AAP

The Australian share market has finished flat as gains by the big banks outweighed falls in the energy and mining sector.

A father-of-two who stole almost $160,000 from his employer in Perth has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Newcrest Mining has posted a 22.2 per cent increase in annual profit, buoyed by robust gold and copper sales volumes from its flagship Cadia mine in NSW, while its Western Australian Telfer project also performed well.

Tim Worner's six years as Seven West Media chief executive have come to an abrupt end, with chairman Kerry Stokes saying "now is the time for change".

Oil prices fell more than 1.0 per cent overnight, extending the previous session's 3.0 per cent drop, pressured by mounting recession concerns and China's threat to impose counter-measures in retaliation for the latest US tariffs on $US300 billion of Chinese goods.

Gold prices rose overnight as lingering fears about a global economic downturn and lack of clarity on the US-China trade front kept the safe haven precious metal comfortably above the key $US1,500 per ounce mark.

The Australian share market has shed more than $63 billion in its worst day in 18 months amid a global market meltdown as investors worry a recession is near.

The owner of Rebel sports clothes stores and Supercheap Auto has recorded an 8.6 per cent increase in full-year profit to $139 million after pinning its hopes on what it calls a 'clicks-and-bricks' strategy.

Telstra has reported a 40 per cent fall in full-year profit to $2.15 billion and flagged another earnings squeeze next year as construction of the national broadband network nears completion.

Oil prices shed 3.0 per cent overnight after Chinese and European economic data revived global demand fears and US crude inventories rose unexpectedly for the second week in a row.

Gold rose more than 1.0 per cent overnight as an inverted US Treasury yield curve and weak euro zone data stoked fears of a global economic recession and drove investors toward safe-haven bullion.

The Australian share market has surged in its final half-hour of trading to close in positive territory despite some major companies going ex-dividend.

CSL's full-year profit has risen 11 per cent to $US1.92 billion ($A2.82 billion), driven by disease diagnosis and global demand for its immunoglobulin portfolio.

Oil prices overnight jumped by the most so far this year after the United States government said it would delay imposing a 10 per cent tariff on certain Chinese products, easing concerns over a global trade conflict that has pummelled markets in recent months.

Gold fell as much as 2.0 per cent in a reversal from six-year highs overnight after the United States government said it would delay tariffs on some Chinese products and on news that both sides agreed to continue trade talks.

The Australian share market has finished lower, led by losses in the health care and consumer discretionary sectors.

The Australian share market has opened lower following a negative lead from Wall Street, with the healthcare sector leading early losses.

Oil prices were little changed overnight as expectations that major producers would continue to reduce global supplies ran into worries about sluggish growth in crude demand due to the US-China trade conflict.

Gold prices rose overnight and stayed above the key $US1,500 per ounce psychological level as stock markets slipped on concerns about global economic growth and the US-China trade dispute, triggering safe haven bids.

The Australian share market has finished up slightly, with a lifting in healthcare and consumer discretionary shares outweighing losses for the mining sector.

JB Hi-Fi shares have surged after the electronics and whitegoods retailer lifted full-year profit 7.1 per cent to $249.8 million and tipped more to come.

Nine looks set to take sole ownership of Macquarie Media, with an offer unveiled on Monday that values the 6PR, 2GB and 3AW talk radio owner at $275.4 million.

The Australian share market has opened lower after the heavyweight mining sector started the day in firmly negative territory.

Oil prices rose more than $US1 a barrel on Friday, supported by a drop in European inventories and OPEC output cuts despite the International Energy Agency reporting demand growth at its lowest since the financial crisis of 2008.

Gold prices steadied on Friday, on course for their best week in over three years, as interest rate cut-inclined central banks, escalating US-China trade tensions and negative debt yields around the globe kept prices close to $US1,500 per ounce.

The Australian share market has finished with modest gains to close out its worst week since November.

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe believes the nation's economy may have reached a "gentle turning point", paving the way for growth to pick up again next year.

Oil jumped more than two per cent overnight on expectations that falling prices could lead to production cuts, coupled with a steadying of the yuan currency after a week of turmoil spurred by an escalation in US-China trade tensions.

Gold edged down overnight as stock markets recovered, the US dollar strengthened and traders locked in profits after bullion surged past $US1,500 to a more than six-year high in the previous session.

The Australian share market has risen for a second day as US-China trade tensions eased and Chinese trade data beat expectations.

AMP has posted a $2.29 billon first-half loss on the back of a $2.35 billion impairment ahead of a large-scale overhaul of its slimmed down operations.

The Australian share market has opened lower as the heavyweight financial sector fell almost one per cent.