AAP

trade talks with the United States but crude's gains were capped by forecasts of a build up in US stockpiles.

Gold steadied in a tight range overnight as investors adopted a cautious approach ahead of a crucial Brexit vote while focus shifted to the US Federal Reserve's stance on interest rate cuts.

The Australian share market has closed higher on positive signs for easing US-China trade tensions and a deal on Brexit.

Rio Tinto is studying ways to extract lithium from waste rock at a mine it controls in California, making it the latest company trying to produce the battery metal in the US for the fast-growing electric vehicle market.

Oil Search has posted a 24 per cent drop in quarterly revenue and cut its 2019 production guidance after damage to a mooring system dented output.

The owner of Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto says like-for-like sales have increased 3.2 per cent so far this financial year, but promotions to attract cautious consumers have hit margins.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher after a positive lead from overseas.

Oil prices fell nearly 1.0 per cent overnight after comments from a US official fed concerns surrounding the US-China trade conflict, adding to worries that a slowing global economy would reduce demand for oil.

Gold eased overnight on improved appetite for riskier assets, while investors awaited further clarity from the US Federal Reserve on more possible interest rate cuts this year.

The Australian share market has closed flat, boosted by the property sector and dragged by turmoil in tech stocks.

Afterpay Touch has described itself as a "marketing channel" whose service goes beyond payment processing after the Reserve Bank of Australia said it would look at whether action is needed to help retailers recover the cost of buy now, pay later services.

Oil prices edged lower on Friday as concerns about China's economy outweighed bullish signals from its refining sector but losses were limited on hopes for progress toward a US-China trade agreement.

Gold steadied on Friday, helped by a weaker US dollar, with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, uncertainties over US-China trade and fears of a global slowdown keeping bullion on track for a small weekly gain.

The Australian share market has fallen for a second day, with losses across the board as hopes dimmed for fourth cash rate cut.

Fortescue Metals Group has failed to overturn a native title ruling covering its Solomon iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

BHP shareholders are poised to reject a motion urging the world's biggest listed miner to suspend membership of some industry bodies judged to be at odds with goals to tackle climate change.

Oil prices rose about 1.0 per cent overnight after draws in US fuel inventories but gains were capped by a larger-than-expected rise in crude stockpiles and a series of weak economic figures.

Gold rose overnight as weak data from the United States rekindled fears of an economic slowdown and as concerns surfaced over possible risks to a new Brexit deal while supply-squeezed palladium continued its record run.

The Australian share market has slipped and the local currency gained as investors digested a surprise dip in the country's unemployment rate.

BHP says it will make a final investment decision on its long-delayed Jansen potash project by early 2021, and announced its South Flank iron ore project is now half complete.

The Morrison government wants to change native title laws to ensure hundreds of mining leases are no longer in limbo.

Oil rose about 1.4 per cent overnight, gaining support due to signs that OPEC and allied producers will continue to curb supplies in December, a weaker US dollar and as traders covered short positions ahead of an industry report on US crude inventories.

Gold rose overnight on concerns that a US House vote on Hong Kong could hamper trade negotiations between the country and China and as investors awaited a key Brexit summit but bullion's gains were overshadowed by deficit-hit palladium as it again set a record.

The Australian share market has finished higher for a fifth straight day, closing with its biggest gains in six-and-a-half weeks.

The Australian share market has jumped at the start of trading after a positive lead from Wall Street.

Worley has asked the Foreign Investment Review Board to look at "possible creeping acquisitions" by Beirut-headquartered Dar Group as the ASX-listed engineering and consulting firm aims to fend off a possible takeover by its largest shareholder.

Oil prices fell overnight as investors worried that the unrelenting US-China trade conflict would keep squeezing the global economy and that swelling US crude inventories would further pressure prices.

Gold fell 1.0 per cent overnight as growing risk appetite boosted investor demand for equities while a sustained supply crunch in palladium propelled the price of that precious metal to a record high.

The Australian share market has finished a touch higher despite stocks of media companies and retailers taking a hit amid reports their businesses are suffering.

There are concerns of a measles outbreak at a Fortescue Metals Group mine site in Western Australia after a case was confirmed.

Oil prices slumped more than 2.0 per cent overnight on worries that global crude demand could stay under pressure as a lack of details about the first phase of a US-China trade deal dimmed hopes for a quick resolution to the tariff fight.

Gold gained overnight as optimism over a potential US-China trade deal waned while palladium notched an all-time high driven by short supplies of the auto-catalyst metal.