AAP

The Australian share market has taken a dive in early trade ahead of data that will show how badly the coronavirus lockdown is affecting households.

Gold dropped about 2.0 per cent on Friday after President Donald Trump's new guidelines to reopen the US economy and encouraging early data related to a potential COVID-19 treatment drove investors towards riskier assets.

Oil prices were mixed on Friday, with weak Chinese economic figures and rapidly filling US crude storage offsetting bullishness built on US President Donald Trump's outlines for the US economy to emerge from the coronavirus shutdown.

The Australian share market has finished higher across nearly all sectors, clawing back its losses from the last two days and narrowly missing closing at a new one-month high.

Mobile phone tracking software could be compulsory if not enough Australians voluntarily download the application to help in coronavirus case tracing.

Rio Tinto is maintaining its 2020 production guidance for ore, bauxite, alumina and aluminium but expects mined and refined copper to drop further amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Brisbane-based jewellery group Michael Hill has suffered an 11.9 per cent dive in third quarter revenue across its global network after it closed shopfronts due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian share market has risen in early trade following a strong overnight performance by US giants Amazon and Netflix and ahead of looming Chinese GDP data.

Gold fell after climbing 1.3 per cent overnight, as safe-haven demand weakened after US jobless claims rose less than a week ago and hopes grew for an easing of coronavirus-led curbs.

Oil prices were mixed overnight, as Brent crude rose modestly while US futures ended unchanged at an 18-year-low after some European countries said they would relax coronavirus restrictions even though OPEC lowered its global oil demand forecast.

Australian shares have trimmed earlier losses following a better-than-expected March jobs report but the market still closed in the red.

One of Western Australia's biggest employers, Crown Resorts, has stood down 95 per cent of its national workforce due to coronavirus restrictions affecting its casinos and hospitality venues in Perth and Melbourne.

Australian shares have recorded sharp early losses as global equities sour and a likely bleak unemployment figure looms.

US crude prices fell to an 18-year low and Brent lost more than 6.0 per cent after the United States reported its biggest weekly inventory build on record, while global demand is expected to fall to quarter-century lows due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gold prices have fallen, a day after scaling over seven-year highs, as the dollar firmed and investors booked profits, although concerns of a global recession put a floor under prices.

The Australian share market has pulled back after two days of gains, as lower oil prices dragged down energy producers and as warnings mounted of worsening economic conditions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lynas Corp has applied to the Malaysian government for an exemption from some coronavirus-led curbs as reduced work levels drove an 18 per cent drop in the miner's third-quarter rare earths oxides output.

Scott Morrison has reignited the debate over what schools should be doing during the coronavirus crisis.

The Australian share market has followed Wall Street higher at the start of trade even as warnings mount of worsening unemployment and economic conditions because of the coronavirus fallout.

Oil prices have dropped sharply, with US prices sliding back toward $US20 a barrel, as investors bet that fuel demand destruction caused by the coronavirus pandemic would be too much for producers embarking on record global output cuts to offset.

Gold soared nearly 2.0 per cent to hit its highest since late 2012, with investors rushing to the safety of bullion as the coronavirus ravaged economies worldwide and triggered the rollout of huge stimulus plans.

A gold price surge and strong gains for Afterpay have propelled the Australian share market to its best levels in a month in a volatile post-Easter session.

Insurance giant QBE is embarking on a $US825 million ($A1.3 billion) raising to build a buffer against the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Qantas and Virgin are closing in on a multi-million dollar deal with the federal government to support flights between capital cities.

Westpac's money laundering scandal could blow a $1.03 billion hole in its first-half cash profit, with the bank setting aside an eye-watering $900 million for a potential legal penalty.

The Australian share market has fallen on its return from the Easter break following a mixed overnight session on Wall Street.

Oil prices were mixed as the historic production-cut deal inked by major global oil producers was not enough to assuage existing worries about the demand destruction brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Investors have flocked to the safe-haven metal on fears of a coronavirus blow to the global economy and US corporate earnings.

The Australian share market has finished the week with gains across the board on hopes the coronavirus crisis might be easing in the hardest-hit areas.

The Australian share market has surged at the open after US stocks were buoyed by hopes the coronavirus outbreak is reaching a peak.

Oil futures strengthened late in the session, buoyed by hopes that OPEC and its allies will strike a production cut agreement on Thursday.

Gold prices held steady as investors awaited the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting, which is expected to provide further clues on stimulus measures amid rapid surge in coronavirus cases.