AAP

Troubled mining services business Boart Longyear believes it has reached the bottom of the market after posting another massive loss.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher following strong overseas leads.

Clive Palmer has apologised to the Chinese ambassador for his televised tirade against the country last week.

The Australian dollar is weaker against a strengthened greenback, despite disappointing economic data out of the US.

Oil prices traded in a mixed fashion, with little in the way of major news moving the markets.

The S&P 500 has topped the 2,000 mark for the first time, helped by more promises of economic support from the US and European central banks.

The share market has ended a seven session winning run as a fall in iron ore prices weighed on the resources sector.

BlueScope Steel lost more than $436 million from its market value on a day it triumphantly declared that its manufacturing business was back.

Fuel supplier Caltex Australia will cut 10 per cent of its workforce over the next 12 months, axing 350 jobs as part of a company-wide restructure.

 Engineering and property services firm UGL says activity in the infrastructure sector is picking up in the wake of the resources boom.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Western Australia's credit rating, providing yet another blow to the state's budget woes.

Former public servant Kerry Sanderson has become the first woman to be appointed governor of Western Australia.

Australian stocks were flat in early trade in a resilient start to the week following solid falls in the US and Europe on Friday.

Tony Abbott has called a special cabinet meeting ahead of the resumption of parliament in a bid to reboot the government's floundering budget sales pitch.

Gold prices rose Friday as tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East trumped investor worries about a potential rise in US interest rates.

The Australian dollar is lower against the strengthened greenback after a neutral speech by US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen surprised the market.

US stocks enjoyed a week of solid gains following a batch of good economic data and mostly strong corporate earnings as concerns about geopolitical hotspots ebbed somewhat.

The share market has posted a seventh straight session of gains, taking it to another new six-year high.

Iluka Resources says it will continue cutting production until conditions improve and blamed lower prices for a fall in first half net profit by two thirds.

Santos has lifted its dividend to shareholders, despite suffering a 24 per cent slide in its first half profit as writedowns in Indonesia offset higher production and sales.

The Australian stock market has pushed higher, following gains in the US and Europe.

Gold futures fell to a two-month low on Thursday as stronger US economic data intensified investor worries about higher interest rates.

The S&P 500 has set a new record as US stocks powered higher, shrugging off geopolitical problems elsewhere and gaining from fresh signs of strength in the US economy.

The Australian dollar has rebounded back above 93 US cents after losing ground on Thursday on the back of weak Chinese manufacturing data.

Oil prices have been pushed higher after a batch of solid economic data in the United States, the world's top consumer of crude, lifted demand hopes.

After a stellar start, the Australian share market has been reined in by disappointing Chinese manufacturing figures.

Unions have called on mining giant BHP Billiton to guarantee entitlements and enterprise agreements for workers affected by its demerger.

Cash Converters is expecting a stronger year ahead after new regulations on lending hit its earnings.

An improving housing market has helped Mirvac Group to triple its full-year profit, with the property group expecting to grow its earnings further over the next 12 months.

Caltex says it will defend claims by Australia's consumer watchdog, that it used a third-party website to collude with other major players on petrol prices.

Qantas said it is yet to make a decision on the future of its profitable frequent flyer business.

The Australian share market has pushed again to new post-global financial crisis highs, following an encouraging lead from the United States market and positive sentiment generated by local company earnings.