AAP

Oil prices rose about two per cent on Friday, with US crude hitting its highest in more than three years, as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new US sanctions against Iran.

Gold prices rose slightly on Friday as the US dollar backed off its highs, initially rising after US jobs data was weaker than expected. However the data was still strong enough to support the case for more interest rate increases.

The Australian share market has ended the week on a downbeat note with the big banks leading the losses.

Macquarie Group expects a steady year ahead after lifting full-year profit 15 per cent to a record $2.56 billion.

AMP has revealed almost 16,000 of its customers paid fees for financial advice they did not receive, while arguing it "strenuously denies" recommendations it face criminal charges over the scandal.

The Australian stock market has opened a touch higher after most base metals prices rose in offshore trade, and Wall Street put in another mixed performance.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the greenback's rally following the US Federal Reserve meeting runs out of steam.

Oil prices rose on Thursday, boosted by OPEC production cuts and the potential for new US sanctions against Iran, but gains were limited by growing US crude inventories.

Gold prices gained on Thursday, one day after the US central bank reassured investors that increases to interest rates would be gradual and as the US dollar softened, with geopolitical uncertainties also providing support.

A fifth straight day of gains, fuelled by miners, retailers and IT stocks, has taken the share market to a three-month high.

National Australia Bank is spinning-off its financial advice and superannuation businesses in a move it says has nothing to do with the "shameful" industry scandals heard by the royal commission.

Gains in oil and base metals prices have helped push the Australian share market higher, which is getting support from the energy, mining, and retail sectors.

The Australian dollar has followed Wall Street lower after the US Federal Reserve indicated that it is on track to raise its interest rate at its next policy meeting in June.

Oil prices strengthened slightly ahead of the settlement Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and expressed confidence that a recent rise in inflation would be sustained.

Gold prices extended their gains on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve's dovish remarks weakened the US dollar against a basket of currencies, yet bullion remained vulnerable to a possible rising greenback and weak investment demand.

Aboriginal communities in Western Australia's Kimberley region have had their native title rights recognised over 12,050 square kilometre of land on the Dampier Peninsula, including James Price Point.

A fourth straight day of gains has taken the Australian share market to its highest level in two months.

Woolworths has outpaced rival Coles' sales growth for a sixth consecutive quarter.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher despite falls in base metal prices and a mixed session on Wall Street with a promise of a record full-year profit from Qantas supporting industrial stocks.

Labor MP Tim Hammond has announced his resignation from federal parliament due to the job's toll on his family, with Labor's state secretary Patrick Gorman tipped to be the party's candidate at the upcoming by-election in the seat of Perth.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in almost a year after metals prices lost ground overnight.

Oil prices slid more than one per cent on Tuesday as the US dollar remained near a four-month high, but worries that US President Donald Trump will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal underpinned the market.

Gold slid to a four-month low on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened ahead of a US Federal Reserve policy meeting that is being watched for clues on the future pace of interest rate hikes.

A surge in support for the banks - despite a highly critical regulator's report on failings at the nation's biggest lender - has led the Australian share market to close above 6,000 points for the first time since February.

The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate unchanged at 1.5 per cent, with RBA governor Philip Lowe continuing to worry about weak household spending and sluggish wages growth.

The export company embroiled in a live trade furore, sparked by footage of animals dying on a voyage to the Middle East, has resumed shipments.

The export company embroiled in a live trade furore, sparked by footage of animals dying on a voyage to the Middle East, has resumed shipments.

Former Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese is facing fresh allegations related to the mining giant's disclosures about its disastrous $US4 billion African coal investment.

ANZ has reported a 16 per cent fall in first-half cash profit to $2.88 billion as it continues to cast off units and refocus on its domestic business.

Commonwealth Bank will have to hold an extra $1 billion in minimum capital after the banking regulator said large profits had blinded the lender to threats such as the money-laundering scandal that ended the tenure of its CEO.

The Australian share market is modestly higher as gains by the energy sector offsets modest falls across the healthcare and the retail sectors.

Oil prices rose on Monday, bouncing off early losses after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had proof that "Iran lied" about its nuclear capabilities, and that he was sure US President Donald Trump would do "the right thing" in reviewing the country's nuclear deal with western powers.