AAP

Qantas has welcomed a decision to raise foreign investments caps on the airline, but said it still wants to see the restrictions removed completely.

The Australian market has opened higher off the back of strong performances in the resource sector.

The Australian dollar has moved little overnight, despite US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen saying interest rates could be raised sooner than expected.

US stocks have finished mostly lower with the Nasdaq dropping more than 0.5 per cent after the Federal Reserve warned that some technology stocks appear to be overvalued.

Global oil prices have dropped, with the US futures contract sinking below $US100 for the first time since May on receding worries about Iraq supply disruptions.

The first review of the financial system since 1997 may result in lower superannuation fund fees and slow the erosion of retirement nest eggs.

The Australian share market has closed flat as investors wait for a sufficient catalyst to make a stronger push beyond the 5,500-point mark.

Health workers at Perth's major hospitals have begun rolling stoppages over a pay dispute with the state government.

The Reserve Bank of Australia said it was difficult to judge whether low interest rates would be enough to offset the effect of budget cuts and mining investment slowdown.

Consumer confidence has bounced back to levels not seen since before the federal government's tough budget was released in May.

Supermarket giant Coles is taking on the big four banks by offering customers the ability to pick up loans and other personal finance products at the same time as their groceries.

The Australian share market has opened higher following positive overseas leads.

US stocks have scored solid gains, lifted by Citigroup's better-than-expected earnings and a rash of merger and acquisition activity.

The Australian dollar is trading within a narrow range in the absence of any major economic news or data.

Global oil prices have risen as turmoil in Libya clouded expectations of a return of the country's crude supplies to the market.

Gold prices slipped Friday as traders locked in profits after a sharp rally the day before, but the metal ended the week higher, for a sixth straight weekly gain.

The Australian share market has closed modestly higher in the wake of positive leads from markets in the US, Europe and Asia.

Australia's biggest blind and curtain maker, Kresta Holdings, has received a formal bid from Chinese sunshade manufacturer with a $34.5 million takeover offer.

Clive Palmer has said the repeal of the carbon tax lies in the hands of the Abbott government.

More than 176 years after its first store opened in Sydney, David Jones is passing into foreign hands after shareholders overwhelmingly backed a $2.2 billion takeover.

The Australian share market was higher in early trade following positive leads out of the United States and Europe.

Gold prices slipped Friday as traders locked in profits after a sharp rally the day before, but the metal ended the week higher, for a sixth straight weekly gain.

The Australian market is expected to open higher on Monday as investors prepare for a deluge of profit news from the United States.

The Australian dollar is hovering below 94 US cents amid easing concerns over the health of Portugal's biggest listed bank.

Australian stocks finished the day higher but the market was down for the week after three days of losses from Monday to Wednesday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index 22.4 points, or 0.41 per cent, higher at 5,486.8.

If all goes to plan, David Jones, Australia's oldest department store, will shift into foreign hands on Monday.

At 1010 AEST on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 19.2 points, or 0.35 per cent, at 5,445.2., while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 18.0 points, or 0.33 per cent, at 5,4

The Australian dollar has recovered some of the losses it suffered on the back of disappointing unemployment data.

US stocks recovered from a sharp opening fall sparked by a Portugal bank scare and general investor caution to end with modest losses on Thursday.

Oil prices rebounded on Thursday, snapping out of a long losing streak tied to easing concerns about potential Middle East supply disruptions.

The Australian sharemarket ended a three-day run of losses with modest gains, despite a rise in the unemployment rate, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index 11.9 points, or 0.22 per cent, higher at 5,464.4.

Telstra wants to encourage more innovation in business, but says investors need to get on board.