AAP

The share market has started the week with losses following falls out of the US and expectations there will not be any rate cuts in Australia soon.

Australia has posted its eighth consecutive rise in retail spending, a sign that another non-mining sector of the economy is gaining strength.

A national database to record mining industry deaths and injuries has yet to have any data entered into it, despite governments starting work on it 12 years ago.

World oil prices have risen modestly after a closely watched US oil report suggested severe winter weather across large parts of the country was pushing up demand for heating oil.

The Australian dollar is firmer following weaker-than-expected US private sector jobs data.

US stocks have ended modestly lower following mixed jobs and services sector data and as investors looked ahead to Friday's US labour market report.

The sharemarket lost early gains to again close lower as investors remain cautious ahead of the release of corporate earnings reports.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected accusations the government is "leaning on" the industrial umpire in an effort to cut the penalty rates of workers.

A victory for ANZ customers fighting against penalty fees could be worth tens of millions of dollars, their lawyers say.

The share market has started the week with losses following falls out of the US and expectations there will not be any rate cuts in Australia soon.

Engineering group Downer EDI has won a $70 million contract with Crocodile Gold Corp to help run the Canadian company's Northern Territory operations.

US stocks have closed higher after some solid corporate results allowed a partial recovery following Monday's rout.

US oil prices have pushed higher after falling for two sessions as much of the country's upper Midwest and northeast faced more extra-cold weather from a looming winter storm.

The Australian dollar has rallied after the central bank indicated the cash rate will stay unchanged for some time.

The federal government says any change to the modern award system needs to look at the impact of penalty rates on employers.

The Australian sharemarket has suffered its heaviest one-day losses since August, with spooked investors reacting to a sharp fall in US manufacturing activity growth.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 2.5 per cent, highlighting an improved outlook for the local and overseas economies.

The share market has started the week with losses following falls out of the US and expectations there will not be any rate cuts in Australia soon.

The Australian dollar is range-trading as investors await the Reserve Bank of Australia's February cash rate decision.

US stocks have fallen more than two per cent after a surprisingly weak US manufacturing report sparked another round of selling amid concerns about the strength of the global economy.

Oil prices have fallen after weak manufacturing data in the United States and China fuelled worries about demand in the world's two biggest oil consumers.

The RSPCA has questioned the method and motive for Western Australia's shark cull, amid reports of another catch-and-kill in the state's South West region.

Export commodity prices fell in January to their lowest level for nearly four years.

Australian shares have closed flat due to a slow start to the local earnings season and holidays in Asia.

Africa-focused mining companies are suffering under the weight of higher costs and lower productivity, with the value of some companies halving over the past year.

Western Australia's new home building sector rebounded from a slump in 2012 to record the highest number of private housing approvals since the property boom in 2006, according to new data.

The average annual salary advertised by online jobs site SEEK dropped by more than $3000 in 2013.

Allegations the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union used coercion to prevent workers getting on site at a new children's hospital in Perth will be tested in court.

Soft economic growth and a weakening jobs market mean another interest rate cut can't be ruled out, a leading business group says.

Potential home buyers have had a slight reprieve from high property prices in Perth with home values dropping slightly during the past month, new research says.

The share market has started the week with losses following falls out of the US and expectations there will not be any rate cuts in Australia soon.

Unease over emerging markets dominated a busy week of economic and corporate news, pushing stocks lower for a second week in a row and resulting in losses for January.