AAP

US stocks have closed lower, continuing their trend downward on mediocre economic news and higher bond yields.

The Australian dollar has firmed as the gold price reached its highest point in two months.

Australian stocks finished flat as some of Australia's biggest companies went ex-dividend ahead of the release of major profit reports this week.

BlueScope Steel shares have been hammered after the steelmaker reported a solid turnaround but ruled out dividends, warned of a flat outlook and increased its exposure to Australia's steel market w

The state government has been dealt an embarrassing blow to a planned multi-billion dollar gas hub in the Kimberley, with the state's chief justice ruling the environmental approval for the project

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has played up the benefits of his $5.5 billion a year paid parental leave scheme for small business.

Minerals explorer Metals X has acquired Rio Tinto's interest in the Mt Davies joint venture in South Australia, which it hopes will add value to its Wingellina nickel project.

Australia's largest freight rail operator Aurizon has flagged more job cuts as it deals with a growth slowdown in China.

Australian shares are flat, with rises in energy companies underpinning much of the market.

Federal Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray says it was "inappropriate" for Premier Colin Barnett to make public a letter the minister sent to him about the Browse Basin.

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin says he is open to the possibility of further extending Sunday shopping hours, but has not made any firm decision on the matter.

US equity markets suffered one of their poorest weeks of 2013 ending Friday, tumbling on the back of uninspiring economic data and troubling earnings reports from Walmart and other retailers.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower after recovering most of the losses it made after the release of strong US jobs figures.

Australian shares have finished weaker as profit taking hit the big banks and resource companies.

Motor retailer and logistics company Automotive Holdings Group's profit is up more than 30 per cent, thanks to strong sales and results from its core businesses.

Fortescue Metals Group has attracted an investment of up to $US1.15 billion ($A1.27 billion) fom Taiwan's largest private company, Formosa Plastics Group, to underpin the development of a new iron

Australian shares are weaker as uncertainty about US stimulus measures hit Wall Street and local resource stocks.

Santos' half year net profit has risen three per cent due to increased sales revenue from higher gas prices.

ANZ made a $4.7 billion profit for the nine months to June, an increase of 7 per cent.The bank said the result was driven by revenue growth and productivity gains.

The Australian dollar is lower after better-than-expected US jobless claims figures boosted the greenback.

US stocks have tumbled after Dow components Cisco and Walmart spotlighted the weak economic outlook in their earnings reports.

The Australian dollar has firmed after Japan's economics minister, Akira Amari, said Australia's second largest trading partner was halfway out of deflation.

The share market edged lower due to mixed reactions to corporate earnings reports.

Rio Tinto's dispute with the Mongolian government has intensified after the mining giant said it would sack up to 1,700 mostly local workers.

Federal Labor would set up a special economic zone in northern Australia if re-elected, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

Wesfarmers is optimistic about the year ahead after supermarket giant Coles helped it grow annual profit by 6 per cent to $2.26 billion.

Australian stocks have opened slower on the back of disappointing data out of the United States.

Penalty rates for workers are firmly in the sights of the coalition if it wins the federal election, unions say.

Chilean workers have gone on strike at BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, over demands for an annual bonus and better working conditions.

- The Australian dollar is a quarter of a US cent higher, helped by some positive European economic data and higher metals prices.

US stocks on Wednesday closed lower after anaemic inflation data and a disappointing earnings report from Macy's suggested economic weakness.

The Australian share market is slightly lower after strong earnings reports from major companies failed to hearten investors