AAP

Production has declined at uranium player Paladin Energy's biggest mine after a well failed, but the company is upbeat about the prospects of exports to Japan and India.

Loss making mining services contractor Macmahon Holdings will cut another 40 staff and alter its corporate rosters to cut costs.

The state education minister has denied the opposition's claims classrooms will suffer as a result of job cuts at public schools.

The Australian share market has opened higher, following gain on Wall Street overnight.

The Australian dollar is higher after the release of some disappointing US economic data.

Gold rose from a three-week low on Thursday, following its biggest drop in over a month on Wednesday, as the dollar retreated on weaker-than-expected US economic data.

The Nasdaq exchange has smashed its 15-year-old record, breaking through the old mark set at the peak of the dot-com boom in 2000.

Global oil prices have advanced as the Saudi Arabia-led coalition renews airstrikes in Yemen, stoking new supply concerns about the crude-rich Middle East.

The Australian share market has closed higher as gains among the big miners offset losses in the financial sector.

Fortescue Metals Group shares surged today after it surprised the market by completing a $US2.3 billion ($A2.9 billion) debt refinancing, while also benefiting from a much-needed lift in iron ore prices.

Sandfire Resources shares moved higher after the copper and gold producer increased production at its DeGrussa mine.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has welcomed moves by BHP Billiton to curb iron-ore production, which has boosted prices and in turn the prospect of a better budget outcome.

BC Iron is struggling to break even as weak prices forced the Pilbara miner to make deeper cost cuts.

Newcrest Mining has produced nearly 9 per cent more gold and received a near-12 per cent better price for it.

Consumers are ditching their desktop and laptop computers in favour of tablets and smart phones amid surging demand for streamed content, Telstra says.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

US stocks have posted solid gains following a big jump in US existing-home sales and a mixed bag of earnings reports from Boeing, McDonald's and others.

The Australian dollar has managed to hold on to most of Wednesday's gains following stronger-than-expected inflation data.

US oil prices have fallen after weekly US petroleum data showed higher crude inventories but marginally lower production.

Gold has fallen to its lowest level in more than a week, suffering its sharpest single session loss in more than six weeks after a report showed strong US home sales in March, raising expectations for a June US Federal Reserve interest rate hike.

Australian shares have closed lower as investors reduce their expectations of a May interest rate cut.

Fortescue Metals Group has suffered its second credit rating downgrade in a week due to the impact of low iron ore prices.

A bill to authorise the Western Australian government borrowing $8 billion has left the state opposition "thoroughly depressed".

The price of consumer goods and services rose 0.1 per cent in Western Australia and 0.2 per cent nationally in the March quarter, fuelling expectations of an interest rate cut in May.

BHP Billiton has deferred planned capital spending to improve its operations at Port Hedland harbour, after better-than-expected performance from its existing assets enabled the mining giant to lift its production guidance for the current financial year.

The share market is flat as investors react with disappointment to BHP Billiton's production forecasts.

The Australian dollar has clawed back some of Tuesday's losses, making its way above 77 US cents during a quiet overnight trading session.

Gold have risen past chart resistance, recouping most of the previous session's losses in choppy, currency-driven trade after the US dollar turned lower and bolstered bullion's appeal.

US stocks have mostly fallen but the Nasdaq stayed in positive territory as Israel's Teva announced a $US40.1 billion ($A51.92 billion) cash-and-stock bid for generic drug maker Mylan.

Oil prices have fallen as the Saudi-led coalition announced an end to its military strikes in Yemen.

Atlas Iron has asked for an extension to its share trading suspension as it continues carrying out a review and talking with creditors and contractors.

The share market has closed higher as positive offshore leads outweighed concerns about the local economy.