AAP

Gold rose by a percentage point overnight to its highest level in over three months as the dollar weakened and global stock markets tumbled, with rising political and economic uncertainties adding to bullion's appeal.

The Australian share market has closed lower again, with energy and materials stocks dragging the ASX back toward last week's six-month low.

Private equity firm BGH Capital and AustralianSuper have returned with another $4.11 billion bid for Healthscope, five months after the private hospitals operator rejected their takeover attempt.

The Australian share market has edged lower at the open, with energy, financial and healthcare stocks dragging after a choppy overnight session on Wall Street.

US stocks have edged down as early support from a rally in China faded, with lower oil prices and disappointing earnings signals from firms including Halliburton and Hasbro helping pull the market lower.

Oil futures changed little after paring earlier losses, despite Saudi Arabia's pledge to raise crude production to a record high, two weeks before US sanctions potentially choke off Iranian supplies.

Gold prices have slipped, pressured by a rallying dollar and the metal's failure to break above a key technical level.

Clive Palmer has launched legal action against CITIC over environmental rehabilitation funds for the massive Sino Iron project in WA, just days after his estranged Chinese joint venture partner started separate litigation.

The Australian share market has closed lower, giving up most of last week's gains in a single session.

The Australian share market has dropped at the open, with Wall Street proving a poor ballast as uncertainty swirls in the wake of the Wentworth byelection.

The US benchmark S&P 500 stock index has closed a touch lower as strong earnings from Procter & Gamble Co were offset by ongoing concerns about rising interest rates and tensions over trade policy denting economic growth.

Oil prices have risen on signs of surging demand in China, the world's number two oil consumer, although prices were headed for a second weekly decline on swelling US inventories and concern that trade wars were curbing economic activity.

Gold prices have edged up for a third straight week of gains, supported by robust technical momentum and a softer dollar.

The Australian share market closed flat, with banking stocks clawing back from a weak start after heavy overnight losses on Wall Street.

Australian shares have taken their expected plunge at the open, bleeding red across the board following big overnight losses on Wall Street.

US stocks have fallen more than one per cent as the European Commission issued a warning regarding Italy's budget and concerns mounted over the possibility of strained relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Oil prices fell as investors' concerns returned to the impact an escalating trade row between China and the United States will have on oil demand growth and data showing ample supplies.

Gold has risen overnight as renewed weakness in global stock markets spurred investors to seek refuge in bullion, which has also been helped by an improved technical outlook.

Banking and telco stocks have lifted the Australian share market to close slightly higher despite lower commodity prices weighing down the energy and materials sectors.

A livestock export licence has been granted to a Perth subsidiary of Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading, allowing the second shipment to the Middle East following the Emanuel sheep scandal.

Full-time employment in Western Australia has hit a three-year high, as the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a decline in the state’s jobless rate to 6 per cent in September.

Unions have blasted Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer's decision to intervene in a potentially landmark court case about casual workers' pay and leave entitlements.

Roger David, which operates eight stores across Perth, is closing down after 76 years of business, with the menswear retailer collapsing in the face of competition from international and online rivals.

Woodside Petroleum has reported around a 25 per cent jump in third-quarter revenue, underpinned by rising output at the Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project and higher oil and LNG prices.

The energy and mining sectors are offsetting early gains for infotech and financial stocks, while a choppy overnight session on Wall Street has also kept the ASX subdued at the open.

Oil prices have fallen with US futures settling below $US70 a barrel for the first time in a month, after US crude stockpiles rose 6.5 million barrels, almost triple what analysts had forecast, while exports dropped.

Wall Street's major indexes have edged lower in a choppy session after the US Federal Reserve showed broad agreement on the need to raise borrowing costs further, cementing investor concerns that had cause a major sell-off the week before.

Gold prices have edged lower as the US dollar strengthened after minutes from the Federal Reserve's September meeting cemented expectations for more interest rate hikes by the US central bank.

The Australian share market has closed more than one per cent higher for the first time in four months, buoyed by banking stocks after a surge on Wall Street overnight.

A construction contracting company in Perth has vowed to fight legal action launched by the CFMEU over the alleged underpayment of a young worker on a temporary visa.

Australia is set to officially join a massive trade deal hailed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a golden businesses opportunity.

Optus could face a $10 million penalty after the consumer watchdog commenced court proceedings against the mobile firm for misleading customers over subscriptions to expensive and unwanted content.