AAP

The Australian market has opened comfortably higher following mainly positive early earnings reports, and after Wall Street closed with its key indexes little changed.

The Australian dollar is fallen sharply against its US counterpart which has lifted on strong US data.

Oil prices have fallen, extending the prior session's heavy sell-off as the US dollar has risen more and as signs of weaker petroleum demand in China weighs the market down for a second day.

Gold has fallen nearly per cent, down for a second day after better-than-expected US economic data and easing tensions over North Korea encouraged investors to buy riskier assets, boosting stocks, the US dollar and bond yields.

The Australian share market rose as the majority of sectors enjoyed gains, though Domino's Pizza plunged after failing to meet its profit forecasts.

Oil and gas producer Santos will book an impairment charge of $US690 million ($A877 million) in its half-year results due next week after lowering its oil price forecasts.

ANZ Banking Group has reported a third-quarter cash profit of $1.79 billion, helped by strong growth in owner-occupier mortgage lending.

The Australian market has opened sharply higher as tension over North Korea ebbs, and investors are lured back to equities.

Oil prices have tumbled more than 2.5 per cent in volatile trade, as US dollar strength and weak domestic demand data in China hammered prices that had received a short-lived boost on concerns about potential reductions in crude supply from Libya.

Gold prices have fallen by half a per cent, retreating from last week's two-month highs, as US dollar strength and the easing of tensions between the United States and North Korea pushed prices lower.

The Australian share market has closed higher after weak US inflation figures dampened prospects that the US Federal Reserve and other central banks will raise interest rates later this year.

Oil and gas producer Santos has signed an agreement to supply gas to Engie's Pelican Point power station in South Australia.

Rugby WA has gained an injunction order against the ARU's decision to axe the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition.

Newcrest Mining has posted a lower-than-expected full-year profit after an earthquake at its biggest mine cut production earlier in the year.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive Ian Narev will step down by the end of June after Australia's largest bank decided to deal with speculation over his position following allegations the lender breached money laundering and terrorism-financing laws.

Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has reported strong sales growth for the 2017 financial year and says it expects that to continue heading into the peak Christmas trade.

Australian shares have lifted in early trade, with investors cautiously buying into beaten-down stocks after a widespread drubbing on Friday that wiped nearly $23 billion from the value of the loca

Oil prices have risen slightly in volatile trading as the market weighed lower US crude stocks, Nigerian instability and strong global demand growth against a persistently slow rebalancing.

The Australian dollar is higher against its US counterpart which has eased after disappointing US inflation data.

Gold prices have climbed to two-month highs, rising for the fourth straight day as investors sought refuge amid escalating tensions between North Korea and the United States, while bullion also received support from weak US inflation data.

Increasing tension between the US and North Korea has sparked a widespread sell-off that has wiped almost $23 billion from the Australian share market.

The Western Force is set to take the Australian Rugby Union to court after being axed from the Super Rugby competition.

National Australia Bank's mortgage rate hikes have helped the lender lift third-quarter cash profit 5 per cent to $1.7 billion.

More than 2.5 million Australian families, individuals and businesses are now going online through the National Broadband Network, the competition watchdog says.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia is being investigated by the corporate regulator over its alleged breach of money laundering and terrorism financing laws.

A decline in print advertising and foreign exchange fluctuations have contributed to a 2 per cent decline in media giant News Corp's full-year revenue.

Escalating tension between the US and North Korea has helped drive Australian shares sharply lower in early trade, following in the footsteps of international markets.

The Australian dollar is lower against its US counterpart as markets remain risk averse amid the heightened tension between the US and North Korea.

Oil prices have fallen more than 1.5 per cent, as a bruising day on Wall Street bolstered fears of slowing demand amid lingering concerns over a global oversupply of crude.

The price of gold has risen for the third straight day, reaching a two-month high as another exchange of threats by the United States and North Korea prompted investors to buy bullion as a safe-haven asset.

The Australian share market has run out of puff following a softening in US futures as tensions between North Korea and the United States hit investor confidence.

Origin Energy has flagged a second-half $1.2 billion hit to its full-year results, largely relating to an impairment in its Australia Pacific LNG interest.