AAP

The consumer watchdog has put 250 energy companies on notice to estimate to their customers how much the removal of the carbon tax will affect prices.

The Australian stock market has opened lower as tensions increase over Ukraine and the Middle East conflicts.

The Australian dollar has recovered some of the losses made after the shock rise in the unemployment rate.

US stocks have finished lower as advances by jihadists in Iraq trumped encouraging labour-market data and spurred talk of possible military action by the US.

US oil prices have rallied from a six-month low following reports that the Obama administration is considering air strikes in Iraq.

Rio Tinto has more than doubled its half-year net profit to $4.76 billion ($US4.4 billion), but the world's second largest miner was below consensus analyst expectations.

The Australian stock market has closed virtually flat, shrugging off a 12-year high in the unemployment rate.

Professional men in Australia are more than twice as likely as women to see their gender as an advantage in the professional workplace, a survey suggests.

A surprising jump in Australia's unemployment rate has poured cold water on any expectations of a rate hike in the foreseeable future.

The head of Australia's competition watchdog believes consumers should pay more to use electricity, roads and airports during peak periods.

India's central bank governor, renowned for forecasting the 2008 financial meltdown, has warned that the world economy faces risk of another market crash as asset prices surge.

A possible move by Coles and Woolworths into the home loan market could benefit consumers by forcing the big banks to offer cheaper products, a former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chief says.

The Australian sharemarket has opened flat following soft leads on Wall Street.

Oil prices in New York have fallen again on worries about lower demand, even after an inventory report showed a surprising drop in US gasoline supplies.

Gold prices have risen to their highest level in nearly two weeks, as worries grew over economic weakness in the euro zone and tensions between Russia and the West.

US stocks have edged higher despite new Russian sanctions against the West and amid disappointing news that major potential media and telecom mergers fizzled.

The Australian dollar is higher, getting a boost from a one per cent rise in the gold price and a better outlook for the Chinese economy.

The share market has fallen for a fourth straight session as investors weigh up a possible escalation of conflict in Ukraine and potential interest rates hikes in the US.

Pilbara iron ore miner BC Iron predicts the iron ore price will head above $US100 per tonne over the next six months as demand for the company's product remains strong.

Strike action has been averted at Esperance Port, but is set to occur at Port Hedland.

Most of the thousands of staff affected by the collapse of mining services and recruitment firm Bluestone Group have been saved from unemployment.

Wesfarmers subsidiary Coles has recruited one of its fiercest critics, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, to help sort out disputes with the supermarket giant's suppliers.

Theme park and Goodlife gym owner Ardent Leisure is more than doubling its Western Australian fitness clubs by buying Fitness First sites in the state's capital.

Ausdrill has flagged another profit writedown of as much as $80 million, as it warns the recovery in the mining services sector will be slower than previously expected.

The Australian share market has opened lower following negative leads from Wall Street and fears the conflict in Ukraine is set to worsen.

The Australian dollar is losing ground following reports that Russia is increasing the number of troops on the Ukraine border.

Oil prices in New York have fallen to a six-month low on concerns about weak gasoline demand in the US and lacklustre Chinese economic data.

US stocks have fallen sharply in a sell-off analysts attributed to anxiety about a Wall Street correction and worries that the conflict in Ukraine could worsen.

The share market has fallen for a third consecutive trading day, with the benchmark S&P ASX200 index down 22.3 points or 0.4 per cent, despite the US and Europe providing positive leads.

Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder believes US online retailing giant Amazon is the biggest threat to his company.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group plans to pay down more than $2 billion in debt over the next two years as it looks to save $400 million by converting its operations to gas.

Nickel miner Sirius Resources is close to securing $1.5 billion for its Nova nickel project after striking a native title deal with traditional owners.