AAP

Australians are continuing to buy new homes, suggesting home building will remain a shining light of the economy into 2015.

The head of gold miner Evolution Mining is confident about the year ahead but is warning the industry against losing its way again as the precious metal's value rises.

The share market has closed higher as mining companies, banks and energy producers performed strongly.

Packaging giant Amcor's long-serving chief executive Ken MacKenzie has announced his surprise resignation, but his replacement says it will remain business as usual.

Colin Barnett has no intention of becoming Western Australia's longest-serving premier, admitting he will not serve a full term if he wins the next state election.

Virgin Australia has lowered fares to Los Angeles as plunging oil prices cut its fuel costs.

Medicinal marijuana company Phytotech Medical has made a stellar stock market debut, with its shares doubling in value.

A shock rate cut from the Bank of Canada overnight has added to calls for the Reserve Bank of Australia to do the same next month - with one economist calling Australia's interest rate levels "absurd".

A heatwave in Western Australia's north is likely to bring record-smashing temperatures, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The share market is firmer as expectations of European Central Bank stimulus measures boost the resources sector.

Wall Street has finished higher for the third straight session, shrugging off global growth worries in expectation the European Central Bank will announce aggressive stimulus measures on Thursday.

The Australian dollar has plunged more than one US cent, after a surprise interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada and on expectations of a huge economic stimulus package from the European Central Bank (ECB).

Oil prices have rebounded a bit from nearly six-year lows as investors took a breather on the eve of a highly anticipated European Central Bank decision on stimulus.

Gold prices nudged lower, ending a seven-day winning streak, as investors reacted to reports of a 50 billion euros ($A75.00 billion) a-month bond-buying proposal by the European Central Bank.

The Australian share market has made solid gains, buoyed by a strong production report from global miner BHP Billiton and expectations that the European Central Bank will take steps to boost the eurozone's sputtering economy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia should slash interest rates to a fresh record low next month, Westpac's top economist says, as new figures show consumers remain pessimistic.

Western Australia is in the grip of a baby boom, says Commerce Minister Michael Mischin.

US internet television network Netflix says it is ready to fight for Australian and New Zealand viewers in what it describes as highly competitive markets.

Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill mining operation has had a crane incident while safety inspectors were observing the operation, and has blamed its contractors for serious issues.

BHP Billiton will reduce its drilling activity in US shale by 40 per cent to try and release cash flow in response to the plunging oil price.

The share market is higher after mining giant BHP Billiton reported a stronger production result.

US stocks have finished with modest gains helped by firm buying in tech stocks, after a day spent mostly well in the red.

The Australian dollar is lower as falling oil prices and a downgrade to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) global growth forecasts weighs on market sentiment.

Gold reached a five-month high on Tuesday as investors sought to safeguard their wealth from uncertainty surrounding the euro.

The share market finished flat as weaker oil and base metal prices dented the resource stocks.

The ports of Dampier and Port Hedland have been reopened after the threat of a tropical cyclone developing off Western Australia's north coast eased off.

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.