AAP

The spot gold price is slightly higher following a brief increase on Tuesday after the US dollar backed down from a new 2018 high as worries hovered over the United States' decision to pull out of a key nuclear accord with Iran.

Two by-elections will take place in Western Australia in coming months, after a parliamentary inquiry into scandals involving Darling Range MP Barry Urban recommended his expulsion from parliament.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher ahead of the federal budget and US President Donald Trump's decision on the Iran nuclear deal.

Two of the three AMP directors standing for re-election at this week's annual general meeting have decided to resign, with the company's longest-serving director to follow.

The Australian share market has opened higher after Apple's sixth day of gains and a higher oil price helped lift Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is flat despite gains on Wall Street, trading in a tight range with the London Metals Exchange closed for a bank holiday.

Oil prices rose for the fourth straight day to hit levels not seen since late 2014, boosted by the latest trouble for Venezuelan oil company PDVSA and the possibility that the United States could re-impose sanctions on Iran.

Gold prices have slipped on Monday, snapping three days of gains as the US dollar index strengthened after last week's soft US jobs data did little to dampen optimism about the world's largest economy.

The Australian share market has ended Monday higher, after a positive Wall Street lead and booming oil prices led to early gains, particularly among mining and energy stocks.

Westpac has lifted first-half profit 5.8 per cent to $4.25 billion, helped by a mortgage book it says is fundamentally sound.

ANZ is aiming to clean up its financial planning with new measures that include firing planners who give customers inappropriate advice and removing all sales incentives from its bonus structures.

Australians shares have opened comfortably higher thanks to strong gains in some commodities and after US stocks were buoyed by the release of US employment data.

The Australian dollar has made some small gains on the back of stronger US stocks that were supported by weaker than expected US jobs and wages growth.

Oil prices rose about two per cent on Friday, with US crude hitting its highest in more than three years, as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new US sanctions against Iran.

Gold prices rose slightly on Friday as the US dollar backed off its highs, initially rising after US jobs data was weaker than expected. However the data was still strong enough to support the case for more interest rate increases.

The Australian share market has ended the week on a downbeat note with the big banks leading the losses.

Macquarie Group expects a steady year ahead after lifting full-year profit 15 per cent to a record $2.56 billion.

AMP has revealed almost 16,000 of its customers paid fees for financial advice they did not receive, while arguing it "strenuously denies" recommendations it face criminal charges over the scandal.

The Australian stock market has opened a touch higher after most base metals prices rose in offshore trade, and Wall Street put in another mixed performance.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the greenback's rally following the US Federal Reserve meeting runs out of steam.

Oil prices rose on Thursday, boosted by OPEC production cuts and the potential for new US sanctions against Iran, but gains were limited by growing US crude inventories.

Gold prices gained on Thursday, one day after the US central bank reassured investors that increases to interest rates would be gradual and as the US dollar softened, with geopolitical uncertainties also providing support.

A fifth straight day of gains, fuelled by miners, retailers and IT stocks, has taken the share market to a three-month high.

National Australia Bank is spinning-off its financial advice and superannuation businesses in a move it says has nothing to do with the "shameful" industry scandals heard by the royal commission.

Gains in oil and base metals prices have helped push the Australian share market higher, which is getting support from the energy, mining, and retail sectors.

The Australian dollar has followed Wall Street lower after the US Federal Reserve indicated that it is on track to raise its interest rate at its next policy meeting in June.

Oil prices strengthened slightly ahead of the settlement Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and expressed confidence that a recent rise in inflation would be sustained.

Gold prices extended their gains on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve's dovish remarks weakened the US dollar against a basket of currencies, yet bullion remained vulnerable to a possible rising greenback and weak investment demand.

Aboriginal communities in Western Australia's Kimberley region have had their native title rights recognised over 12,050 square kilometre of land on the Dampier Peninsula, including James Price Point.

A fourth straight day of gains has taken the Australian share market to its highest level in two months.

Woolworths has outpaced rival Coles' sales growth for a sixth consecutive quarter.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher despite falls in base metal prices and a mixed session on Wall Street with a promise of a record full-year profit from Qantas supporting industrial stocks.