AAP

The Australian share market has fallen for the fourth time in five days, with losses from construction giant CIMIC Group and mining titan BHP dragging the market.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Western Australia has bucked the national trend and fallen 0.5 percentage points to 5.8 per cent on the back of a 13,800 increase in the total number of people holding a job.

Lendlease has chalked up the biggest urban construction deal in its history, after it signed a $20 billion deal with Google to develop 15 million square feet of residential, retail, hospitality and community space in the US.

Woodside Petroleum has reported a 32 per cent drop in second-quarter revenue, the first decline in six quarters, as it was hit by an extension of planned maintenance at its Pluto liquefied natural gas facility and weaker prices.

ASIC wants to ban 'cold call' sales pitches for life and consumer credit insurance ahead of planned government reforms to the sector.

The Australian share market has opened lower ahead of the release of last month's job numbers.

Oil futures fell more than one per cent overnight, extending a more than three per cent drop in prices in the previous session, after US government data showed large builds in refined product stockpiles.

Gold prices rose more than one per cent overnight as weaker-than-expected US data increased prospects for an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, dragging the US dollar lower.

The Australian share market has bounced back from a morning dip to finish higher, ending a three-day losing streak.

The WA government is considering prosecuting a Chinese company over unauthorised land clearing at a pastoral station in the state's north, as shocked traditional owners say important flora including boab trees have been ripped up.

BHP has reported a 1.0 per cent drop in fourth-quarter iron ore production, hurt by a tropical cyclone in Western Australia that disrupted production and exports.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher despite a negative lead from Wall Street.

Oil prices fell more than three per cent overnight after US President Donald Trump said progress has been made with Iran.

Gold prices fell overnight after better-than-expected US retail sales data lowered the likelihood of an aggressive interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve in investors' eyes, boosting the US dollar.

The Australian share market has closed down for a third day, its first three-day losing streak since late May.

WA opposition leader Liza Harvey's blaming of "meth zombies" for Perth's weak retail sector talks down the WA capital, Labor leader Anthony Albanese says.

Rio Tinto shares are subdued in early trade after the mining giant flagged a scheduling blowout at its Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia that could cost it an extra $2.7 billion.

Oil Search says both its second-quarter production and revenue have dipped by 5 per cent as expected, but analysts were reportedly looking for a more substantial first-half recovery after last year's earthquake in Papua New Guinea.

The Australian share market has opened marginally higher ahead of the release of the central bank's minutes from its last meeting.

Gold edged lower overnight as global stock markets gained with investors focusing on some upbeat economic readings from mixed Chinese economic data while a firm US dollar further weighed on bullion.

Oil prices sank about one per cent overnight on signs that the impact of a tropical storm on US Gulf Coast production and refining would be short-lived while Chinese economic data dimmed the crude demand outlook.

The Australian share market has fallen for a second day, with nearly every sector in the red despite a positive lead from Wall Street last week.

Elders has made a $187 million scrip and cash offer for unlisted private wholesale buying group Australian Independent Rural Retailers.

AMP shares have hit a new all-time low after the beleaguered wealth manager flagged it would not pay a first-half dividend in anticipation that the $3.3 billion sale of its wealth protection business has failed.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower as all sectors started the day in negative territory.

Oil prices were little changed on Friday as US Gulf of Mexico crude output dropped by more than half from disruptions caused by a tropical storm but concerns over a global crude surplus in the months ahead limited gains.

Gold prices inched higher on Friday as investors shrugged off concerns that stronger-than-expected consumer inflation in the United States could influence the US central bank's decision on aggressive monetary policy easing.

The Australian share market has finished lower, ending a lacklustre week on a negative note ahead of a raft of economic data due from China.

Australians trying to take advantage of new tax breaks have been stymied as the main government services online portal went down for several hours.

National Australia Bank and ANZ Banking Group have both cut their savings rates again in the wake of the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to reduce the interest rate to 1.0 per cent.

The Western Australian government is suing BGC Australia over alleged building defects at the HBF Park stadium.

The Australian share market has opened lower, with only the financial sector able to make any gains.