AAP

The Australian dollar is slightly higher following a quiet night of trade ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision.

Gold climbed one per cent on Monday, buoyed by weak Chinese factory data and US earlier dollar weakness.

Wall Street stocks have risen as news of the first rise in US factory orders in eight months helped sustain positive momentum from last week's rally.

Oil prices have drifted lower, with the market lacking major news for direction as traders continue to worry about abundant global supplies of crude oil.

The share market is higher as the major miners offset heavy losses among the big banks.

Engineering firm WorleyParsons has blamed falling commodity prices for the retrenchment of 2,000 workers.

Coles is taking full control of the supermarket chain's credit card business less than a year after announcing its financial services joint venture with GE Capital.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised this budget will be a "dull" affair but a respected economist believes it will be anything but.

Westpac shares have dropped more than 4 per cent after the bank posted a disappointing $3.78 billion first half cash profit.

The annual rate of inflation is staying well below the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2 to 3 per cent target, leaving the door wide open for a rate cut this week.

The Australian share market has opened lower following falls in commodity prices at the end of last week.

Gold fell to a six-week low on Friday as the dollar strengthened on US economic data and investor sentiment was undermined by longer-term expectations for a US rate rise.

The Australian dollar is lower as the US dollar gains ground on the back of expectations that a June rate hike by the US Federal Reserve is still possible.

The Australian share market clawed back its early losses to finish with gains on the back of positive news around iron ore and the banks' profit results due next week.

A tropical cyclone is expected to rapidly lose power over the Indian Ocean but will still cross the WA coast bringing strong gusting winds and gales.

Atlas Iron has announced a surprise reversal of last month's decision to shut down, and will keep two of its three mines operating.

The Australian share market is slightly lower following falls on Wall Street.

Gold fell two per cent on Thursday after better than forecast US jobs data encouraged investors to sell the traditional safe-haven market, reviving expectations the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates soon.

The Australian dollar is lower following better-than-expected US economic data as traders look ahead to next week's Reserve Bank of Australia board meeting.

Oil prices have risen again on data suggesting the US crude glut is easing as the dollar weakened against the euro.

Wall Street stocks have fallen sharply as earnings from online listings company Yelp and others disappointed while US data showed only modest growth in consumer spending.

The competition watchdog has decided against pursuing Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest over comments he made at a business dinner last month, in which he called on iron ore producers to cap production.

The Australian share market has closed lower as the dollar rises and the chances of a May interest rate cut fall.

Executives of oil and gas producer Santos have narrowly avoided a first strike by investors protesting against their salaries as its shares and the oil price fall.

The number of people flying Qantas and Jetstar has picked up, helped by a big increase in passengers on the airlines' international routes.

Network Ten has warned it is nearing the limits of its $200 million loan and may need to raise more money as it attempts to boost ratings and lagging advertising revenue.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar has again broken past US80 cents, buoyed by weak US economic data and a Federal Reserve meeting that contained no major surprises.

Gold has extended its losses after the US Federal Reserve signalled it was taking a meeting-by-meeting approach on when to raise its interest rate for the first time since 2006.

Oil prices have moved higher, buoyed by a weaker US dollar and a slight drop in US crude inventories at the key Cushing terminal, the first in more than four months.

Wall Street stocks have finished lower on news the US economy grew just 0.2 per cent in the first quarter.

Bayswater-based benchtop manufacturer Australian Countertop will not be able to pay a $120,000 fine for causing the death of a stonemason because the company is in liquidation.