AAP

Wall Street has rebounded over 1 per cent, driven by a surge in oil prices and strong quarterly results from 3M, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble.

Business conditions remain above average while confidence is still strong, despite recent turmoil in global oil and equity markets.

The Australian share market has closed nearly 2 per cent higher, posting gains for a third straight session, as a strong rise in oil prices lifted markets worldwide.

The Australian share market has opened higher, driven by solid gains on international markets and oil prices rising more than nine per cent.

The Australian dollar is softer against the greenback following a rebound in risk appetite.

Gold has fallen as hints of more monetary stimulus from the European Central Bank weighed on the euro and pushed stocks higher, denting appetite for alternative assets.

Dick Smith will close every one of its concessions in David Jones department stores next week as the receivers seek a buyer for the ailing electrical retailer.

The Australian share market has strung together two positive sessions in a row for the first time this year.

A crackdown on improper health insurance claims is set to boost Medibank Private's full-year profit.

Beach Energy and Santos are the latest Australian oil and gas companies to flag big write-downs, with Beach announcing late today it would cut capital spending and make impairment charges of up to $650 million.

Australian stocks have opened up more than a half per cent after a bounce in oil prices and hints by the head of the European Bank of more stimulus measures.

The Australian dollar has soared after comments from the head of the European Central Bank boosted prospects of further stimulus.

Wall Street has staged a modest rally as oil prices recorded their biggest gain this year and ECB President Mario Draghi raised hopes of more stimulus for Europe.

Gold has fallen after posting its biggest one-day gain in two weeks the day before, as hints of further stimulus from the European Central Bank hurt the euro and a rebound in global stocks curbed risk aversion.

Premier Colin Barnett has rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the deadly Yarloop bushfire to also include the recent Esperance bushfires, which killed four people.

BHP Billiton spin-off South32 has slashed its debt and sharply cut costs as it races to stay ahead of weaker earnings amid a slump in commodities prices.

The share market has posted just its third gain for the year as bargain hunters snapped up high-growth health and telecommunication stocks.

Telecom giant Telstra has struck a deal to buy a tech company that helps companies and governments navigate cloud computing.

Broadspectrum has resoundingly urged shareholders to reject the $692 million takeover offer from Spanish company Ferrovial, saying it significantly undervalues the business.

Woodside Petroleum expects to take a hit of up to $US1.2 billion ($A1.7 billion) as it writes down the value of its energy assets following the slump in oil prices.

The Australian share market is up sharply as bargain hunters plough back in.

The Australian dollar is in positive territory despite collapsing oil prices and another wild night of losses on global stock markets.

Gold has risen two per cent, benefiting as global equity markets fell to two-and-a-half-year lows and oil prices continued their relentless slump to a 13-year low, leading other commodity markets broadly lower.

Wall Street's recent sell-off has deepened, with the S&P 500 closing at its lowest in over a year as US oil prices plummeted to 2003 lows.

The Australian share market has resumed its slide as investors react to sharp falls on Asian markets amid concerns over China's economy.

Mining services company Sedgman has asked the Takeovers Panel to stop construction giant CIMIC Group from buying any more of its shares.

BHP Billiton is facing another $1 billion hit to its bottom line and has cut its full-year iron ore production target.

Mount Gibson Iron is struggling to make money and weighing up mine closures as the iron ore price trades around decade lows.

The Australian share market is in positive territory in early morning trade despite a hesitant start, with the financial sector leading the gains.

Wall Street has ended flat after a choppy session as falling oil prices led to more carnage in energy stocks and an "in line" economic report showed slower growth in China.

The Australian dollar has held on to most of the gains made after weak Chinese economic data raised hopes of further stimulus measures from Beijing.

Gold has steadied, as the US dollar turns lower, US crude oil prices fall below $US29 per barrel and US equity markets pare gains.