Local stocks sink, led down by a rout in the energy sector as BHP plunges below $29 and Santos crashes, while the dollar dives again as NAB joins the rate-cut camp.

The Australian dollar is edging closer to a 70s-handle, dropping to a new four-year low of US82.35¢ on Tuesday on the back of poor business confidence figures and another major bank switching into the rate cut camp.

The Australian dollar dropped more than half a cent in short order to crash below 82 US cents, while a rally in energy stocks and miners have helped the ASX 200 snap - just - a six-day losing streak.

The long-time speechwriter for Qantas chief Alan Joyce warned she would 'go guerrilla' if the airline tried to stop her from writing a tell-all book about her time at Qantas.

Ten ASX companies have been recognised for their charitable giving with up to 65 per cent of employees at some companies donating to charity on a regular basis.