AAP

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower, following falls in metals and oil prices overnight.

Western Australia's biggest iron ore producer, Rio Tinto, has reported record sales for 2014, on the same day that its major customer, China, announced its slowest rate of economic growth in 24 years.

Gold prices were lower in Europe Monday, settling lower on reduced physical demand after the highs of the previous week.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower in quiet trade with US markets closed for the Martin Luther King public holiday.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says changes to Medicare and pensions are needed because a future generation could live to the age of 150.

The share market has broken a five-day losing streak despite a sharp drop on China's market denting the major banks.

Ports in Western Australia's north are being evacuated while residents prepare their homes for a possible cyclone that could bring strong winds to coastal areas.

Macquarie Group is on track to post its biggest profit in eight years, as the lower Australian dollar and improved market activity bolsters its earnings.

Recent trading in the uranium market shows more buyers are expecting prices to rise.

Australians face a 13 year shortfall in retirement funds, and almost half the population admit they are not adequately prepared.

The Australian share market has opened the week higher after Wall Street and European markets rose more than one per cent on Friday.

Copper prices extended their rebound on Friday, as some investors judged Wednesday's drop to five and a half year lows as too extreme despite continued worries about demand.

The Australian dollar has eased off a little after rallying on Friday on the back of the Swiss central bank's shock currency announcement.

Gold prices extended their rally on Friday to lock in a 5 per cent gain for the week as worries about global growth and turbulence in currency markets spurred investment demand for haven assets.

Laboratory services group ALS has beaten its own profit forecast by 15 per cent thanks largely to cost cutting.

The sharemarket has fallen for a fifth straight day, capping its worst week in 18 months.

Two more mining companies have been targeted in drug raids in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

Miners don't need to be told times are tough but they must adapt quickly or perish, says a new report by consultants Deloitte.

The Australian sharemarket is lower in the wake of a surprise move by the Swiss central bank to strengthen its currency.

Wall Street stocks have fallen for a fifth straight day following disappointing US bank earnings and a surprise move by the Swiss central bank to strengthen its currency.

The oil market has tumbled after OPEC said it produced more oil in December than its limit, despite sharply falling prices, and lowered its global demand outlook for its crude.

The Australian dollar has gone from strength to strength overnight, following upbeat local jobs figures and the Swiss central bank's decision to slash its interest rate.

The price of the precious metal has hit a four-month high and is on track for its biggest percentage weekly gain in nearly a year.

When Janet was contacted by an engineer on a dating website last year, she thought she had found a nice, good-looking man who was fascinating to talk to on the phone.

The share market has fallen for a fourth straight day as a drop in commodity prices and a negative lead from US markets outweighed better-than-expected jobs figures.

The federal government has abandoned a plan to cut a Medicare rebate paid to GPs for short consultations.

Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore project has been issued two prohibition notices over safety concerns.

Oil and gas giant Woodside Petroleum is seeking to cut costs after lower oil prices pushed revenue down 10.1 per cent during the December quarter.

The chances of an imminent interest rate cut are diminishing after a surprise surge in full-time jobs pushed unemployment down to 6.1 per cent in December, with Western Australia being the only exception to the national fall.

Weak prices continue to hurt mineral sands miner Iluka Resources, which has revealed another fall in annual revenue.

ANZ Banking Group is tipping the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut its cash rate by 50 basis points to a new low of two per cent within the first six months of 2015.

The Australian sharemarket has started lower following a slide on Wall Street and a fall in commodity prices.