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The Australian share market has opened slightly higher, led by energy stocks and the major banks.

Next stop China as miners welcome Pacific partners

The Australian dollar has continued to outperform on the back of the Reserve Bank's decision to leave the cash rate on hold.

Global oil prices have extended gains, hitting one-month highs on hopes for an easing of the global oversupply of crude.

Gold has risen to its highest in nearly two weeks as the US dollar fell in the wake of disappointing US economic data that raised doubts over a Federal Reserve interest rate rise this year.

Major US internet company shares have fallen after the top EU court ruled in a case involving Facebook that an agreement on cross-Atlantic data transfers was invalid for privacy reasons.

The share market has gained ground for a second straight session as confidence in China's economy strengthens, and a weaker US dollar benefits resources companies.

New car sales in Western Australia have continued the 2015 trend of slipping further away from the national increase, with sales down 8.8 per cent in September.

The chances of an interest rate cut before Christmas are diminishing, with the Reserve Bank of Australia still on hold and barely changing its commentary from a month ago.

The Australian share market has climbed more than one per cent in early trade, following strong cues from US and European equities, on hopes of a delay in a US Federal Reserve rate increase.

Woodside urges South Korea to back Perth LNG project

The Australian dollar is higher as global risk appetite firmed overnight after fears of a US interest rate rise eased.

Oil prices have rallied, following equity markets higher and still finding support from a drop in US drilling activity that could ease the global oversupply.

US stocks have powered higher, joining European equities in rallying on confidence the Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates in light of some poor economic data.

A historic Pacific free trade deal will transform Australia and usher a new era of economic growth, the federal government predicts.

Gold was little changed, as profit-taking set in after rallying on US economic data that pushed back expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate rise to early 2016, while silver extended gains on chart-based buying.

Manufacturing in China contracted in September, although the performance was better than in August and surpassed forecasts.

The Corruption and Crime Commission has found City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi “signally failed in her duties” by not disclosing gifts and travel contributions from BHP Billiton and Hawaiian.

The Australian share market has closed almost 2 per cent higher as bargain hunters move in and a weaker US dollar increases the appeal of the mining and energy sectors.

We can’t pay more for Oil Search, says Woodside CEO

Gold has jumped more than two per cent and silver has surged over five per cent for its best day this year as weaker-than-expected US jobs data dented expectations the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year, triggering short-covering.

The Australian dollar is higher against its weaker US counterpart following the release of weaker-than-expected US jobs figures.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is tipped to leave the cash rate unchanged on Tuesday, and most economists are predicting there will be no more rate cuts for the foreseeable future.

Decmil Group founder and director Denis Criddle has spent another $500,000 buying shares in the contracting company, adding to a string of big trades by company directors includng his son Scott Criddle, Chris Ellison, John Rothwell and Enzo Gullotti over the past month, according to BNiQ data.

At 26 per cent WA has the highest gender pay gap in the nation, but many of the state’s female business leaders are working on addressing equality in the workplace.

Port dividend bonanza rankles Pilbara miners  

The Australian dollar is lower as weak US manufacturing data and caution about upcoming US jobs figures weigh on the currency.

Wall Street equities have finished little changed as investors take stock of mixed US economic data and await Friday's US jobs report.

Oil prices have finished lower following a choppy session as traders looked ahead to Friday's US jobs report for September.

Palladium rose to its highest level in nearly three months following strong car sales, continuing a trend in which the component of petrol engine autocatalysts gains at the expense of platinum.

Premier Colin Barnett has detailed a $1.5 billion commonwealth funding wish list, mostly for rail projects.

The national resource industry employer group is calling for urgent workplace reform after a report by the federal government revised down the forecast value of Australia’s exports by $113 billion in 2016-19.