is little changed, hovering just below the prior session's near three-week top as investors cut expectations for a US interest rate rise in the near term.

One Nation candidate Rodney Culleton and the Greens' Rachel Siewert have won the final two out of the 12 Western Australian Senate seats, joining five Liberals, four Labor and one other Green, the Australian Electoral Commission says.

Gaming giant Tabcorp is set to significantly expand its gaming machine monitoring business through the $128 million acquisition of ASX-listed Intecq.

The Australian share market has closed at its highest point in a year despite running out of steam in late trading, partly driven by expectations of an interest rate cut on Tuesday.

Dominic Stevens has taken over as managing director and chief executive of the Australian Securities Exchange, following the resignation of Elmer Funke Kupper earlier this year.

Fairfax Media will record almost $1 billion of impairments when it reports its full-year results next week, with half the hit coming from the unit containing its Australian masthead newspapers.

Northern Star Resources has cut its production guidance after agreeing to sell its Plutonic gold mine in Western Australia for an inital $37.5 million, but it plans to spend $130 million on exploration and expansion work at its other assets.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Oil prices have steadied after touching three-month lows during a week-long selloff fuelled by a persistent global supply glut, bringing the monthly decline to nearly 15 per cent, the biggest monthly loss in a year for US crude.

Gold has risen to its highest level in nearly three weeks after much slower-than-expected US economic growth weighed on the US dollar, and was on track for a second monthly gain in a row.

The Australian dollar has soared against the greenback after figures showed weaker-than-expected US economic growth.

The Australian share market has edged higher in choppy trading for its fifth straight session of gains despite the Bank of Japan's fresh economic stimulus measures disappointing some investors.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher.