AAP

US stocks have ended weaker, pulling back from a recent rally that took them to new 2016 highs, as losses in commodity-related and industrial shares offset gains in healthcare.

Australia's fledgling medicinal cannabis market continues to gain momentum, with MGC Pharmaceuticals planning an entry.

A mixed performance from the banks and losses among the resource stocks have pushed the Australian share market slightly lower.

Telecom operator Optus plans to slash up to 480 jobs as part of a restructure.

Cottesloe-based Quickflix plans to cut staff, reduce directors' pay, and close offices in Sydney and Auckland in an effort to turn around the troubled streaming service.

The competition regulator has flagged a fresh review of the $9.05 billion takeover of rail and ports giant Asciano and is examining whether the new cross-ownership deal will lead to any common financial interest among the suitors.

The Australian share market has opened flat.

Gold has fallen more than one per cent after US March payrolls data beat expectations, allaying some fears about the US economy and stoking speculation about the timing of likely interest rate rises by the Federal Reserve.

The Australian dollar has recovered from weekend losses spurred by stronger US labour force figures and weaker oil prices.

The Australian share market has been dragged down by banking, utilities and energy stocks.

The Reserve Bank is likely to hold the cash rate this month, but the soaring Australian dollar is becoming a concern.

The prime minister's proposal to allow states to raise income tax has more chance of succeeding than previous tax reforms, Colin Barnett says.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent lower, dragged down mostly by weakness among the big banks.

The Australian dollar has soared to new heights as the greenback loses ground for a third straight day.

Gold has edged up as the US dollar and stock markets retreated, locking in the metal's biggest quarterly gain in nearly 30 years amid reduced expectations for US interest rate rises.

Wall Street has ended the first quarter with a whimper after a seven-week rally that rescued the S&P 500 from its worst start to a year since 2009.

A weaker US dollar has driven a rally in mining and banking stocks and pushed the share market to its best session in four weeks.

The Australian share market has opened strongly, with gains across the board, led by mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

US stocks have ploughed further into positive territory for 2016, helped for a second session by comments from Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen that eased anxiety about potential interest rate hikes.

Gold has fallen more than one per cent as a rally in higher-risk assets such as equities prompts investors to cash in gains sparked by the Federal Reserve chair's cautious tone on rate rises.

The Australian dollar has popped above 77 US cents as a dovish posture from the US central bank continues to rattle the greenback.

ANZ Banking Group will refund about $5 million to around 25,000 customers, including pensioners, after botching their account fees.

The share market has retreated from promising early gains to close only marginally higher as investors continued to sell stocks in some of the big banks.

Virgin Australia's ownership is under the spotlight after the airline's biggest shareholder, Air New Zealand, flagged a full or partial sale of its 26 per cent stake.

Threats of the first double dissolution election in almost 30 years are rattling consumers, a report has found.

The Australian share market has turned lower, weighed down by the major banks.After initially opening slightly higher, the market did an about turn.

Cautious remarks from the US Federal Reserve have helped the Australian dollar break above US76 cents.

Gold has jumped nearly 2 per cent after comments from US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen indicated the central bank's cautiousness in raising interest rates.

The S&P 500 has closed at its highest in 2016 after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen called for caution on raising interest rates - music to Wall Street's ears.

Woolworths will dump its 33-year-old Homebrand label after spending months narrowing the price gap with discount retailer Aldi.

The Australian share market has closed more than one per cent lower, led by steep falls among the major banks.

Medibank Private has hired Craig Drummond, an experienced banker who helped transform National Australia Bank, to run Australia's biggest private health provider.