AAP

The Australian share market has opened higher off the back of a strong performance on Wall Street overnight.The Dow Jones rose 2.11 per cent and the S&P 500 surged 2.39 per cent.

Wall Street has enjoyed its strongest session in a month, led by financial and technology stocks after encouraging US factory and construction data suggested the world's biggest economy was regaining momentum.

The Australian dollar has jumped as optimism reigned overnight, boosting commodity currencies. 

Gold has turned lower, as the US dollar and global equity markets rose on better-than-expected US data, fueling speculation the Fed will raise US interest rates. 

Stronger commodities prices have driven the Australian share market higher, with large gains among the big miners and energy players.

BHP Billiton says it is not keen on boosting iron ore supplies in a weak market, signalling a change in its long-held position, as it shifts focus to maintaining financial discipline.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum is expected to delay a long-awaited decision on its multi-billion dollar Browse project until oil prices recover.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the cash rate unchanged at a record low of 2 per cent for an 11th straight month.

The Australian share market has turned higher in early trade after a weak lead from Wall Street with resource and energy stocks rallying on a rise in oil prices.

Wall Street has closed lower, falling out of lockstep with oil prices as energy and healthcare shares lost ground.

The Australian dollar is treading water as markets await the Reserve Bank's board meeting, where interest rates are expected to remain on hold.

Gold has risen one per cent, boosted by lower equities and weak US data, leaving the metal well placed to log its best monthly performance in four years as turmoil in wider markets increases its safe-haven appeal.

The Australian share market closed flat after the banks lost most of their early gains as China's Shanghai Composite fell more than 3 per cent.

Slater & Gordon has two months to convince its lenders that it has come to grips with the problems that led to a first-half loss of almost $1 billion.

Australia's largest payday lender, Perth-based Cash Converters International, has returned to the black and begun scaling back its troubled business in Britain.

The Australian share market has opened stronger on the last day of reporting season with most sectors higher.

The Australian dollar is lower against the greenback, which made broad-based gains on the back of US data. 

Gold has fallen more than one per cent, as the US dollar and global shares rose, but fund buying persisted as investors expected a G20 summit would produce little in the way of a co-ordinated stimulus program. 

The Australian share market has finished flat as volatility continues amid weakness in the resources sector.

Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour is confident a new two-tier mail system and higher stamp prices will get the organisation back on its feet despite falling letter volumes.

Any trade union-backed court challenge to the state government's updated wage policy would result in job losses in the public sector, Treasurer Mike Nahan warned today, as above inflation pay rises would need to be offset through lower staff numbers.

Woolworths has appointed a new boss to revive the retail giant, hammered by weak earnings, stiff competition and its failed hardware chain Masters.

The Australian share market is lower in early trade, as investors remain uncertain amid volatile markets after stocks slid in China but rose on Wall Street overnight.

Wall Street has posted solid gains as higher oil prices reduced fears that banks could be hit by debt defaults and investors saw opportunities after weeks of volatility.

The Australian dollar has been pushed higher following a surge in global oil prices.

Spot gold has risen, buoyed by a strong technical formation and the potential for a bullish "golden cross" to form, while the futures market pared losses after feeling earlier pressure from the strong equity markets. 

Australian stocks have closed virtually flat after the market staged a turnaround during afternoon trade.

Former treasurer Peter Costello will lead Nine Entertainment Co through what the group hopes will be sweeping changes to media regulation in Australia.

Crown Resorts has reported a slump in normalised first-half profit, with Perth and Melbourne maintaining their contribution but weak market conditions in Macau affecting its joint-venture casino resorts there.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher after Wall Street performed better overnight amid increased oil prices.

Gold has risen above $US1,250 an ounce and has neared a one-year high, acting as counter against risk alongside top-rated government bonds as oil's earlier weakness rippled into global equity markets.

The Australian dollar has softened, following the fortunes of global shares.