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The Australian dollar back below 71 US cents, after financial markets sentiment turned sour following the fatal attacks in Paris.

Big gains by petroleum-linked equities helped lift US stocks in the first session after the terror attacks in Paris late on Friday.

Gold has pared gains, after an initial flow of safe-haven buying following the attacks in Paris slowed down and investors' focus returned to expectations for the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December.

Crude prices pushed higher after US-led coalition jets targeted the Islamic State group's oil operations in retaliation following the deadly attacks on Paris.

The Australian share market has closed almost 1 per cent lower as cautious investors mull the possible fallout from the deadly terror attacks in Paris.

Australian shares have slumped in early trade, opening more than one per cent lower after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

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The Australian dollar is slightly lower, weighed down by some weak US retail sales data and nervousness over the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Oil dived to two-month lows after the International Energy Agency said commercial crude stockpiles in developed nations had risen to a record high three billion barrels.

Gold has fallen back towards near six-year lows, on expectations the Federal Reserve is set to raise US interest rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade.

Personal bankruptcies in Western Australia were almost 23 per cent higher in the September quarter than in the same period last year, while business related personal bankruptcies were up 54.3 per cent.

The Australian share market has suffered another steep fall on more Chinese growth concerns and US rate hike talk.

Low commodity prices and falls in major overseas markets have caused the Australian share market to open almost two per cent lower.

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The Australian dollar has eased off its highs gained following a startlingly strong jobs report.

Wall Street has been hit by a broad sell-off, dragged lower by downbeat views of the world economy and US rate rise concerns.

Gold has fallen to its lowest level since early 2010, under pressure from expectations the US Federal Reserve is on track to raise interest rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade.

Oil prices have sunk after the US government reported a big jump in US crude-oil inventories, reinforcing worries about the long-running global oversupply.

A Labor rival to Matt Keogh's bid to win preselection for the new West Australian federal seat of Burt has pulled out.

A rift is developing between the Western Australian Nationals leader and the Liberal premier over fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) worker camps, with speculation mounting it could end their alliance.

’Tis the season to be gloomy, that much we know from following financial markets; but an early nominee for the Dr Gloomy prize of the season goes to former ANZ Bank chief economist, Saul Eslake, who said earlier this week that the China-driven mining boom was “the last in human history”.

Unemployment has hit its highest level in Western Australia in more than a decade, at 6.4 per cent, despite the state's employment reaching its highest level on record, in trend terms.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

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The Australian dollar is slightly lower, weighed down by firming expectations of a US interest rate rise in December.

Worries about US retail sales and sinking oil prices have sent Wall Street shares lower.

Gold has edged down to a three-month low, failing to benefit from a softer US dollar, as pressure from an anticipated US rate rise as soon as December persists.

Oil prices tanked after a private report showed an unexpectedly big jump in US stockpiles, adding to concerns about the persistent global oversupply.

Friction between the resources industry and the mining town of Newman has escalated following the state’s decision to approve an extension for BHP Billiton’s 1,200-bed Kurra camp.

The Australian share market has closed higher, but gains have been crimped as investors hold back ahead of a flurry of Chinese economic data.

The Australian share market is slightly higher, with its gains being reined in by falls in Westpac and BHP Billiton shares.

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