AAP

Gold fell after climbing 1.3 per cent overnight, as safe-haven demand weakened after US jobless claims rose less than a week ago and hopes grew for an easing of coronavirus-led curbs.

Oil prices were mixed overnight, as Brent crude rose modestly while US futures ended unchanged at an 18-year-low after some European countries said they would relax coronavirus restrictions even though OPEC lowered its global oil demand forecast.

Australian shares have trimmed earlier losses following a better-than-expected March jobs report but the market still closed in the red.

One of Western Australia's biggest employers, Crown Resorts, has stood down 95 per cent of its national workforce due to coronavirus restrictions affecting its casinos and hospitality venues in Perth and Melbourne.

Australian shares have recorded sharp early losses as global equities sour and a likely bleak unemployment figure looms.

US crude prices fell to an 18-year low and Brent lost more than 6.0 per cent after the United States reported its biggest weekly inventory build on record, while global demand is expected to fall to quarter-century lows due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gold prices have fallen, a day after scaling over seven-year highs, as the dollar firmed and investors booked profits, although concerns of a global recession put a floor under prices.

The Australian share market has pulled back after two days of gains, as lower oil prices dragged down energy producers and as warnings mounted of worsening economic conditions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lynas Corp has applied to the Malaysian government for an exemption from some coronavirus-led curbs as reduced work levels drove an 18 per cent drop in the miner's third-quarter rare earths oxides output.

Scott Morrison has reignited the debate over what schools should be doing during the coronavirus crisis.

The Australian share market has followed Wall Street higher at the start of trade even as warnings mount of worsening unemployment and economic conditions because of the coronavirus fallout.

Oil prices have dropped sharply, with US prices sliding back toward $US20 a barrel, as investors bet that fuel demand destruction caused by the coronavirus pandemic would be too much for producers embarking on record global output cuts to offset.

Gold soared nearly 2.0 per cent to hit its highest since late 2012, with investors rushing to the safety of bullion as the coronavirus ravaged economies worldwide and triggered the rollout of huge stimulus plans.

A gold price surge and strong gains for Afterpay have propelled the Australian share market to its best levels in a month in a volatile post-Easter session.

Insurance giant QBE is embarking on a $US825 million ($A1.3 billion) raising to build a buffer against the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Qantas and Virgin are closing in on a multi-million dollar deal with the federal government to support flights between capital cities.

Westpac's money laundering scandal could blow a $1.03 billion hole in its first-half cash profit, with the bank setting aside an eye-watering $900 million for a potential legal penalty.

The Australian share market has fallen on its return from the Easter break following a mixed overnight session on Wall Street.

Oil prices were mixed as the historic production-cut deal inked by major global oil producers was not enough to assuage existing worries about the demand destruction brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Investors have flocked to the safe-haven metal on fears of a coronavirus blow to the global economy and US corporate earnings.

The Australian share market has finished the week with gains across the board on hopes the coronavirus crisis might be easing in the hardest-hit areas.

The Australian share market has surged at the open after US stocks were buoyed by hopes the coronavirus outbreak is reaching a peak.

Oil futures strengthened late in the session, buoyed by hopes that OPEC and its allies will strike a production cut agreement on Thursday.

Gold prices held steady as investors awaited the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting, which is expected to provide further clues on stimulus measures amid rapid surge in coronavirus cases.

The Australian share market has dipped in the final minutes of trade to close lower, with the banking sector suffering the most after an APRA suggestion to suspend their dividends and a downgrade to their credit ratings.

A major global credit rating agency has put a dampener on the federal parliament's likely passing of a $130 billion stimulus package aimed at supporting the economy through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Morrison government has ruled out lifting the rate of GST to pay for the billions of spending in its attempt to curb the impact of the coronavirus on the economy.

Wage subsidies designed to save six million jobs are one step closer after passing the first hurdle of a scaled-back federal parliament.

The Australian share market has plunged at the open on heavy losses for the big banks after an APRA suggestion to suspend their dividends and a downgrade to their credit ratings.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and allied oil producers will agree to deep cuts to their crude output at talks this week only if the United States and several others join in with curbs to help prop up prices that have been hammered by the coronavirus crisis.

Gold prices have fallen over 1.0 per cent, retreating from a near one-month high hit earlier in the session, as signs of slowdown in coronavirus cases in major epicenters boosted equity markets, drawing away some of the bullion's safe-haven appeal.

The Australian share market has been unable to sustain its early gains, closing down after officials in the US ruled out a return to normalcy until a coronavirus vaccine is found.