AAP

Crude oil prices have fallen, deepening a long slide as traders expect US production will remain strong, adding to abundant global supplies.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower, while putting in an improved performance after last week's losses on the back of China's currency devaluations.

Gold has firmed, building on its biggest weekly rise in three months, buoyed by weaker-than-expected US data and lingering uncertainty over the implications of China's yuan devaluation.

The financial sector has offset losses among energy and resource stocks to lift the Australian share market higher.

Newcrest Mining has returned to profit and decided to retain its Telfer gold mine in Western Australia, one of its main assets.

The by-election in the Western Australian federal seat of Canning will be held on September 19.

Rail operator Aurizon has cut the capex estimate of its West Pilbara iron ore project by 25 per cent to $4.5 billion, while also announcing a 15 per cent rise in underlying net profit to $604 million for the 2015 financial year.

Santos has hosed down speculation that it was about to launch an equity raising.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar is only slightly lower as traders shrug off last week's Chinese yuan devaluations and await the minutes of the Federal Reserve's July meeting.

Gold has turned slightly lower as the US dollar shifts higher on encouraging US data and as investors weigh the impact of China's currency intervention on the timing for the first US interest rate increase in nearly a decade.

The Australian share market is slightly lower due to weak commodity prices and subdued reaction to mixed company profit results.

Unemployment has peaked early, thanks largely to the glacial pace of wage growth, says Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor for economics Christopher Kent.

Vehicle retailer Automotive Holdings Group is confident a downturn in Australia's mining boom will not hurt its profit growth.

The Australian share market had a flat start to trade, following a lacklustre session on Wall Street.

Atlas Iron has posted a $1.4 billion annual loss due to massive falls in the price of iron ore.

Gold fell 1 per cent on Thursday, snapping five sessions of gains, on the back of upbeat US data and concerns eased over further losses in the yuan after the devaluation of the currency by China.

Oil prices have skidded to a fresh six-year low amid worries about excess supply.

Wall Street stocks have finished little changed in choppy trade as retail sales bested expectations, even as leading department stores reported lower profits.

The Australian dollar is flat, pulled in opposite directions by easing worries about China's currency devaluations, and falling commodity prices.

The Australian share market has finished slightly higher despite a late afternoon sell off.

Property developer Mirvac has lifted annual profit and locked in record pre-sales on homes amid exuberant demand for housing in Sydney and Melbourne.

New Telstra boss Andy Penn has committed to do whatever it takes to maintain the telco's dominance of the Australian mobile market against a resurgent threat from rivals.

James Packer has given up his role as chairman at Crown Resorts so he can dedicate more time to the group's global expansion.

The Australian share market has opened higher, as markets start to shrug off negativity over China's currency devaluations.

Oil prices have edged up from six-year lows as US oil supplies declined and the dollar retreated.

Gold rose for a fifth session in a row on Wednesday, hitting a fresh three-week high as the dollar and global equities slid on concerns over China's devaluation of its currency.

US stocks have finished mostly higher as an afternoon rally led by Apple and energy equities overcame early weakness on fears about an economic slowdown in China.

The Australian dollar is one US cent higher, as traders start to see the positive side of China's currency devaluations.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder has admitted he incorrectly claimed the contentious Perth Freight Link project had received all environmental approvals, including federal.

The Australian sharemarket has closed sharply lower after China's currency devaluation helped pull back resources stocks, and the Commonwealth Bank's capital raising weighed on the other big banks.

Origin Energy has flagged a further $337 million hit to its bottom line due to lower oil prices and changes to its development plans.