AAP

Retailer David Jones has borne the anger of shareholders, incurring a first "strike" at its annual general meeting and setting up a potential board spill.

The Australian share market has opened higher, bouncing back after four days of falls, after Wall Street hit a record high.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has closed above the key threshold of 16,000 for the first time, extending a rally that has seen the gauge add over 22 per cent this year.

The Australian dollar dipped below 92 US cents for the first time in two and a half months after the head of the Reserve Bank said he has an open mind on intervening to get the exchange rate lower.

Gold futures have extended their early losses as minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting show some officials still expect a wind-down of the central bank's bond buying in coming months.

The share market has fallen for its fourth straight day due to uncertainty about when the US will start to reduce its economic stimulus program, and a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing activity.

Clive Palmer has announced a High Court challenge to attempt to have his party's Senate candidate Dio Wang declared a winner in Western Australia.

The International Monetary Fund believes it could take until 2016 before the Australian economy returns to trend growth of around three per cent.

Australian shares are weaker as investors overlook the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's last meeting and focus on profit taking.

The federal agency managing the government's bond portfolio says a buffer beyond what is expected to be the peak in commonwealth debt is needed to cope with unforeseen events in any one year.

US stocks have fallen after minutes from the last Federal Reserve policy meeting said the central bank could scale back its stimulus program "in coming months".

Gold futures have extended their early losses as minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting show some officials still expect a wind-down of the central bank's bond buying in coming months.

The Australian dollar has fallen more than half a US cent after the minutes of the Federal Reserve's October policy meeting showed that it'll likely wind back its economic stimulus program in the coming months.

The Australian share market has closed lower for the third straight day as investors continued profit taking.

Labor has launched a last-ditch fight to keep the mining tax as the federal government prepares to scrap the measure in a parliamentary vote.

Department store chain Myer is cautious about the year ahead as it faces increased costs and a challenging economic and consumer environment.

A drop on Wall Street after a four-day streak of fresh records is hitting Australian shares.

US stocks have fallen modestly, ending the Dow's four-day streak of fresh records, as the Justice Department announced a record $US13 billion ($A13.91 billion) settlement over mortgage securities with JPMorgan Chase.

The Australian dollar hit is highest level in almost two weeks after China said it would ease restrictions on investment and the value of its currency.

Australian shares have closed lower for a second straight day as investors sold banking stocks due to worries about US stocks being overpriced.

Qantas has asked its 30,000 staff and their families and friends to support its campaign against the foreign ownership of rival Virgin Australia.

Mining equipment supplier WesTrac says its coal customers are still hurting and looking for cost cuts due to lower prices and a high Australian dollar but the iron ore sector in Western Australia continues to provide opportunities for the company.

Australian shares are weaker as Wall Street volatility hits all local sectors.

The Dow edged higher to a fresh record after topping 16,000 for the first time, while the S&P 500 breached 1,800 but pulled back in late trade.

Global oil prices have fallen, with the New York benchmark contract hitting the lowest level in more than five months amid ballooning US crude-oil supplies.

The Australian dollar is lower in cautious trade ahead of the release of the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's November board meeting.

Australia's biggest supermarkets have agreed to a code of conduct governing how they deal with suppliers, providing a potential solution to long running tension between food and grocery producers and retail giants.

Falls by financial stocks have kept the Australian share market in negative territory, despite positive offshore leads.

Small businesses are still struggling and may yet need further support through another cut in interest rates, a leading business group warns.

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten is under pressure to authorise the release of confidential cabinet documents on the national broadband network's costings Labor received while in government.

Shares in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter are up 19 cents as they resume trading after the company recommended the latest, higher takeover offer from Canadian dairy giant Saputo.

The Australian share market has surprised by opening lower amid uncertainty about the largest sweeping reforms in China in more than three decades.