AAP

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.

The Abbott government's carbon tax repeal bills have been defeated in the Senate.

The Australian stock market is trading higher ahead of the release of key employment figures.

Australia's unemployment rate has risen back to 6 per cent amid an increase in the number of people looking for work.

Global oil prices have continued their slide from late-June peaks, despite a sharper-than-expected drop in US crude inventories.

US stocks have scored moderate gains following a solid kickoff to earnings season from Alcoa, and Federal Reserve meeting minutes signalling an end to its bond-buying program in October.

Gold prices have extended earlier gains after Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes showed that central bank officials were shifting focus away from raising interest rates as the key strategy for tightening monetary policy.Gold lifts after FOMC minutes

The Australian dollar is higher on greenback weakness after the US Federal Reserve's policy committee said it would not begin raising interest rates for "a considerable time".

Australian stocks fell heavily on a day where the negative mood among US investors overnight carried into local trading, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closing 58.4 points, or 1.06 per cent, lower at 5,452.5.

Fewer Australians are spiralling into bankruptcy, with figures showing the lowest level of personal insolvency in almost 10 years.