AAP

Gold cut losses on Tuesday, as the dollar turned lower after US retail sales and producer prices data came in weaker than expected, but prices remained below $US1,200 an ounce on higher equities.

The Australian dollar is higher against a weaker US dollar following the release of some disappointing American economic data.

Wall Street stocks have finished mostly higher following mixed corporate earnings news and slightly disappointing US retail sales in March.

Global oil prices have risen for the fourth straight day, with US prices jumping after a government report predicted a drop in US shale-oil production.

Western Australia is at risk of another ratings downgrade by a global credit agency, as it battles budget deficits amid slumping mining royalties.

The share market has closed lower due to falls by miners, the big banks, retailers and Telstra.

Joe Hockey's day started with the "immense honour" of ringing the bell to end another trading session at the New York Stock Exchange, but that was as good as it got for the federal treasurer.

The Australian share market has opened lower, following falls on Wall Street.

Gold dropped for a fourth session in five as the US dollar firmed, backed by expectations the Federal Reserve may be on course to raise US interest rates soon.

The Australian dollar hit its lowest level in almost two weeks following the release of disappointing Chinese trade figures.

US markets have sagged ahead of the take-off of first-quarter-earnings season, with traders hedging their bets after last week's solid gains.

World oil prices have modestly extended last week's gains in cautious trade as investors digest news of another rise in US crude oil inventories in an abundantly supplied global market.

Disappointing Chinese trade numbers have dented big mining stocks and caused the share market to retreat from its brush with seven year highs.

Freezing Western Australia's GST share for one year is better than nothing but still grossly inadequate, state Treasurer Mike Nahan says.

Former mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has secured a job as an adviser to nickel explorer Rumble Resources as he steps up his return to the resources sector.

Oz Minerals plans to release the outcome of a company-wide review later in April as it looks to cut costs following a downturn in commodity prices.

Seven Group Holdings has announced that Ryan Stokes, the 38-year-old son of company chairman Kerry Stokes, will replace Don Voelte as chief executive.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Gold has risen as chart levels were broken, but was still heading for its first weekly fall in four weeks, pressured by a stronger greenback and renewed expectations for a US rate rise this year.

The Australian dollar is lower, coming under pressure from a stronger US dollar and the release of weaker local housing data last week.

The share market has closed higher as weaker than expected figures on home lending renewed expectations of an interest rate cut.

Of all the ministers at the heart of the Hawke government, the acerbic Peter Walsh was the most singular.

Coles has been ordered to pay a $2.5 million penalty for falsely advertising "freshly baked" bread when it had been par-baked off-site - sometimes months earlier.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher after solid gains on Wall Street overnight.

Gold retreated for a third straight session on Thursday on a stronger dollar after comments from US Federal Reserve officials kept alive expectations for an interest rate rise some time this year d

Andrew Forrest's iron ore miner Fortescue Metals says it has nothing to hide when it comes to paying tax.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower after the US dollar rallied on the back of strong US jobs data.

Oil prices have edged higher from the prior day's nose-dive in a volatile market with some analysts citing signs of a potential demand pick-up.

Big gains in petroleum stocks have lifted the US equity market as investors bet on more large energy mergers following Royal Dutch Shell's takeover of BG Group.

BC Iron has vowed to make deeper cost cuts as it scrambles to stay abreast of falling iron ore prices.

The share market has finished weaker for the first time since April Fool's Day as the big miners took a hit.

Ambulance ramping at Perth hospitals has not eased since the opening of the new $2 billion public facility at Murdoch, the state government concedes.