AAP

US stocks have finished with solid gains following encouraging economic data and a solid earnings report from Home Depot.

BHP Billiton has lifted its full-year profit by 23 per cent, while at the same time confirming it will spin-off its aluminium, coal, manganese and silver assets into a new company, which is set to be headquartered in Perth.

The Australian share market has closed higher as better than expected corporate earnings reports and expectations of a good result from global miner BHP Billiton boosted sentiment.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future amid growing uncertainty about the economy.

Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie has accused the government of refusing to listen to crossbenchers during drawn-out budget negotiations.

A private equity firm is holding onto its stake in Dick Smith Electronics as the retailer expects profit and sales to grow in the year ahead.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says Clive Palmer's extraordinary televised tirade against China is hugely damaging for Australia.

QBE Group expects the asset sales and equity raising to improve the quality and flexibility of its balance sheet and help lift the company's performance.

Steel and mining group Arrium is targeting further earnings growth after lifting its full year profit 83 per cent.

The Australian stock market is higher, following strong leads from the US and Europe.

The Australian dollar is hovering above 93 US cents amid a lack of market-moving news or economic data.

US stocks have rebounded from last week's Ukraine-linked setback as fears of a clash with Russia ebb, with the Dow surging 1.1 per cent and Nasdaq reaching a 14-year high.

Oil prices have slipped on easing concerns about conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq and increased output by Libya.

The Australian share market has closed modestly higher as investors look ahead to earnings results from global miner BHP Billiton and a dividend from the Commonwealth Bank on Tuesday.

Tony Abbott has said his government will consider adjustments to its unpopular budget but won't "sell out" on the fundamentals.

West Perth explorer Azure Minerals has entered into a joint venture agreement with Kennecott Exploration, part of mining giant Rio Tinto, to explore for copper at its Promontorio project in Mexico.

Property developer Stockland has lifted its full-year profit five fold, due to improvements in the property market and the impact of a major writedown in its previous result.

National Australia Bank is facing another £245 million hit to its books in relation to its troubled United Kingdom business.

Australia's largest freight operator, Aurizon, has posted a 43 per cent fall in full year net profit on the back of previously announced impairments.

The Australian stock market is higher as recent earnings results boosts investor confidence.

Australia's largest gold miner, Newcrest Mining, has made a $2.2 billion full-year net loss on the back of previously flagged write-downs.

Gold prices fell to the lowest level in nearly two weeks on Friday as signs of health in the US economy outweighed news of a skirmish near the Ukraine-Russia border.

The Australian dollar remains above 93 US cents amid disappointing US economic data last week.

A flare-up in tensions in Ukraine threatened to derail the climb in US stock markets, but traders finally dismissed geopolitics to deliver another week of gains on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar has hit another one week high as concerns about Russia ease and after another batch of weak US economic data.

The Australian share market has closed at a two-week high on the back of a strong week of company earnings and a potential demerger of assets by BHP Billiton.

Mining giant BHP Billiton appears set to establish a separate $20 billion company comprising its aluminium, bauxite and nickel assets.

Mining giant BHP Billiton is expected to report a bumper full year profit next week after achieving a 15th straight year of record iron ore production.

The Australian market is higher at the open after strong overseas sessions and a week of mostly strong company results.

ANZ made a cash profit of $5.2 billion for the nine months to June 30, an increase of 8 per cent.

The Australian dollar has bounced back above 93 US cents after soft US economic data weakened the greenback.

Oil prices have tumbled, with the US benchmark dropping 2.1 per cent, as investors weighed a mounting batch of weak economic data from around the world.