AAP

The Australian share market has closed lower, taking stocks to their first weekly fall in five weeks.

A motion suggesting Prime Minister Tony Abbott scrap laws requiring balanced reporting by Australian media will be among those debated by the Western Australian branch of the Liberal Party at its state conference.

Qantas had rejected an offer for government assistance in the leadup to the announcement that it will close its Avalon heavy Maintenance facility, the company's domestic chief executive Lyell Strambi says.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has revealed that the option to cut the cash rate further remains alive.And the Aussie dollar is what's keeping it breathing.

The Australian market has opened lower following offshore falls including on Wall St.

Top prize goes to Perth Arena

Gold has slumped toward $US1,300 after better-than-expected US economic data and an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) bolstered the US dollar.

US stocks have tumbled despite a successful launch of trading in Twitter stock and report on US economic growth that bested expectations by a wide margin.

The Australian dollar has fallen against a stronger greenback boosted by better-than-expected US economic data.

More than 200 workers are to be made redundant at state-owned Western Australian energy company Horizon Power.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has defended grocery giant Coles' relationship with farmers, saying the high dollar and government regulations are a weight on the agricultural sector.

Australian shares slipped as ANZ and National Australia Bank paid out their final dividends.

Labor will seek to block government plans to scrap a superannuation contribution scheme designed to benefit low-income earners.

Fairfax Media has avoided a second strike and potential boardroom spill, but its directors still have not won the support of major shareholder Gina Rinehart.

Western Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to just 4.3 per cent, with the jobless rate remaining steady at a national level.

The Australian stock market has opened weaker ahead of the release of October's official employment figures.

Australia's competition watchdog has recommended reforms to ensure ongoing business growth at the nation's major ports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed to a new record, even as investors punished some tech names after Tesla earnings disappointed.

Australia sells more of its top-shelf wine to China than any other country but the industry is going to great lengths to convince drinkers there it has even more to offer.

The Australian dollar continues to push higher, boosted by a recent batch of strong economic data.

Federal Small Business Minister Bruce Billson has rejected a suggestion that the government should guarantee loans for small businesses to foster growth in the sector.

The Australian share market has closed almost flat, with a healthy quarterly earnings report from the Commonwealth Bank the highlight.

Education ministers from states yet to sign up to the Gonski school funding overhaul are meeting with federal minister Christopher Pyne to discuss the matter.

Engineering and maintenance firm Downer EDI says it will take some time for its rail business to adjust to the slowdown in the mining sector.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is on track to make another record full year profit, after recording earnings of $2.1 billion in the three months to the end of September.

Australian stocks have started the local session on the back foot, following weakness on international markets.

The benchmark US oil price has sunk to a five-month low as traders anticipate a key report will show US supplies are continuing to pile up.

US stocks have ended mostly lower as analysts pointed to the need for markets to absorb recent gains after a number of records in the past couple of weeks.

The Australian dollar has bounced back after its fall following the Reserve Bank's monetary policy statement expressing concern about the currency's high value.

Tighter federal and state budgets are going to make economic reform harder in the future, a report says.

Australian shares have delivered a strong finish on Melbourne Cup day, with the big miners leading the way.

Former federal police chief Mick Keelty has begun his investigation into 1,375 missing votes from the Western Australian Senate ballot.