AAP

Australian shares have opened flat with investors remaining cautious following the news US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin will visit China next week amid trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a new four month low as the US dollar rallies against most major currencies after US Treasury bonds broke the three per cent mark.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday despite data showing rising US inventories, holding within sight of three-year highs reached the previous day on geopolitical tensions including the prospect of fresh sanctions on Iran.

Gold prices slumped to a five-week low on Wednesday as the US dollar jumped and US Treasury yields continued to rise on signs of US economic strength and an easing in the US-China trade conflict.

The Australian share market gained ground as the Australian dollar hovered at a four-month low and inflation remained below the Reserve Bank's target range.

Iluka Resources has been served with a class action, with a group of shareholders alleging the mineral sands miner misled the market six years ago.

Perth's inflation rate was just 0.1 per cent in the March quarter, bringing the total increase in consumer prices in the past 12 months to just 0.9 per cent, well below the national inflation rate of 1.9 per cent.

The Australian share market has opened higher despite mixed leads from the US as optimism around global growth drives investors away from bonds and into shares.

US stocks have seen little changed with gains in industrial and health care stocks offsetting the impact from falling oil prices, as investors kept an eye on rising US bond yields.

Oil prices rebounded from an early slide to finish higher and strengthen further in post-settlement trade, as investors feared US sanctions could dampen Iran's output.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in over four months, dragged down by lower US stocks and metals prices, as well as higher US bond yields, which are supporting a higher US dollar.

The Australian share market has ended Monday's session higher, ignoring soft Wall Street leads with investors finding value in the big mining companies and the nation's largest lenders.

The upheaval at Perth Glory continues, with chief executive Peter Filopoulos the latest confirmed departure from the A-League club.

Australian shares have opened higher, buoyed by energy and mining stocks, despite negative leads from offshore markets.

Oil prices edged up on Friday, stabilising after an earlier slide driven by US President Donald Trump's criticism of OPEC's role in pushing up global oil prices.

The Australian dollar is lower, after Wall Street fell, dragged down by falls in technology stocks on nerves about upcoming earnings reports.

Gold prices eased on Friday as the US dollar advanced on expectations of higher US interest rates and market players grew a bit less worried about global political and security risks.

State governments have approved more detailed design work on the National Energy Guarantee to proceed at a Council of Australian Governments energy ministers meeting today, although Labor state leaders still have objections.

The Australian share market has closed modestly lower, largely due to losses from the heavyweight mining sector.

A construction contractor from Henderson-based Civmec has died while working on a wastewater treatment plant upgrade in Perth's south.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower with the miners leading falls after Wall Street and base metals prices weakened overnight.

AMP chief executive Craig Meller has quit the wealth management giant, becoming the first major casualty of the Financial Services Royal Commission.

The Australian dollar is lower after the release of disappointing local jobs figures on Thursday, and after Wall Street was dragged down by the tech stocks.

Oil prices peaked at highs not seen since 2014, built on the ongoing drawdowns in global supply and as Saudi Arabia looks to push prices higher, though US crude gave back gains in the afternoon to

Gold prices dipped on Thursday, breaking a string of gains for four successive sessions, in response to a decline in global political tensions.

The Australian share market closed higher for a fifth straight session, led by the mining and energy sectors, after commodity prices jumped on hopes of stronger economic activity in China, and low US oil stocks.

The Australian share market has opened higher after stronger commodities prices lifted BHP, Rio Tinto and shares in other miners.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has trimmed its full-year iron ore production guidance after being forced into unexpected dumper car maintenance.

The Australian dollar is higher after Wall Street and metals prices made gains, helped by strong rises in oil prices and energy stocks.

Oil futures jumped nearly three per cent on Wednesday on a decline in US crude inventories and after sources signalled top exporter Saudi Arabia wants to see the crude price closer to $US100 a barr

Gold prices rose to a one-week high on Wednesday on technical trading and some safe-haven demand even as the US dollar held on to gains and stocks rose on risk appetite.

The Australian share market notched a fourth straight session of gains, driven by strength in the energy, mining and retail sectors.