AAP

Rio Tinto's iron ore shipments have fallen 12 per cent during the March quarter, a period when it was largely blamed for oversupplying and pushing down the price of Australia's top export.

The Australian share market has opened strongly higher.

The Australian dollar has been knocked almost one US cent lower amid a stronger greenback and signals from the head of the Reserve Bank that another rate cut is possible.

Gold has fallen below $US1,200 an ounce as equities rallied and the US dollar steadied, while traders assessed China's new policy measures to shore up the world's second-largest economy and risks that Greece may default.

US stocks have risen sharply on the latest Chinese stimulus measures and some prominent earnings that bested forecasts.

Oil prices have traded mixed after China slashed bank reserves requirements to get credit flowing more easily in the world's largest energy consumer.

The Australian stock market closed weaker, with most sectors in the red after heavy sell-offs on overseas markets.

Streaming service Quickflix says the launch of rival Netflix has sparked interest in the industry and helped it attract thousands of new customers.

The state government has launched a major review of the Fiona Stanley Hospital after international service company Serco lost its contract to provide sterilisation work at the new facility.

Mining and metals group Arrium lost almost $9 for every tonne of iron ore it shipped during the first three months of 2015.

Rail and port operator Asciano's chief executive John Mullen is predicting stronger profit growth this year and says the underlying Australian economy is still strong.

Copper and gold miner Oz Minerals is on the hunt for acquisitions as part of a major restructure.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Gold has pared gains after data showing US consumer prices rose in March tempered speculation the Federal Reserve will delay its first interest rate rise in nearly a decade.

The Australian dollar has rallied to a one-month high after China's central bank announced measures to stimulate lending.

For almost two decades Peter Costello has been put on a pedestal by his Liberal colleagues.

The share market has suffered its heaviest fall in three weeks due to weak US economic data and concerns about Greece's debt problems.

Premier Colin Barnett was left angry and disappointed after today's meeting of the nation's leaders failed to resolve the dispute over Western Australia's share of GST funds.

The Australian share market has opened marginally lower, following losses on Wall Street overnight.

Gold steadied around $US1,200 an ounce, paring losses as the US dollar extended its fall.

April 17 AAP - The Australian dollar hit a three week high amid further US dollar weakness and after the release of surprisingly strong local jobs data.

US stocks have finished barely lower following mixed earnings and lacklustre economic data as worries about Greece's finances returned to the forefront.

Oil prices have marked gains for their sixth day running amid signs that US production, a key driver of the global supply glut, may be on the cusp of easing.

The share market has posted its first gain in four days, though stronger commodity prices were the main driver rather than a surprise drop in unemployment.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has warned a long downturn in oil prices will reduce its profit and shareholder payouts.

Fortescue Metals Group has achieved a significant reduction in costs, giving it hope of staving off losses due to the fall in iron ore prices.

A fall in the jobless rate by 0.1 percentage points has beaten economists' expectations, with the March rate coming in at 6.1 per cent according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Western Australia's collapsing GST allocation is the most severe economic shock the state has faced since the share crash of the late 1980s, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar has briefly passed 77 US cents after the release of a batch of weak US economic data, before dropping back.

Gold has risen one per cent to above $US1,200 an ounce, as the US dollar turned weak late in the session after weaker-than-expected US economic data, while stronger US and European stocks limited the metal's upside.

US oil prices have shot up to a 2015 peak after a slight dip in US oil production sparked talk that the glutted petroleum market could be turning.