AAP

Oil prices fell 3 per cent on Thursday to the lowest in three months on concerns over the potential economic impact of the coronavirus that continues to spread worldwide, while the market also considered the possibility of an early OPEC meeting.

Gold prices rose overnight as concerns of a slowdown in global growth due to a virus outbreak in China weakened risk appetite among investors.

Australian stocks have closed lower as gains by financial and consumer staples sectors failed to offset losses among resources and health care shares.

Gold Road Resources shares rose by more than 11 per cent today after the company announced higher than expected cash generation from its Gruyere gold mine in Western Australia.

Insurance giant Suncorp Group expects the cost of three natural hazards in its second half to be capped at $300 million.

Nearmap shares sunk nearly 30 per cent after the aerial mapping company issued an earnings warning, saying it had lost two major clients in North America as mapping for the driverless car industry stalled.

Australian stocks remained in the doldrums at noon as gains in big banks and consumer staples failed to offset losses among resources and healthcare shares.

Oil prices were mixed overnight as worries about the coronavirus outbreak and swelling US crude inventories weighed on prices, counter-balanced by talk that OPEC could extend oil output cuts.

Gold gained overnight as worries over economic growth due to the fast-spreading coronavirus buoyed safe haven demand, with investors awaiting the US federal Reserve's monetary policy decision.

Australian shares have rebounded as global markets recovered from a sell-off sparked by concerns over the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Annual inflation has inched higher to 1.8 per cent for the December quarter - and at least one analyst expects the Reserve Bank will delay a rate cut.

Australian shares have rebounded after global markets recovered from a sell-off amid concerns about the deadly coronavirus epidemic.

Oil futures edged up overnight after falling for five days, gaining support from a rebound in Wall Street stocks and talk that OPEC and its allies might tighten the market amid fears the coronavirus could weigh on oil demand.

Gold fell overnight as equity markets rebounded following positive US economic data while the dollar scaled a near two-month peak ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting.

Australian shares have had their worst day of 2020 amid fears that the spread of the deadly coronavirus will infect global economic growth.

A ban on using mobile phones during school hours will start for all public school students in Western Australia and Victoria.

Australian shares remain down at noon amid fears the spread of the deadly coronavirus will infect global economic growth.

US stocks have suffered their worst day in over three months as China extended the Lunar New Year holiday due to a virus outbreak, fuelling worries about the economic impact of containment efforts in the world's second largest economy.

Crude prices dropped 2 per cent to three-month lows overnight as the death toll from China's coronavirus grew, clamping down on travel and fueling expectations of slowing oil demand.

Gold climbed to a near three-week high overnight as mounting concerns over the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak sent investors scurrying for safe havens.

Australian stocks have given up almost all of the day's gains, but are still on track for their best month in years.

Lynas Corporation posted a 7.4 per cent rise in quarterly revenue as higher demand for rare earth elements countered weaker prices and the miner said it was on track to get its processing licence renewed by Malaysia in March.

Australian stocks are higher as industrials bounced back despite continuing fears about the deadly virus outbreak in China.

Oil prices fell 2 per cent overnight on concern the spread of a virus from China could lower fuel demand if it stunts economic growth, but losses were limited by a drawdown in US crude inventories.

Gold rose overnight as scaling concerns over a coronavirus outbreak in China and its impact on global economy soured sentiments for riskier assets, propping up demand for the safe-haven asset.

Australian stocks have fallen for just the fourth time in 2020 after days of record highs amid profit warnings and concerns about the deadly virus outbreak in China.

The number of people working full time in Western Australia fell over December, but the state’s jobless rate improved by 0.3 percentage points to 5.4 per cent, according to latest employment figures.

A new Closing the Gap agreement is a step closer after peak indigenous groups met with the prime minister in Canberra.

Westpac has named "battle-hardened" banking veteran John McFarlane as its next chairman to help it recover from the fallout of a massive money laundering and child exploitation scandal.

Australian stocks were down across the board at noon after days of record highs amid profit warnings and concerns about the deadly virus outbreak in China.

Oil prices fell about 2 per cent overnight as a market surplus forecast by the International Energy Agency and demand worries amid the outbreak of a virus in China outweighed concern over disruptions to Libya's crude output.

Gold eased slightly overnight as risk sentiment recovered and the dollar held firm, but expectations of dovish monetary policy from global central banks capped bullion's losses and kept prices above the $US1,550 an ounce level.