AAP

US stocks have fallen at the open as an increase in tensions between Western powers and Saudi Arabia added to worries over rising borrowing costs and the impact of tariffs, following the main three indexes' biggest weekly declines in over seven months.

Gold has risen to its highest level in two and a half months as a slide in global stock markets, exacerbated by mounting tensions between Western powers and Saudi Arabia, forced investors to find safety and unwind some bearish bets in the metal.

Oil prices have steadied, supported by geopolitical tension over the disappearance of a Saudi journalist that has stoked worries about supplies from the world's top crude exporter, but weighed by concern over long-term demand outlook.c

Overseas weakness has proven to be a drag on the Australian share market, with the benchmark index falling to a six-month low led by losses in banking and mining stocks.

Coles' supermarket sales have jumped during the first quarter, with parent company Wesfarmers citing a successful 'Little Shop' campaign, and investment in flybuys promotions, as preparations continue for a vote on the chain's proposed demerger.

An already-bruised Australian share market is ignoring a lead from Wall Street and a commodity price rebound to dive lower at the open, with the banks and miners weighing heavily amid broad-based losses.

Crude futures have steadied late in the session, following the stock market slightly higher, after earlier swinging lower on a weakening oil demand outlook.

Gold prices have eased after their biggest daily gain in more than two years, coming under pressure as the US dollar climbed and global stocks rebounded from a six-day rout.

The Australian share market has finished flat after its worst trading week in almost three years.

The Australian share market was lower at midday, dragged down by the big banks and energy stocks hit by plunging oil prices.

Wall Street indexes continued their slide in a volatile session as investors worried about rising interest rates and braced for a trade war hit to corporate earnings.

Oil prices have slumped to more than two-week lows as global stock markets fall, with investor sentiment made more bearish by a bigger-than-expected build in US crude inventories.

Gold prices have jumped over two per cent to more than a two-month high as tumbling global stock markets sent investors rushed to the safe-haven asset.

A host of WA gold miners including Evolution Mining, Saracen Mineral Holdings and Regis Resources registered strong gains today, as the broader market suffered its second worst day of the year.

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn has spoken face-to-face with customers affected by the kind of misconduct revealed at the banking royal commission.

Wesfarmers has appointed a new managing director to run office supplies business Officeworks, with Sarah Hunter from Coles stepping into the role.

The Australian share market has plunged at the open, with every sector deep in the red following Wall Street's overnight tumble.

US stocks have tumbled, with the S&P 500 and the Dow marking their biggest daily declines since February 8 and technology stocks were at the centre of the carnage as rising US Treasury yields sent investors fleeing from risky assets.

Oil prices dropped two per cent overnight as US equity markets broadly fell, even though energy traders worried about shrinking Iranian supply from US sanctions and kept an eye on Hurricane Michael, which closed some US Gulf of Mexico oil output.

Gold prices inched up as investors sought refuge in the metal after the dollar weakened and global stocks tumbled on the back of rising bond yields.

Shares in Perth-based education services provider Navitas closed 21.8 per cent higher today after the company received an indicative takeover proposal from consortium that includes founder and director Rod Jones.

A surprising turnaround has seen the Australian market finish the day higher on the back of healthcare and telco stocks as the financial sector shrugged off leftover jitters from Wall Street.

Australian company Lion Dairy and Drinks, which owns WA dairy business Masters, is up for sale by its Japanese owners following a month-long review.

Commonwealth Bank and its wealth management arm Colonial First State have been hit by a class action law suit over allegedly uncompetitive superannuation returns.

Healthcare, Telstra and commodity-based shares are doing their best to lift the Australian market after a flat opening, but lingering unease from Wall Street, and losses for the big banks, have prevented significant gains.

Gold remained steady as pressure from the US dollar's strength and a bullish rate outlook was balanced by falling stock markets.

Oil prices have risen about one per cent on growing evidence of falling Iranian crude exports before the imposition of new US sanctions, as well as a partial production shutdown in the Gulf of Mexico because of Hurricane Michael.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq have risen on Tuesday, boosted by a rebound in technology stocks, but gains, including on the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, were kept in check by concerns on slowing global growth.

Australian stocks have put in another weak performance as healthcare and other global sectors caused the ASX to lag, hovering just above 6000 percentage points at the close for the second day.

West Australian Supreme Court judge Joseph McGrath and former Australian Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs have been appointed to lead the federal government's aged care royal commission, which is expected to take 18 months.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government can use its migration powers to force people towards regional areas instead of Sydney and Melbourne.

A global sell-off has pushed Australian shares lower again at the open, with healthcare and energy shares dragging on the market, and the banks and miners flat.