AAP

An independent candidate for former foreign minister Julie Bishop's safe seat claims she is the victim of a "supposed hoax" involving fake opinion polling data and has refused to pull out of the election race.

Coles has lifted third-quarter food and liquor sales 2.1 per cent to $8 billion, boosted by its latest kid-focused collectables campaign.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised 1000 shipbuilding jobs at Henderson, and opposition leader Bill Shorten has pledged $75 million towards mining exploration, ahead of their debate tonight in Perth.

The Australian share market has opened lower despite Wall Street hitting new record highs, with the energy sector leading the losses.

Oil prices fell three per cent on Friday after US President Donald Trump again pressured the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to raise crude production to ease petrol prices.

Gold jumped to a near two-week high on Friday as the US dollar slipped on tepid US inflation data, outweighing an overall strong first-quarter growth report.

The Australian share market has been sapped of its recent bullishness during a thin day of trade, but the local bourse shook off a subdued resources sector to remain at a near 11-year high.

Flight Centre shares have dropped 12 per cent after Australia's biggest travel agency slashed its full-year profit guidance due to a weaker than expected performance in the local leisure market.

Federal Labor is calling on Environment Minister Melissa Price to explain why she approved a controversial uranium mine in Western Australia the day before the national election was called.

The Australian share market has opened lower after a pullback in oil prices and in the absence of a strong lead from Wall Street.

Oil prices have eased after Brent touched $US75 per barrel for the first time in nearly six months on the suspension of some Russian crude exports to Europe as investors second-guessed the market's ability to rally further.

Gold has risen to its highest in more than a week, supported by a slight retreat in the US dollar and a pullback in global equities as demand for riskier assets cooled.

Stalled inflation raised hopes of a rate cut and helped the Australian share market to an 11-year high, but the Aussie dollar is languishing at a near six-week low.

Consumer confidence has hit its highest point since December after last week's strong jobs data.

Vicinity Centres chairman Peter Hay will retire from the board of the shopping centre operator at the company's annual general meeting in August.

The Australian share market has opened strongly, with healthcare and tech stocks in the ascendancy after the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit record closing highs overnight.

Oil prices have hit their highest in about six months as sources said Gulf OPEC members were ready to raise output only if there was demand before offsetting any shortfall following a US decision to end waivers for buyers of Iranian crude.

Gold has slipped to a near four-month low as the US dollar gained and investors sought out riskier assets, dampening the safe-haven metal's appeal.

The Australian share market has surged through the 6300 barrier in the first trading session after the four-day Easter break, finishing at its highest point in eight months on a buoyant energy sect

Automotive Holdings Group has urged shareholders to sit tight on a $2.42 billion takeover offer from rival vehicle retailer AP Eagers, warning they may be disadvantaged if they agree to sell before the “highly conditional” deal is approved.

The Australian share market has continued to rise through the first trading session after the four-day Easter break, with board-based gains led by a surging energy sector.

Crude oil jumped almost three per cent Monday after the United States said it would take more steps to choke off Iranian oil exports, while US equities were mixed as Wall Street braced for corporate results in a busy earnings week.

US stocks have ended a low-volume trading session little changed, with the biggest gains in the energy sector as investors otherwise stayed on the sidelines ahead of quarterly earnings.

The Australian share market has closed marginally higher after a choppy day in which better than expected jobs numbers caused the local bourse to lose some of its midday gains.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has reported flat third-quarter iron ore shipments and cut its annual shipments forecast because of disruptions caused by a tropical cyclone.

National Australia Bank says it will cop an extra $525 million after-tax hit through new customer remediation costs, mostly related to its wealth arm.

South32 has reported a 37 per cent fall in its third-quarter coking coal production compared to the second quarter, as its continues to focus on keeping down costs at its Illawarra operation.

Woodside Petroleum has posted a four per cent rise in first-quarter revenue, as it earned more for its oil and gas.

The Australian share market has lifted in early trade thanks to a positive start for the heavyweight financial sector and energy stocks.

Crude have prices declined slightly as US government data showed inventories drew down less than an industry report had suggested on Tuesday.

Gold has fallen again, holding near the 2019 lows touched in the previous session, as economic growth data from China assuaged concerns about global growth and drove investors into riskier assets.

US stocks have ended slightly lower as a drop in healthcare shares overshadowed a string of positive corporate earnings and upbeat economic data from the United States and China.