AAP

Investor optimism for a reopened economy has prompted gold to ease from its highest price in nearly two weeks.

Australian shares have finished higher, with retailers buoyant after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the National Cabinet disclosed a roadmap to reopen the country for business.

Macquarie Group has halved its dividend after reporting an 8 per cent drop in full year profit, and said challenging market conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic make it hard to predict its fi

Telstra will take a $300 million impairment charge on its 35 per cent stake in Foxtel after the majority owner of the pay TV network, News Corp, wrote down its value.

Australia will get a three-stage plan for easing coronavirus restrictions with states and territories to change gears at different paces.

Australian shares have posted a solid rise in early trading, with energy and property stocks leading the gains.

Oil prices slipped overnight as global supply and demand worries erased earlier gains seen from an increase in Saudi Arabia's official crude selling price and a surprise rise in Chinese exports last month.

Gold jumped 2 per cent overnight after a string of weak economic data, including surging unemployment in the United States, heightened fears over a coronovirus-induced global downturn, while investors turned their attention to nonfarm payrolls for further cues.

The Australian share market has dipped modestly for a second day as oil prices slid, even as a surging trade surplus bolstered the mining sector.

The proposed merger between Vodafone Australia and TPG Telecom has received the green light from the Foreign Investment Review Board, taking it another step closer to completion.

Refiner and fuel retailer Caltex Australia is seeing a slump in fuel demand amid widespread social restrictions and business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian share market has slipped more than 0.5 per cent in early trade after a weak lead from US markets overnight.

Oil dropped 4 per cent overnight to below $US30 a barrel as US crude stockpiles ticked up and diesel inventories swelled, offsetting OPEC-led cuts in production and hopes for a recovery in demand as some countries ease coronavirus lockdowns.

Gold fell more than 1 per cent overnight, pressured by a stronger dollar and expectations that gold supplies will grow as bullion refineries resume operations, and on gradual improvement in investor risk appetite as countries have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions.

The Australian share market has snapped its two-day winning streak, falling modestly as its range-bound trading continues for another week.

Retail spending in Western Australia increased by 9.9 per cent in March as consumers stockpiled food, home and office supplies, resulting in some retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, posting a strong quarter.

Shares have dipped in early trade on the ASX after US markets retracted late in the session overnight.

Oil prices soared overnight as some European and Asian countries along with several US states began to ease coronavirus lockdown measures.

Gold steadied above $US1,700 an ounce overnight, as massive global stimulus measures to ease the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic offset improved risk sentiment on the back of easing restrictions and lockdowns.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has chosen to keep interest rates unchanged today at 0.25 per cent, despite news of over 1 million job losses nationwide and a 48.5 per cent drop in car sales.

The Australian share market has risen by more than one per cent for a second straight day as sentiment cautiously improved for the country's economic prospects.

Outdoor wear retailer Kathmandu has seen a surge in online sales in April but will open most of its stores in Australia by the end of this week as strict restrictions for COVID-19 are eased.

Qantas has extended the suspension of most of its domestic and trans-Tasman flights until the end of June, and for international flights until the end of July.

Australian shares have risen in early trade with the big miners and banks are all trading higher.

Oil was up 3 per cent overnight as more countries announced they would begin easing coronavirus lockdowns and as crude supply cuts by the world's top producing nations and companies take hold.

Gold rose overnight as brewing tensions between the United Sates and China over the novel coronavirus outbreak kindled fears of a new trade war and had investors seeking safe havens.

The Australian share market has demonstrated its resilience, reversing its early losses of as much as 1.4 per cent to finish higher by a similar amount and start the week off on a positive note.

Westpac has joined rival ANZ in deciding to not pay an interim dividend to shareholders after it posted a first-half profit slide because of hefty impairment charges related mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian shares have fallen by about 0.6 per cent on average in early trade, with most sectors trading lower.

US President Donald Trump's threat to impose new tariffs on China has helped gold prices climb by more than one per cent but bullion was on track for its worst week since mid-March.

Oil producers should start the week buoyant after two industry benchmarks posted their first weekly gains in four weeks as OPEC and its allies cut output to tackle a supply glut from the coronavirus crisis.

The Australian share market has suffered its worst day in five weeks as traders continue to sell any rallies.