AAP

The Australian dollar is a tad lower against its US counterpart which has continued to weaken.

Gold was on track for its fourth straight session of gains on Thursday as the US dollar slid to its lowest in two weeks on concerns about the impact of high U.S debt levels and tax cuts.

The share market has posted its best session in seven months due to positive half-year earnings results and strong gains for the miners and the energy producers.

Western Australia's electoral system has become stuck in the past amid outdated legislation and a lack of funding, a parliamentary inquiry into the 2017 state election has found.

Telstra has cut its dividend after the telecommunications provider's first-half profit fell almost 5 per cent to $1.7 billion.

Gold producers Newcrest Mining and Evolution Mining reported lower profits for the first half of the financial year, with Newcrest also disclosing the Telfer mine had a negative cash flow of $9 million for the period.

South32 has lifted its shareholder payout after improving its first-half underlying profit on the back of stronger commodities prices.

Ride-hailing giant Uber's full-year net loss widened to $US4.5 billion in 2017 as the company endured a tumultuous year that included multiple scandals, a lawsuit alleging the theft of trade secrets, and the replacement of its CEO.

The Australian share market is sharply higher in early trade after gains of more than one per cent on US markets overnight and amid a plethora of ASX-listed company results.

The Australian dollar has jumped above 79 US cents with the US currency remaining weak after US inflation figures came in higher than expected.

Oil prices have rebounded after US crude stocks rose less than expected and Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said major oil producers would prefer tighter markets than to end supply cuts too early.

Gold prices have climbed nearly two per cent, rebounding from early losses that followed stronger-than-expected US inflation data, as the dollar surrendered gains and equities swung higher.

The Australian share market weakened as caution ahead of the release of key US inflation data outweighed better than expected earnings reports from several companies.

Myer chief executive Richard Umbers has been forced to resign, but the board is sticking with his turnaround strategy.

A tieback of the Scarborough field into the Pluto LNG plant could well be the next major energy development in Western Australia, after Woodside Petroleum announced a deal to increase its stake in the field.

Australian shares are slightly higher in lacklustre early trade as investors turn cautious ahead of key US data and a slew of local earnings.

The Australian dollar has slipped against a weakened US counterpart, but still remains above 78 US cents.

Oil prices are flat, bouncing back from an early slide as the US dollar fell to a one-week low, which encouraged buying of US dollar-denominated crude at session lows.

Gold prices have risen as the US dollar has slipped and markets anticipate the release of impending US inflation data that may offer some clues on the pace of future Federal Reserve interest rate increases.

The Australian share market has closed higher following gains on Wall Street and as several companies reported profit growth.

BHP Billiton will include an income tax expense of $US1.8 billion in its half-year accounts due to a cut to corporate income tax rates in the US.

Transurban has racked up a near fourfold increase in first-half profit and the toll road operator is looking for more to come, thanks to US President Donald Trump's planned infrastructure splurge.

Three of Australia's big four banks have begun rolling out their new $1 billion payment system that allows customers to transfer funds between rival institutions in near real-time.

Australian shares are modestly higher in early trade after Wall Street's Dow closed sharply higher as US equities rose for a second consecutive session.

The Australian dollar is back above 78 US cents as the US dollar's rise falters and it slips amid an equity rebound.

Oil prices have risen, beginning to recoup some of last week's steep losses as global equities have steadied following their biggest one-week decline in two years.

Gold prices have risen as the US dollar has eased, but gains are expected to be muted ahead of inflation data from the United States later this week that could mean US interest rates rise faster than expected.

The Australian share market has closed lower but did claw back some earlier losses as the Dow Jones futures index pointed to a possible positive session on US markets tonight.

JB Hi-Fi shares have slumped despite a big lift in first-half profit, after the home electronics and entertainment retailer warned of margin pressures and issued lower-than-expected guidance.

Congestion on the national broadband network has eased as more customers turn to higher speed plans after rollout company NBN Co slashed its top speed packages last year.

Despite a stronger lead out of the US, Australian shares have slipped sharply in early trade as reporting season begins in earnest and Asian markets brace for more volatility.

Gold has slipped, under pressure from a firmer US dollar and worries about rising global interest rates, but still found some support as a safe-haven asset as world stock markets fell.