AAP

The share market has closed lower for a third straight day as weaker iron ore prices weighed on the mining sector.

Former Rio Tinto chief operating officer Andrew Cole has been appointed the new head of gold and copper miner Oz Minerals.

The Singapore-based bidder for the Australand Property Group has fallen just short of securing 100 per cent of its takeover target.

The Australia stock market is lower after a further falls in iron ore prices offset positive sentiment surrounding European stimulus measures.

Australia's construction industry continues to blossom, with home building leading the charge.

The Australian dollar has continued its rally on the back of positive retail sales and international trade figures.

US stocks have closed lower despite an early boost from the European Central Bank's move to further cut interest rates and launch an asset-purchase plan to beat back deflation pressures.

Oil prices have fallen amid volatile trading, as NATO chiefs met over the Ukraine crisis and the European Central Bank announced more rate cuts to boost the eurozone economy.

Gold prices rose on the European spot market Thursday, recovering from heavy headline-driven selling in the previous session.

Western Australia has "won the argument" about the GST revenue distribution but is yet to see any change, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The share market has closed lower as investors exercised caution ahead of key economic events overseas and cashed in on recent gains.

Australia's trade deficit is narrowing thanks to a growing volume of iron ore exports, but is likely to stay in the red as the price of the country's biggest export falls.

Australia Post wants a two-tier letter delivery service to help it staunch the bleeding in its loss-making letter delivery operations.

Foxtel will slash prices and revamp its channel offerings from November in the face of a surge in competition from internet streaming services.

Shares in Fortescue Metals Group were higher after the miner hit a new monthly record for iron ore shipments of more than 15 million tonnes.

The Australian stock market is flat, following a soft lead from Wall Street.

The Western Australian government is aiming for a quick sale of assets as it struggles to rein in debt, with the premier tipping the Perth Market Authority will be first to go.

Former Western Australian treasurer Troy Buswell has quit politics, citing his ongoing struggle with bipolar disorder and depression as the main reason for his resignation.

The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent higher as the chances of another interest rate cut by the central bank fades following solid gross domestic product (GDP) figures.

US stocks have finished mixed as weakness in Apple and some other technology stocks offset hopes for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

Gold prices edged higher on the European spot market Wednesday after a sharp drop in the previous session, but the market was unmoved by news of a ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine.

World oil prices rebounded Wednesday following the prior day's heavy losses in a rally spurred in part by hopes for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

A former financial adviser accused of defrauding and stealing from his clients acted in their best interests during the global financial crisis, when they were all victims of the stock market plunge.

The share market has closed flat after a late fall by miners offset gains by Telstra and financial stocks.

The premier of Australia's mining capital has cautioned African nations against succumbing to pressure from resources companies for subsidies.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has confirmed he hopes to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement that will enable Australia to sell uranium to India.

Clive Palmer has been accused of not understanding small business after dealing away tax concessions in a pact to scrap the mining tax.

The West Coast Eagles are a step closer towards establishing a world-class AFL training facility at Lathlain Park after agreeing to terms over the lease for new facilities.

Joe Hockey's claim Western Australia is suffering from poor budget management is "very unfortunate", Premier Colin Barnett says.

Australia has notched up a record-breaking 23 years of expansion, but the economy remains fragile as it searches for another source of growth to pick up where the mining boom left off.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank hopes to raise $200 million through an issue of hybrid securities to investors.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower after markets in the US put in a mixed performance overnight and some major stocks on the local bourse traded ex-dividend.