AAP

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Gold has risen to a fresh 15-month peak above $US1,300 an ounce in holiday-thinned trade as an early retreat in the US dollar drove prices higher, though it later eased as the US currency pared losses.

The Australian dollar is higher on the back of greenback weakness ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision.

US stocks have risen, rebounding from losses last week, as financials gained with Berkshire Hathaway and weakness in the US dollar eased worries about earnings for multinationals.

The major banks have dragged the Australian share market lower after Westpac's half-yearly results missed expectations.

Slater & Gordon shares have doubled in value after the struggling law firm's lenders gave it a two-year respite from its debt repayments.

Calls are mounting for a Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate cut tomorrow despite new figures pointing to a very favourable business environment for Australian firms.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Gold and silver prices have rallied to their highest since January 2015 as the Bank of Japan's decision the previous day to hold off expanding monetary stimulus weighed heavily on the US dollar, and European and US stocks fell.

The Australian dollar is lower with investors cautious about interest rates.

The Australian share market has closed modestly higher, led by the banks, as investors await next week's RBA decision on interest rates and financial reports from three of the big four banks.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has told the Chinese company wanting to buy Australia's largest private landholder that its planned purchase is contrary to the national interest.

Broadspectrum shares have surged more than 30 per cent after the detention centre operator recommended the $769 million takeover bid it had previously rejected.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar is trading lower with investors bearish ahead of the Reserve Bank's rate decision next week.

US stocks have closed down as the Bank of Japan's shocking call to cap monetary stimulus continued to rattle investors while a late day decline in Apple shares on remarks by billionaire investor Carl Icahn added to selling pressure.

Gold has risen more than one per cent as the Bank of Japan held off from expanding monetary stimulus, boosting the yen versus the US dollar, and after the Federal Reserve signalled it was in no rush to tighten monetary policy.

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.