AAP

A local couple who were denied work because they were not union members have been awarded more than $720,000 compensation.

Expectations of a Chinese interest rate cut have boosted the Australian share market, with the big miners making the strongest gains.

The Australian dollar has shed almost one US cent amid a stronger US dollar and growing expectations of a rate cut when the Reserve Bank meets next week.

Wall Street stocks have surged on a string of pharmaceutical deals and speculation of more monetary stimulus in China.

Oil prices have dipped as traders eyed talks between Iran and global powers that could ease international sanctions on one of the world's leading oil producers.

Gold has fallen more than one per cent, its biggest drop in more than three weeks, as the US dollar climbed on increasing prospects that the US Federal Reserve may start raising interest rates this year.

Chevron's exit from two major Australian investments has raised concerns about the growth outlook for the nation's oil and gas industry as shares in the sector dive.

The share market has tumbled more than 1 per cent as the energy sector bears the brunt of fresh falls in the oil price.

Slater and Gordon has struck a $1.2 billion deal to make it the UK's top personal injury lawyer.

Shares in gold and copper miner PanAust have rocketed after a heavily reduced takeover bid by Chinese company Guangdong Rising Assets Management.

Origin Energy has been fined $2 million after the Federal Court found it guilty of illegal door-to-door sales.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described it as a "conversation starter" but some issues in the government's tax discussion paper, released today, are already proving debate stoppers.

A steep fall in iron ore prices has dragged the resource-heavy Australian share market lower.

Gold has fallen, snapping a seven-day rally, as investors remained cautious ahead of comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, but the metal still looked set to post its second straight weekly gain.

A slide in iron ore prices has whacked the Australian dollar back below 78 US cents.

Evolution Mining has confirmed media reports that it is in discussions on the potential puchase of La Mancha Resources' gold mine in Kalgoorlie, for a price understood to be around $400 million.

The share market has clawed back some of the ground lost in Thursday's heavy fall as bargain hunters moved in.

Australians will have two years of their metadata stored by phone and internet providers after the Abbott government's controversial data retention laws passed parliament.

The Australian share market is marginally firmer as a Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen boosts oil stocks.

An appeal by local residents against an expansion of James Packer's Crown casino in Perth has been dismissed in Western Australia's highest court.

Wall Street stocks have ended lower in volatile trade spurred by the Yemen crisis.

A batch of upbeat US data has whacked the Australian dollar back down toward 78 US cents following a short-lived rally overnight.

Oil prices have surged after Saudi Arabian jets struck rebel targets in Yemen, sparking fears that an escalating crisis in the country could threaten crude producers in the Middle East.

Gold has pared gains after hitting a three-and-a-half-week high, after a knee-jerk reaction to escalating tensions in the Middle East knocked stocks and drove investors into lower-risk assets.

The share market has suffered its largest one-day fall in more than three months as investors turned cautious.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten is reluctant to back a solution to a stand-off with Western Australia about how GST revenue is divided among the states.

The Australian share market is lower with the banking sector suffering, after heavy losses on Wall Street.

World oil prices have advanced on worries that political instability in Yemen could threaten key Middle Eastern petroleum producers, offsetting concerns about a growing US crude glut.

US stocks have fallen sharply, with the Nasdaq suffering the deepest declines on worries that technology and biotech equities have become overvalued.

Gold has hit two-and-a-half-week highs, rising for the sixth straight session as upbeat German sentiment data helps drive the euro higher against the US dollar, and as expectations for an imminent US interest rate rise recedes.

The Australian dollar has drifted lower despite weaker economic data out of the US overnight.

Victoria have won the Sheffield Shield for the 29th time.