AAP

The share market has recovered more than half of the $56 billion lost on Tuesday, as the mining giant at the centre of the plunge assured the world it is financially robust.

Energy producer and retailer Origin Energy has unveiled nearly $5 billion worth of plans to help bolster its balance sheet.

TPG Telecom's 320,000 mobile users will be moved onto the Vodafone Australia network, which will be upgraded by TPG as part of a $1 billion link-up between the companies.

Rio Tinto has struck a $865 million deal to sell its 40 per cent stake in the Bengalla open cut coal mine in NSW to New Hope Corporation.

The Australian share market has opened sharply higher.

Platinum prices have fallen below $US900 an ounce for the first time since January 2009, hurt by fears that the Volkswagen emissions scandal would cut demand from carmakers, but later pared losses as bargain-hunting investors swooped in.

Oil prices have risen, benefiting from a more benign outlook for commodities as shares of mining giant Glencore rose and equity markets stabilised.

The Dow and S&P 500 have finished higher but the tech-rich Nasdaq fell for the sixth straight day following a choppy session for US stocks.

The Australian dollar has bounced from its recent lows helped by some encouraging US consumer confidence figures.

LABOR treasury spokesman Chris Bowen insists a GST increase can’t be the linchpin of widespread tax reform because it won’t be enough to pay for measures to boost Australia’s sluggish economy.

The Australian share market has plunged well over 3 per cent, pulled down mainly by a big sell-off of resources stocks, especially global miner BHP Billiton.

Struggling grocery supplier Metcash is beginning to see signs of improvements thanks to its renewed focus on fresh food and private label brands.

Outdoor clothing and goods retailer Kathmandu has announced it will quit the UK, on the same day it posted a 51.7 per cent slide in full-year net profit to $NZ20.4 million.

The Australian share market has slumped in early trade, joining the overnight retreat by US and European equities on deepened worries about China's economy.

US stocks have fallen sharply, joining European equities in retreat after poor Chinese industrial data deepened worries about the world's second-biggest economy.

The Australian dollar has slipped below 70 US cents after Chinese industrial profits figures added to evidence that the Chinese economy is slowing.

Oil prices have dropped in the wake of a sharp fall in industrial profits in China, the latest sign of weakness in the world's largest energy consumer.

Gold had its worst session in two-and-a-half weeks, extending Friday's losses ahead of a key US jobs report later in the week that could boost bets the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year.

Heavy falls by energy stocks have pulled the share market lower, reversing early gains.

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson is in doubt for Friday night's AFL preliminary final against Hawthorn because of a back injury, according to reports.

Australia Post has notched up its first full-year loss in more than 30 years.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

US stocks have finished lower on global growth fears with shares of industrial heavyweight Caterpillar sinking after it announced thousands of job cuts.

Oil prices have edged higher recovering some of the losses from the previous day's session that were prompted by increased US oil output.

The Australian dollar is higher, after the US dollar weakened against most of the major currencies on the back some encouraging US economic data.

Spot gold has rallied more than two per cent for the biggest one-day gain in almost eight months as a weak US dollar sparked short covering while platinum recovered from a four-day rout even as automotive demand woes lingered.

The Australian share market has closed nearly 1.5 per cent higher as bargain-hunters moved in to buy stocks beaten down on Wednesday.

Santos shares have gained ground after the oil and gas producer said it had started production at its flagship GLNG liquefied natural gas project in Queensland.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Platinum has fallen to a six-and-a-half-year low, on fears about reduced demand from the auto sector, where it is used in diesel catalysts to clean up exhaust emissions, while palladium, used in petrol vehicles, surged seven per cent.

Oil prices have fallen, reversing earlier gains, as a modest rise in US output overshadowed a hefty drop in crude inventories in the world's top consumer.

US stocks have finished lower with petroleum-linked equities especially weak following a report showing the feeblest Chinese factory activity in more than six years.