AAP

Kerry Stokes' Seven West Media has suffered a $1.88 billion full-year loss after making major write-downs to the value of its TV assets.

Woodside Petroleum says its key Browse project must break even at current prices before getting the go ahead next year.

The Australian share market is more than one per cent stronger, shrugging off Tuesday's falls that were sparked by volatility in the Chinese market.

Wall Street stocks have finished lower following a mixed batch of earnings from retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores, which tumbled 3.4 per cent after slashing its profit forecast.

Oil prices have risen modestly as traders looked ahead to weekly US commercial inventory data that could provide insights into demand in the world's largest consumer of crude oil.

Gold has fallen, as the US dollar rebounds following upbeat US housing data that supports views of a looming Federal Reserve interest rate rise, while silver tumbles on the heels of falling copper prices.

The Australian dollar is struggling to gain any ground, weighed down by Chinese share market volatility and an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate rise.

Broadcasters Seven and Foxtel have retained AFL TV rights in a record $2.5 billion deal.

Steep declines by the big four banks, led by the Commonwealth Bank, have pushed the share market deep into the red.

The Reserve Bank of Australia seems more at ease with the state of the economy, signalling that interest rates are unlikely to move for now.

Fortescue Metals Group has played down speculation that it is considering a $2 billion-plus sale of its Chichester hub in the Pilbara.

National rail and freight operator Asciano has agreed to a $12 billion takeover by Canada's Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, which is planning to seek a listing on the ASX.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

Gains by Disney, Apple and some other large equities have helped lift US stocks into positive territory ahead of earnings from Wal-Mart Stores and Federal Reserve meeting minutes.

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.