AAP

The Abbott government is making a new attempt to repeal the mining tax - and axe a suite of associated welfare measures.

Movie and TV streaming service Quickflix has blown out its full-year loss to more than $10 million after ramping up spending to attract new customers.

The Australian share market has opened higher after markets in the United States and Europe lifted on Friday.

Federal coalition tensions are mounting as a two-year deal on port access for bulk wheat exports expires in a month.

The Australian dollar has started the week lower following gains in its US counterpart.

Palladium closed above $US900 a troy ounce for the first time in more than a decade, extending its recent rally as rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine stoke fears about supply.

Seven oils wheels with $100m stake

US stock markets brushed off rising tensions over Ukraine and Iraq to push through to new records, underpinned by easy money and steady growth in corporate profits.

The stock market has closed flat as the impact on miners of weaker iron ore prices, and falls by the retail giants, were offset by gains in other sectors.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has issued a fresh invitation to Chinese state-owned enterprises to invest in Australia.

Maintenance and asset management firm Transfield Services has returned to profit and expects its positive momentum to continue.

The Australian stock market has opened flat despite reports that Russian that are actively fighting in eastern Ukraine spooking markets overnight.

Qantas will need to come good on its promise to improve its earnings and lower debt in the next six months if it is to avoid another downgrade to its credit rating.

Virgin Australia’s full-year net loss has grown more than three-fold to $355.6 million.

Woolworths has lifted its profit 8.5 per cent and is expects a moderate increase for the year ahead.

The Australian dollar hit a three week high, after the release of strong local business investment figures.

US stocks have fallen modestly as rising fears about renewed tensions between Ukraine and Russia outweighed a batch of encouraging US economic data.

Oil prices have traded mixed amid renewed tension between Ukraine and Russia and a batch of encouraging US economic reports.

The share market closed lower as a drop in iron ore prices and more companies paying out dividends dragged on prices.

Australia's second largest gold miner Northern Star Resources has suffered a 15 per cent fall in profit after buying the Jundee mine and paying redundancies.

Australian stocks have opened lower, on the the back of soft commodity prices and a flat US session.

Iron ore miner Atlas Iron has returned to profit and is forecasting higher production and lower costs in fiscal year 2015.

Qantas Airways has suffered a massive $2.8 billion loss in the wake of the airline's profit-draining battle with rival Virgin and another poor performance from its international division.

The Australian dollar has strengthened against a weaker greenback.

Wall Street shares have ended little-changed in light trade, one day after the S&P 500 closed above the 2000 milestone for the first time.

Oil prices have gained, with the New York WTI benchmark barely higher as the US weekly stockpiles report showed a fall in inventory.

The Australian share market has closed modestly higher after the S&P 500 index in the United States finished above 2,000 points for the first time, helped by more encouraging data on the US economy.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett says he is disappointed that Moody's Investors Service downgraded the state's credit rating, describing the analysis as "very weak".

Falling commodities prices have hammered Seven Group Holdings' results, with the Kerry Stokes-led company reporting a 46 per cent fall in full year profit to $261.1 million.

Seven West Media has posted a $149.2 million profit for 2013-14 helped by cost cuts and improved television earnings, which helped it turn around its $70 million loss a year earlier.

Pilbara miner BC Iron has shrugged off falling iron ore prices to notch up a 51 per cent increase in profit amid strong sales.

Engineering giant WorleyParsons' full-year profit has fallen 23 per cent to $249 million as it tries to improve margins.