AAP

Star West Coast Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis appears likely to miss tonight's qualifying final against Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares have gone into a trading halt as the lender completes a retail bookbuild for the remainder of its capital raising.

The Australian share market has opened lower as investors shaken by recent volatility sit on the sidelines ahead of the US central bank's interest rate decision.

The Australian dollar has briefly hit 71 US cents, as the currency gets continued support from strong local jobs figures.

Apple and some other technology stocks have led US markets higher ahead of next week's hotly anticipated Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting.

World oil prices have risen as investors focused on a decline in US crude production instead of a bigger-than-expected jump in inventories.

Gold has risen from four-week lows as European stocks snapped a three-day run of gains, but traders remain cautious as they await fresh clues on the timing of a US rate rise.

The Australian share market has closed more than 2 per cent lower as investors fret over US rate hikes and Chinese volatility.

A bill to officially recognise Aboriginal people in the Western Australian constitution has passed through state parliament.

A small recovery in iron ore prices has helped boost margins and prices for struggling miner Atlas Iron.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower.

The Australian dollar has followed US stocks lower on concerns the US Federal Reserve might not raise its interest rate next week.

US stocks have finished sharply lower as a morning rally fizzled and Apple shares dropped after unveiling a suite of upgraded smartphone, tablet and television products.

Oil prices have tumbled as expectations of another increase in US inventories added to worries about the global oversupply.

Gold has fallen to a four-week low as stock markets strengthened and the US dollar firmed, though prices remained hemmed into a narrow range ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting.

Joe Hockey believes the Abbott government's economic plan is the best friend of consumers, even as another indicator pointed to tumbling confidence.

Australian shares have risen for the second straight session, helped by strong gains in overseas markets and rally in banking stocks.

Insurance giant QBE Insurance Group is being sued by Australian investors in a $200 million class action over the company's 2013 share price collapse.

The number of home loans approved in July was unchanged in Western Australia, while the national rate rose 0.3 per cent according to seasonally adjusted Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Australians should look beyond their disappointment with recent sluggish economic growth and take heart from the economy's ability to cope with shocks, Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe says.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent higher in the wake of strong leads from overseas markets.

Gold prices have firmed as a retreat in the US dollar index helped the metal end a four-day losing streak.

US stocks have powered higher, rallying with most global equity markets following a rise in Chinese stocks and improved eurozone economic data.

Oil prices have ended mixed with Chinese trade data showing imports and exports shrank in August, adding to concerns about energy demand prospects.

The Australian dollar has pushed its way above 70 US cents, helped by an outburst of optimism in global financial markets.

Independent candidate for the Canning by-election Teresa van Lieshout has had a warrant issued for her arrest after failing to appear in court.

The Australian share market has lifted more than 1.6 per cent despite US markets not trading and mixed economic data.

Dozens of construction workers are appealing a court decision that could result in each of them being fined $10,000 for attending a rally in Perth.

The Australian market has opened higher after gains in Europe overnight and positive economic data out of Japan.

Oil prices have slid amid market volatility, as investors assessed the outlook for US interest rates.

The Australian dollar has slipped a little lower following a night where trading volumes were low because US markets were closed for the Labor Day public holiday.

Gold has eased back towards its lowest since mid-August as stock markets firmed and the US dollar steadied, and after US payrolls data failed to provide clarity on the timing of a Federal Reserve rate rise.