Australian shares have dipped following a sharp sell-off in the major banks, after disappointing earnings from their US counterparts highlighted the challenging backdrop for financial institutions.

Larvotto Resources has shipped its first antimony concentrate from the Hillgrove mine, triggering first revenue and marking its transition from explorer to producer.

TMK Energy has kicked off a drilling and re-completion program at its Mongolian Gurvantes XXXV gas project to boost production from existing pilot wells.

Labor is pushing ahead with a 20 per cent local gas-reservation policy to lower energy prices, defying warnings from energy giants that it will stunt new investment.

The radio station has nabbed its big fish, with an interview with the disgraced special forces soldier now waiting for an opportune day to go live.

Moonlight Resources has tabled a near-surface exploration target of up to 662,000oz gold across three prospects at its Qld Clermont project, prompting a 13,000m drilling program.

PLC Resources will harness satellite surveys at its Abbotts gold project in WA to map gold-related alteration and structures, sharpening gold target discovery.

Aureka Ltd has extended its Irvine gold project in Victoria, hitting two high-grade zones 725m north of its existing 398,000-ounce resource in a first-pass scout hole.

Governments and Wall Street titans are borrowing at record rates. The ramifications could be catastrophic.