AAP

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.

Queensland MP Clive Palmer has announced that he won't recontest his lower house seat of Fairfax at the looming federal election, while Dio Wang has been confirmed to again hold the number one spot on Palmer United Party's Western Australian Senate ticket.

Energy giant Santos will hand at least 40 per cent of its underlying net profit back to shareholders as dividends despite a tough year due to falling oil prices.

BHP Billiton is facing a near 20-fold increase in compensation Brazilian authorities want for last year's deadly Samarco mine disaster.

The Australian stock exchange is lower with falling bank shares dragging the market down.

US stocks have fallen after weak economic data in China and Europe reignited worries about global growth, while oil prices dropped for a second day, dragging down energy shares.

The Australian dollar has sunk to its lowest level in seven weeks on the back of the Reserve Bank's interest rate cut and another fall in oil prices.

 The federal budget has vastly boosted the government's firepower against multinational tax avoidance as it looks to ramp up revenues to fund tax cut promises.

The federal government has moved to end 'gaming' of wine industry assistance with cuts to rebates and tightening of eligibility for the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate.

Western Australia's Liberal Premier Colin Barnett has welcomed the budget's tax reductions for small to medium sized businesses as a highlight that was particularly important for the state.

The Australian share market has jumped nearly 2 per cent to a new high for 2016, boosted by investors looking for bargains among the big banks, and a cut to interest rates.

The Chinese-led consortium seeking to acquire the Kidman cattle empire will try again after Treasurer Scott Morrison blocked its first attempt.