AAP

The share market has closed higher after the United States market was pushed upward by solid corporate earnings reports.

It should no longer be compulsory for members of the Labor Party to join a union and every supporter should be able to join up with one click of a computer mouse, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.

Federal MP Clive Palmer has strongly indicated his party won't support the Abbott government's climate change direct action plan, labelling it a "token gesture" and a waste of money.

The share market is slightly higher after a rise on Wall Street overnight.

The Australian market looks set to open higher after Wall Street finished higher as solid earnings reports from Halliburton and others kicked off the busiest week of the quarterly earnings season.

Oil prices pushed higher in quiet trade, gaining support from the Ukraine crisis following a deadly gunfight over the weekend.

The Australian dollar has hit a two-week low after a senior Chinese official ruled out any economic stimulus measure.

The Australian dollar has drifted lower as a boost from speculation of stimulus measures in China wore off, while activity was low ahead of the Easter holiday.

New car sales should remain high in 2014 due to the strong Australian dollar and healthy competition between manufacturers.

The share market heads into the Easter break with three consecutive days of gains and one per cent off a post-GFC high.

Woodside Petroleum could be forced to move quickly on a growth project in Canada after agreeing a three-year land use deal.

The state budget will "impact" the cost of living so the state can retain a surplus, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has lifted its first quarter revenue despite a small slide in production.

Oil prices in New York have finished essentially flat as a bearish US oil inventory report offset concerns that rising political tensions in Ukraine could affect energy supplies.

The Australian market looks set to open higher after Wall Street rose for its third session on positive economic news.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher, helped by some Chinese economic growth figures that didn't disappoint the market.

The share market has closed higher as investors were encouraged by good corporate earnings reports from the United States and shrugged off economic growth figures out of China.

Property developer Australand is preparing for a possible takeover from fellow developer Stockland which would propel the combined entity to second position on the list of Western Australia's biggest land developers.

Western Australian households will be slugged by next month's state budget because the government "maxed out" spending on big projects and increased public sector wages, the new treasurer warns.

Iluka Resources shares have fallen six per cent after the mineral sands miner recorded a drop in production and revenue.

Labor's Louise Pratt has conceded defeat in the Western Australian Senate election re-run, while blasting the party for allowing her to be dumped from the top spot on its WA senate ticket.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has resigned in the wake of controversy over his appearance at the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The Australian share market is higher as investors await Chinese growth numbers.

BHP Billiton has raised its full year guidance for iron ore and metallurgical coal production after achieving record output so far this fiscal year, but has trimmed guidance for petroleum production.

The US dollar has moved little against other major currencies ahead of China's first-quarter GDP data, expected to show further slowing in the world's second-largest economy.

Gold has locked in its largest one-day percentage drop since December as worries about weaker demand from China prompts some investors to reduce their gold holdings.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-week low after the release of some disappointing US home builder sentiment data and tensions in the Ukraine escalate.

Australian shares have closed higher as investors bought up resources and banking stocks after a strong performance on Wall Street.

Advocates of Australia's tech start-up sector have called on governments to do more to support the fledging industry.

Work is expected to start on a long-anticipated second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek in 2016 after federal cabinet signed off on the site.

Interest rates look set to stay put while the Reserve Bank of Australia waits to see what effect the stubbornly high currency will have on Australia's economic growth.

OZ Minerals says its copper production in the first quarter of 2014 was in line with the previous quarter, while gold production fell.