AAP

US stocks have finished modestly higher as gains in tech shares offset weakness in petroleum-linked equities following weak Chinese economic data.

Gold prices have fallen for a third straight day as a rebounding US dollar continues to pull the precious metal away from last week's three-and-a-half-month highs.

The prime ministerial 'musical chairs' may have ended but that hasn't changed the tune of a respected economist, who says the risks to revenue remain the same.

The share market's bounce on better than expected Chinese economic growth has faltered as investor focus shifted to negative aspects of the data.

More than 8,000 Commonwealth Bank of Australia customers will share in $7.6 million in refunds after the bank failed to deliver the benefits offered by one of its agricultural packages.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar has lost ground against the greenback, which extended its gains on the back of stronger-than-expected economic data.

Gold prices have slipped as a recovering US dollar pulled them off a three-and-a-half-month high, but the metal still eked out a weekly rise after gaining in recent sessions on bets against a US interest rate hike.

The Australian share market is higher as investors buy into the banks.

Oil and gas producer Santos has made its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from its $18.5 billion GLNG project in Queensland.

Mining giant Rio Tinto looks set to achieve its annual iron ore shipment target after posting a 17 per cent jump in shipments during the September quarter.

A strong rally among the big four banks and a positive Wall Street session overnight have led the Australian share market higher on Friday.

The Australian dollar is back above 73 US cents, after higher-than-expected US core inflation data and speculation that the European Central Bank could bolster its quantitative easing program.

Gold prices have fallen after reaching a three and a half month high on Thursday as a stronger-than-expected reading of US inflation drove the dollar index.

Oil prices have fallen for the fourth straight day as the United States reported an increase in already high crude-oil stockpiles, adding to concerns about the global oversupply.

The Australian share market has made modest gains on expectations that weak economic data from the US and disappointing jobs numbers in Australia will keep interest rates low.

Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group is in no rush to offload assets as it steams ahead with cost cutting and debt relief to shore up its future.

Grain handler CBH Group has welcomed a report from the competition watchdog, which has expressed concern about the impact of the proposed $12 billion takeover of freight logistics company Asciano by Brookfield Infrastructure.

The Australian share market has opened higher, led by gains in the minerals sector.

The Australian dollar is back above 73 US cents, after weak US retail data dampened hopes of a US interest rate rise this year.

A downcast earnings forecast from Wal-Mart Stores and a lacklustre US retail sales report has sent retail stocks diving as US stocks finished lower.

Gold rallied to three and a half month highs, as soft US data fuelled expectations the US Federal Reserve will hold off raising its interest rate.

Commodity price falls on more weak economic data from China have dragged the share market into the red.

Construction of new houses in Western Australia fell 10.5 per cent in the June quarter, but the state has maintained a higher rate in the year to June than the decade average.

Western Australia's financial health is suffering from a multi-billion dollar revenue hit because of falling commodity prices and China's economic slowdown.

Health Minister Kim Hames has conceded he would have done certain things differently at the new Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Westpac's move to lift mortgage rates all but guarantees a Reserve Bank rate cut in November, Macquarie Bank says.

The Australian share market has opened almost half a per cent lower, with the big banks and energy stocks leading the falls.

A sell-off of drug company stocks put a hold on Wall Street's two-week-long rally.

Crude oil prices have dipped, extending the prior day's steep falls, as traders considered an IEA prediction that the global oversupply will continue next year.

The Australian dollar is back below 73 US cents amid more signs that the Chinese economy is slowing down.

Gold prices are up recovering an earlier one per cent slide that was made on expectations the Federal Reserve will not lift US interest rates this year.