AAP

The Australian share market has ended higher ahead of the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.

Ten Network Holdings has rejected the concerns that has led the competition watchdog to hold up Foxtel's bid for a 15 per cent stake in the broadcaster.

Oil Search has rejected an $11.6 billion takeover bid from energy giant Woodside Petroleum, branding the offer as "highly opportunistic".

The Australian share market has opened one per cent higher, buoyed by gains among the big banks and a positive finish to the week on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is higher, maintaining the positive tone set last week on the back of surprisingly good local employment figures.

Gold has fallen to a one-month low, heading for a third successive weekly loss, as uncertainty over the timing of the US Federal Reserve's first interest rate increase in nearly a decade weighed on appetite for the metal.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors fret over whether the US Federal Reserve will lift its benchmark interest rate.

The value of Western Australia's resources industry has plunged almost 20 per cent in the past year as iron ore and oil prices slumped.

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.