AAP

Australian shares have opened higher, following Wall Street's lead with stocks rallying on the back of solid Chinese export data.

Struggling rural services company Elders will cut its staff by 10 per cent.Elders said this morning that the job losses would be part of more than $25 million in company cuts.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer says his party will block Tony Abbott's policy agenda in the Senate unless there's electoral reform.

Oil prices have lost support after hitting 28-month highs over fears of fallout from a possible US military attack on Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

The Australian dollar is higher as a stream of strong data out of China boosts confidence about the world's second biggest economy.

US stocks have risen, helped by optimism that a military strike on Syria might be avoided.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 140.62 (0.94 per cent) to 15,063.12 on Monday.

Alannah MacTiernan says she is certain the party would have been wiped off the map in the west if not for Kevin Rudd.

Australian shares finished half a per cent higher, buoyed by a decisive election result and positive news from China and Japan.

The latest round of vote counting shows the Liberal-National coalition ahead in 87 seats, giving it a big majority, but with maverick billionaire Clive Palmer on track to enter federal parliament

The fall-out continues for Newcrest Mining after its horror year, with boss Greg Robinson's annual pay cut by 27 per cent to $2.73 million.

Job advertisements are almost at their lowest point since the global financial crisis, suggesting subdued business confidence and a softening labour market.

The ability of micro parties to harvest preferences to win Senate seats could be investigated by the new federal government, deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop says.

The number of home loans approved has risen for the seventh month in a row, showing the housing sector continues to strengthen.

Cash Converters is seeking to raise $50 million to $60 million through an issue of corporate bonds to repay part of the group's existing debt and to fund further investments.

The Abbott government is determined to press ahead with its bid to repeal Labor's carbon tax despite a hostile Senate.

Engineering consulting firm Sinclair Knight Merz has been bought out by global giant Jacobs Engineering in a deal worth around $1.3 billion.

Australian shares have opened slightly firmer on the back of positive economic news out of the US, China and Japan.

Status quo was the election headline in Western Australia - but there will still be several new voices on the state's political stage.

Weak US jobs data and strong Chinese trade figures, along with a decisive federal election outcome, have given the Australian dollar a boost.

Strong car sales, revived merger and acquisition activity and an expected product launch from Apple have helped propel stocks higher in a week that also featured some major headwinds.

It came as a surprise to many this week that BHP Billiton proudly opened a new coal mine when the business has bled money in the last two years.

The Australian dollar is marginally weaker as an upbeat US private sector jobs report helps the greenback.

Potential coalition foreign minister Julie Bishop says she'll work to re-establish relationships with Australia's neighbours, especially Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Singapore, if she gets the j

A former director of a stock trading firm that collapsed owing about $630 million to creditors says he hopes to get his life back after being found not guilty of dishonesty using his position.

The local share market finished flat as investors sit on their hands ahead of Saturday's federal election.

The next federal government will need to legislate to raise the country's $300 billion debt ceiling, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says.

Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are blitzing the airways and key marginal seats on the final day of a gruelling five-week election campaign, as Labor continues to dig holes in the coalition's costings.

Australian shares are flat as investors on hold until the election is over, with banking and mining stocks taking a hit.

Australia's construction industry continues to struggle despite low interest rates, with activity in the sector falling for the 39th consecutive month.

The coalition's costings are full of holes and dodgy maths, Treasurer Chris Bowen says.Mr Bowen says the coalition's numbers - finally revealed yesterday - are wrong in a number of ways.

The Australian dollar has lost some ground amid more evidence that US employment growth is picking up pace.

US stocks have ended slightly higher as investors looked ahead to Friday's crucial monthly jobs and unemployment report.