AAP

The Australian share market has closed higher as a lift in iron ore futures in China boosted mining stocks, but market gains were curbed by the Bank of Japan's decision not to expand its economic stimulus policies.

Detention centre operator Broadspectrum faces an uncertain future as Papua New Guinea plans to shut down its Manus Island facility.

Quickflix founder Stephen Langsford has sharpened his attack on rival streaming service Stan, accusing co-owner Nine Entertainment of trying to drive his company out of business.

A US clothing company has made a $1.1 billion takeover bid for the owner of Australia's favourite underwear, Bonds.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar has extended its losses as shockingly weak inflation figures reverberate around global markets.

Wall Street stocks edged up, US Treasury debt yields fell, and oil prices rose to the highest level of the year after the Federal Reserve signalled it was in no hurry to change policy.

Gold has risen for a third straight session, but has pared gains after the US Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged but left the door ajar to a rise in June.

Australia's big banks have dragged the Australian share market lower on increasing chances of an interest rate cut.

Western Australia can only compete for a bigger share of defence contracts if it has a dedicated minister for defence issues, the opposition says.

Energy giant Shell is talking with staff about job cuts and efficiency improvements as it assimilates the previously BG Group-owned QGC gas project.

Fortescue Metals Group is taking advantage of firmer iron ore prices to further trim its massive debt pile.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The S&P 500 has ticked up, buoyed by gains in the energy and materials sectors as soft economic data weakened the dollar, giving support to oil and gold prices.

Gold has rebounded after weaker-than-expected US durable goods data knocked the US dollar to a session low against the euro, but prices remained hemmed into a narrow range as a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting began.

A spike in global oil prices has propelled the Australian dollar higher.

The Australian share market has closed modestly lower as investors await Australian inflation data, a US decision on interest rates and US economic figures.

The federal government's future submarine project will be assembled in South Australia under French company DCNS, although there's still hope for Western Australian industry to win contracts.

Newcrest Mining has reaffirmed its full-year gold production guidance after its biggest mine returned to full production, helping to push up output.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Gold has risen as a retreat in the US dollar helped to tempt back some buyers after the previous session's 1.3 per cent slide, but moves were muted ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting this week.

A dip in global oil prices has dragged the Australian dollar lower.

US stock prices have fallen due to weaker oil prices and disappointing company results, while the dollar has retreated on profit-taking ahead of central bank policy meetings in the United States and Japan later this week.

The share market's good run has come to an end due to falls among the big miners.

Liquidators have been appointed to chase down about $200 million in debts owed by Clive Palmer's failed Queensland Nickel enterprise.

The Australian share market has opened lower, mirroring overnight falls on Wall Street.

Oil prices have slipped as producers hinted at more output, while US stocks had their first loss in four sessions after a mixed bag of earnings reports.

Wall Street has suffered its first loss in four sessions after a mixed bag of quarterly reports and a warning by Verizon Communications that a strike by workers would likely impact its bottom line

The Australian dollar has plunged on the back of mixed economic data.

The suggestion Treasurer Mike Nahan threatened to quit if the privatisation of electricity utility Western Power was not contemplated has been shot down by the premier.

The share market has hit a new high for 2016 as energy and mining stocks continue to rally on higher commodity prices.

BHP Billiton spinoff South 32 has cut third quarter production at several businesses but remains on track to meet its full-year guidance across all its units.