AAP

Gold has dipped slightly, easing off a one-week high as the US dollar rebounded following strong US retail sales data, while palladium rose to its highest since February 2001.

Oil prices have risen almost one per cent after a pipeline outage in Britain continued to support prices despite data expecting a global crude surplus in the beginning of next year.

Australia's ferocious short-ball assault and a controversial umpire's call have left England 4-175 at tea on the opening day of the third Ashes Test.

National Australia Bank says it will stop lending for new thermal coal mining projects, becoming the first major Australian bank to phase out support for the sector.

The share market has lost ground as gains for materials and energy companies were offset by falls in the utilities and property trust sectors, and the Australian dollar has been boosted by strong jobs growth.

Western Australia's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 per cent in November despite 8,500 jobs being created, while the national unemployment rate has remained unchanged even though the economy added far more jobs than expected in November.

The consumer watchdog plans to oppose the proposed takeover of Woolworths service stations by BP Australia, saying the deal would substantially lessen competition.

Australian shares are higher following cues from the US where the Federal Reserve's interest rate rise has buoyed Wall Street stocks.

Gold prices have hovered near their lowest in nearly five months as investors awaited an expected US interest rate increase and clues from the US Federal Reserve on its plans for further rises next year.

The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent higher against the greenback which has weakened after the Federal Reserve raised its interest rate, as expected, but left its outlook unchanged.

Oil prices have slipped for a second straight day, as a slump in US crude stockpiles was offset by a larger-than-forecast rise in petrol inventories and as US crude output continued to grow to record highs.

The share market has edged higher as the property sector was boosted by the $33 billion takeover of Westfield, and the consumer staples sector also rose.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe thinks bitcoin is mostly attractive to criminals and speculators but has acknowledged there could one day be an electronic Aussie dollar based on similar technology.

The Australian share market is holding on to gains as investors wait on the sidelines ahead of an expected interest rate rise by the US central bank.

The Australian dollar is higher against its US counterpart which itself has risen following strong economic data.

Oil prices have fallen sharply, as traders take profits after prices surged early to a two-year high on an unplanned closure of the pipeline that carries the largest North Sea crude oil grade.

Gold prices have retreated to a near five-month low as investors brace for a widely expected US interest rate increase this week and look for clues about further rises from the Federal Reserve.

Frank Lowy's Westfield Corporation has agreed to a takeover from European property giant Unibail-Rodamco in a deal worth $US25 billion.

The share market has been buoyed by strength in the heavyweight energy and mining sectors.

ANZ has agreed to sell its life and consumer credit insurance business OnePath Life to international insurance giant Zurich for $2.85 billion.

The Australian share market is moderately stronger in early trade amid solid gains from the big miners.

The Australian dollar is a little higher against its US counterpart which has remain unchanged.

Oil have risen, overcoming declines early in the session, after a North Sea pipeline shut for repairs and investors focused on commodities following an explosion in New York.

Gold has steadied below $US1,250 an ounce after its biggest weekly drop in more than six months as markets anticipated an interest rate risee from the US Federal Reserve this week.

Mineral Resources has launched a $484 million takeover bid for oil and gas group AWE amid the ongoing battle for control of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth.

The Australian share market ended the first trading day of the week slightly higher amid lower volumes ahead of this week's key data releases.

A joint venture between engineering groups Downer and Ausenco has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for OZ Minerals' Carrapateena copper gold project in South Australia.

Optus will compensate almost 9,000 customers after failing to provide them with the fast national broadband network speeds it promised.

The Australian share market has started higher as local investors build on the positive momentum from Wall Street on Friday.

The Australian dollar is a little lower against its US counterpart which has strengthened following strong US jobs data.

Oil prices have risen almost two per cent on Friday, helped by rising Chinese crude demand and threats of a strike in Africa's largest oil exporter.

Gold prices prices hovered above a four-month low on Friday and were on track for their biggest weekly fall since May after progress on US tax reform fuelled optimism about the US economy and boosted the dollar.