AAP

BHP Billiton boss Andrew Mackenzie is confident that the resources behemoth can boost its value by more than 70 per cent, even without a significant recovery in commodity prices.

Australian energy company AWE has knocked back a $421.4 million takeover bid from a private equity firm, labelling the offer opportunistic and below fair value.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent higher.

Gold has closed slightly higher after earlier falling to a near two-week low, after its steepest loss since March in the prior session, as a firm US dollar and higher equities curb appetite for the precious metal.

Stock markets around the world have rallied, helped by solid corporate earnings reports and higher oil prices supporting energy shares.

The Australian dollar has risen amid a bounce on oil prices.

The Australian share market has closed higher after a choppy session.

Lower iron ore prices and a stronger US dollar hit dual-listed Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton in London and the pair continued to suffer locally on Tuesday.

Gold has fallen two per cent in its biggest one-day drop in nearly seven weeks as the strengthening US dollar and a sharper appetite for assets seen as higher risk sparked selling across commodities.

Wall Street has ended mixed after a rally in Allergan Plc and other healthcare companies offset a decline in energy shares.

The Australian dollar has fallen on the back a decline in China's imports.At 0700 AEST on Tuesday, the currency was trading at 73.16 US cents, down from 73.63 cents on Monday.

The Australian share market has closed higher following choppy trade driven by mixed economic signs.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has lifted third quarter profit about 4.5 per cent to $2.3 billion but has followed its big bank rivals by reporting a rise in bad debts.

The Australian share market has swapped the red for the green in choppy early trade as the major four banks, bar the ANZ, change direction and move into positive territory.

Gold has jumped one per cent after US non-farm payrolls data for April came in weaker than expected, boosting expectations the Federal Reserve will delay further interest rate increases.

The Australian dollar is little changed against most major currencies following a volatile week of trade.

The share market has made a late surge to end the week with a modest gain, with industrial and retail stocks driving the turnaround from an early fall.

BHP Billiton shares have stemmed their slide after Brazil's federal court ratified a settlement reached with the country's authorities over a deadly dam spill.

Fairfax Media has flagged an end to weekday print editions of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in the face of falling advertising revenue.

The Australian share market has opened one per cent lower, with wholesale losses across the board.

Gold turned lower on Thursday, dropping for the fourth straight session on pressure from the firm U.S. dollar ahead of Friday's U.S. payrolls report, which will give clues about whether the Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates.

US stocks have given up early gains to end flat as consumer discretionary shares fell and investors showed caution ahead of the April jobs report.

The Australian dollar is lower and facing headwinds in coming days.

The Australian share market has edged higher as National Australia Bank's half-year earnings report met expectations and supported the banking sector.

Mining giant Rio Tinto plans to continue its cautious approach as it expects the tough operating environment to remain in the foreseeable future.

The estate of the late mining billionaire Michael Wright has been ordered to slash its submission appealing the $25 million awarded to his youngest daughter, with a judge saying it needs some serious editing.

National Australia Bank shares jumped more than 4 per cent after the lender lifted first-half earnings 6.5 per cent to $3.31 billion.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

Global equity markets have fallen for a second straight day on mostly weak economic data while metals prices slipped on renewed concerns of a downturn in global growth.

Gold has dropped one per cent, falling further from a 15-month high on pressure from the strong US dollar, which retreated from recent lows against the yen and euro as US trade and factory order data eased some worries.

Investors are selling off the Australian dollar in the belief that the Reserve Bank has entered an easing cycle.

The Australian share market has closed more than 1 per cent lower as weaker prices for iron ore and oil pulled back resources and energy stocks.