AAP

The contest for Asciano looks set to heat up after a QUBE Holdings-led consortium sought to trump Brookfield Infrastructure with a $9.02 billion takeover proposal for the ports and rail operator.

The Australian share market has opened lower following a weak lead from overseas markets.

US stocks have sunk about one per cent as poor Chinese trade data and another fall in crude oil prices hit the market.

The Australian dollar is slightly weaker staying in a fairly tight range, as the US dollar's post-jobs report rally loses steam.

Oil prices have fallen for the fourth straight session as traders weighed lowered OECD global growth forecasts and weak Chinese crude imports against abundant supplies.

The price of gold has edged modestly higher, snapping an eight-day losing streak as the US dollar retreated, but still hovered near its lowest in three months after robust US jobs data boosted expectations of a US rate hike in December.

Captain Travis Head's breakthrough century has helped South Australia to a tense one-wicket triumph against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield game.

The Australian share market has closed nearly 2 per cent lower as weaker commodity prices weighed upon the resources sector.

Oil and gas producer Santos plans to cut its debt by $3.5 billion through two capital raisings and one asset sale, in an effort to ride out weak oil prices, and has recruited Clough boss Kevin Gallagher as its new chief executive.

Credit card surcharges of up to 23 times the average fee undermine consumer confidence and hurt business, a Senate inquiry has been told.

Global miner BHP Billiton does not yet know what caused a tailings dam to burst at an iron ore mine in Brazil, killing at least two people and leaving 28 missing.

The Australian share market is lower as weak Chinese trade data cancels out any optimism from a very strong US employment report.

The Australian dollar has plunged to a one-month low after strong US employment figures increased expectations that the US Federal Reserve will increase its interest rate in December.

Gold has fallen to a three-month low and set to post its biggest weekly drop in more than two years after US data shows job growth surged in October, making it likely the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in December.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher as investors await key jobs figures in the US which are likely to influence whether the US Federal Reserve lifts interest rates in December.

Evolution Mining appears close to finalising a protracted takeover bid for smaller rival Phoenix Gold, with both companies announcing their boards had reached an agreement after Evolution increased the cash component of its offer.

Canada's Brookfield Infrastructure is determined to take over ports and rail operator Asciano despite Australian logistics firm Qube Holdings having a 19.99 per cent blocking stake in the target.

The Australian share market has opened higher, before flattening out in early trade as the banks offset losses in the minerals sector.

US stocks have drifted lower on the eve of the highly anticipated jobs report, seen as a litmus test for a Federal Reserve increase in interest rates.685

US stocks have drifted lower on the eve of the highly anticipated jobs report, seen as a litmus test for a Federal Reserve increase in interest rates.685

Gold has fallen to a seven-week low as the US dollar hit a three-month high, and looks vulnerable to further losses after Federal Reserve officials left the door open to a US interest rate rise in December.

The Australian dollar is treading water ahead of crucial US employment data.

Oil prices have slipped for a second straight day as traders worry about abundant supplies and a dollar made stronger by Federal Reserve hints of a hike in interest rates.

House prices in Perth's most exclusive suburbs have plunged by as much as 30 per cent in the past year as the mining downturn continues to bite.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens has pointedly refused to endorse the decision by the banks to protect their profits by jacking up home loan rates.

The Australian share market has closed lower, weighed down by the big banks as National Australia Bank traded ex-dividend.

Mining giant Rio Tinto says it will not curtail iron ore production to deal with weak prices and subdued steel demand in China.

The competition watchdog has given the go-ahead for Vocus Communications to merge with M2 Group in a $3 billion deal that will create Australia's fourth largest telco.

The Australian share market has opened lower after lacklustre leads from overseas markets and the National Australia Bank trading ex-dividend.

Gold has fallen to a one-month low, dropping for the sixth straight session as the US dollar shot to a three-month high after US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen raised expectations for a December interest rate increase.

The Australian dollar has softened against the greenback, which rose after the head of the US Federal Reserve endorsed an imminent interest rate tightening bias.

World oil prices sank Wednesday on rising US commercial crude inventories and production and a Federal Reserve-driven stronger dollar.