AAP

The Australian share market has rallied by more than 4 per cent, with all sectors posting gains as the COVID-19 epidemic showed some signs of plateauing in Europe.

The announced closure of several regional newspapers has prompted the release of $5 million in federal government funding to "help keep local communities informed" during the coronavirus crisis.

Virus-cruelled travel firm Flight Centre is tapping investors for $700 million as business grinds to a halt amid widespread travel bans and shutdowns.

Australian shares have surged at the start of a new week despite a weak lead from virus-rattled overseas markets.

Global benchmark oil prices are expected to open lower as a dispute between top crude exporters Russia and Saudi Arabia raises concerns of another collapse in talks to curb production at a meeting this week.

Gold prices edged higher after gloomy US nonfarm payrolls data magnified the economic toll from the coronavirus, although a stronger dollar capped bullion's advance.

The Australian share market has given up all of its strong early gains and then some, falling by more than 1.5 per cent for a second day.

Retail spending increased more sharply than expected in February thanks to a surge in spending on basic necessities in supermarkets and department stores.

An overnight oil price surge has fuelled a strong open for the Australian sharemarket, with big energy stocks climbing by as much as 18 per cent.

Crude prices posted their biggest-one day gains on record after President Donald Trump said he expects Russia and Saudi Arabia to announce a major oil production cut, and Saudi state media said the kingdom was calling an emergency meeting of producers to deal with the market turmoil.

The Australian share market has dropped again amid increasingly dire warnings about how bad the coronavirus crisis could get in the United States.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has further bolstered its coronavirus support for home loan and credit card customers.

Westpac has permanently appointed Peter King as chief executive on a $2.4 million salary with incentives.

The Australian share market has lurched back into the red after US stocks were hammered overnight on warnings of a mounting coronavirus death toll.

Oil prices have fallen after US crude inventories rose last week by the most since 2016, while gasoline demand suffered its biggest weekly drop ever due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gold prices firmed as investors sought safe-haven assets after sombre US economic data exacerbated fears of an economic downturn amid increasing lockdowns and other restrictions globally to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian share market has rallied as coronavirus-fuelled volatility continues, even as the Reserve Bank released minutes showing members were worried about the likelihood of a recession.

Online travel agency Webjet will raise $275 million and retailer Kathmandu Holdings will raise $201 million, to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses.

Hundreds of emergency flights will send fresh produce to key export markets in a bid to help Australian farmers and fishers under economic pressure due to the coronavirus.

The Australian share market has opened two per cent higher as coronavirus-fuelled volatility continues.

Gold prices dipped over 2.0 per cent to their lowest level in a week as the US dollar firmed, but the metal was on track for a sixth straight quarterly rise on concerns about the global economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Crude oil benchmarks ended a volatile quarter with their biggest losses in history, as both US and Brent futures were hammered throughout March on the global economic freeze due to the coronavirus pandemic and the eruption of a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The wild ride for the Australian share market has continued with a 330-point swing that turned its early strong gains into an afternoon loss.

Western Australians who don't comply with self-isolation directions will have an electric device installed in their homes or be warned under new laws to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Wesfarmers expects to make a $130 million pre-tax profit after selling down another lot of shares in supermarket giant Coles to shore up its balance sheet.

The Australian share market has gained more than three per cent as its buoyant mood resumes following its best ever session.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude plunged to its cheapest in almost 18 years overnight and US crude briefly tumbled below $US20 per barrel on growing fears the global coronavirus shutdown could last months and demand for fuel will decline further.

Gold prices inched up on Monday after an extension of restrictions in the United States exacerbated concerns about the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic, driving investors to safe-haven assets.

UPDATED: Woodside Petroleum has dropped plans for a 14-week fly-in, fly-out roster after presenting the option to its staff, opting instead for a less radical change as the oil and gas giant, along with mining companies, seeks to reduce the amount of travel to its remote sites.

The Australian share market has rallied hard in its final minutes for its best day ever after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government's fiscal stimulus measures.

An 11th hour agreement has resulted in 29 passengers from the Artania cruise ship who have tested positive for COVID-19 being transferred to Joondalup Health Campus, after earlier proposals to shift them to Hollywood Private Hospital, the Mount Hospital and Bethesda Health Care were criticised.

Australian banks will extend the six-month deferral of loans to 30,000 more businesses to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.