AAP

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the greenback weakened overnight and the local currency benefited from the release of some positive Chinese economic data.

Oil prices have fallen as the market weighed last week's OPEC meeting and the prospects for a breakthrough in upcoming nuclear talks with Iran.

The Australian share market is in the midst of a horror run, with a massive $75 billion stripped from its value over the week, its worst weekly performance in three years.

It's been reported that seven maintenance workers at Alcoa's Kwinana Refinery in Perth have been exposed to asbestos, but the aluminium producer says the health risk is "extremely low".

Australia has lost one of the most colourful and controversial figures in the nation's corporate and sporting history with the death of Alan Bond after open heart surgery.

National Australia Bank will conduct another offer of new shares after failing to raise its intended $5.5 billion.

Bargain hunters and a rise in the iron ore price have helped lift the Australian share market following four days of heavy losses.

Gold prices are lower following some robust US economic data and shrugging off earlier weakness in the greenback.

The Australian dollar is lower as the fallout continues from the release of disappointing local retail spending and international trade figures.

Wall Street stocks have tumbled due to unease over Greece, volatility in the bond market and worries about growth after the IMF cut its US economic forecast.

Oil prices have fallen sharply for a second day ahead of OPEC's summit to review its production levels amid an oversupplied market.

Global miner Glencore has taken a swipe at Australia's mining giants, saying their mass iron ore and coal expansions had "cannibalised" revenue and hurt the economy.

The Australian share market has fallen to a fresh four-month low as international investors sell risk assets amid uncertainty.

shares have plummeted to their lowest level in 14 years after the grocery wholesaler shocked investors by suspending its dividend payments after making $640 million worth of writedowns.

Australia has notched up its highest monthly trade deficit on record, driven largely by a slump in coal and iron ore exports.

Shares in logistics and infrastructure company Qube have hit a seven-month low as it warned tough trading conditions are unlikely to improve in the next 12 months.

Australian retail spending has hit a wall after 10 straight months of gains, with big falls in sales of liquor, footwear, food and recreational goods.

Australia's competition watchdog plans to allow Virgin and Delta Air Lines to continue their trans-Pacific alliance because it's beneficial to the public.

The Australian share market has opened higher after US stocks gained on the back of some encouraging economic data.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower after its rally on the back of strong economic data lost steam.

Crude oil prices have fallen after the weekly US oil report showed a rise in US crude output, against expectations that producers were pulling back.

Wall Street stocks have risen following a wave of mostly solid US data and a fresh confirmation of ultra-easy money policies by the European Central Bank.

Gold fell to a three-week low on Wednesday as data showed the US private sector added more jobs than expected in May and prospects increased of a debt deal for Greece.

The Australian share market slumped to its lowest level since January with sentiment about both the local and global economy poor.

Australia's economy has grown by a better than expected 0.9 per cent in the first three months of 2015, helped by strong exports and home building activity.

Prominent Western Australian Labor MP Ken Travers has quit the shadow cabinet, citing personal reasons.

Newcrest Mining has undergone its second management shake up in a year, with two key executives departing.

Australians and the economy would be the loser if resources companies cut back on production to boost commodity prices, says BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie.

The Australian share market is weaker, following falls on Wall Street overnight.

Gold edged higher after the release of disappointing US economic data and as uncertainty persisted over whether a high-level meeting on Greece's debt crisis might lead to a significant breakthrough.

The Australian dollar hit a one week high on expectations the Reserve Bank won't be raising its interest rate any time soon.

US stocks have finished lower in choppy trade, following European equities downward after a senior EU official complained of slow progress in talks to avoid of Greek debt default.