AAP

The Australian share market has closed higher for a second session in a row, boosted by a positive lead from US markets and a steady oil price.

Workforce provider Skilled Group risks making life difficult for itself if it rejects Programmed Maintenance Services' merger overtures, a brokers report suggests.

Retail trade was virtually unchanged in November, weighed down by a flat result in department store spending.

Qantas has appointing advertising executive and popular Gruen Planet personality Todd Sampson to its board of directors.

Trade minister Andrew Robb insists Australia won't be rushing to sign a free trade agreement with India just for the sake of a deal.

The Australian sharemarket has opened strongly following a rally on Wall Street overnight.

Wall Street stocks have soared for a second day running as oil prices steadied and investors became more confident of monetary stimulus in Europe.

Gold futures edged down Thursday as the market awaited major data releases from China and the US.

The Australian dollar is treading water above 81 US cents, amid concerns over the euro zone and lower oil prices.

Oil prices have steadied after recent heavy falls, but analysts say investors remain worried about excessive global supplies.

The Australian share market has rallied after two days of losses, boosted by some recovery in the oil price.

Franklin Resources, the largest shareholder in Qantas, has sold down its stake in the airline for the second time in a month, taking advantage of recent share price gains.

Iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group says it has increased the mineral resource base at its Chichester hub operations in the Pilbara by 300 million tonnes of iron ore.

Christmas came late to many retailers in 2014, with customers leaving it until immediately before or after the big day to hit the shops.

Interest rates will rise, but the first move is now more than a year away, Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief economist Michael Blythe says.

The Australian stock market has opened higher following a rally on Wall Street and a stabilisation of oil prices overnight.

Wall Street stocks have jumped following solid US economic data, joining European equity markets higher and ending a five-day losing streak.

Brent oil has briefly slipped below $US50 a barrel for the first time since 2009, but crude finished higher on a strong day for US and European equity markets.

The Australian dollar has drifted higher as disappointing comments from the US central bank knock the wind out of the greenback's sails.

Gold prices pared losses in electronic trading on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent meeting gave little reason to believe the central bank was considering raising interest rates ahead of schedule.

The Australian share market has closed lower, despite a late rally, as energy stocks plunged again.

Borrowers are leaping at the chance that the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut its cash rate this year, with more of them looking for better home loan deals.

Qantas has been named the world's safest airline, after a year when fatal air accidents soared above the 10-year average.

The Australian share market has opened lower as the oil sector continues to cop a beating from falling oil prices.

US stocks have fallen again on another stormy day for global financial markets as oil prices plummeted to a fresh multi-year low.

Oil prices have tumbled to fresh 5.5-year lows as Saudi Arabia blamed weak global economic growth and said it will stick to its guns on production policy.

Gold prices have risen to their highest level in three weeks, as plunging oil prices sparked worries about the health of the global economy, drawing investors to the precious metal.

The Australian dollar is lower but still holding above 81 US cents following better-than-expected economic data.

The Australian share market has fallen sharply as investors fretted about falling oil prices and speculation that financially-embattled Greece would quit the eurozone.

National car sales dropped in 2014, with Western Australia experiencing by far the biggest slide of all of the mainland states.

Two Melbourne men have been charged over an alleged $110 million fraud involving fake home loan applications.

Tony Abbott has again vowed there will be no changes to the GST before the next federal election.