AAP

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.

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

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.

Motorists could end up paying more for fuel if BP's proposed $1.8 billion takeover of Woolworths petrol stations goes ahead, the competition watchdog warns.

Weaker demand for domestic flights has sent Virgin Australia to an annual loss but the airline says a recent improvement in conditions is set to continue.

Australian shares have opened higher, shrugging off the negative lead of international markets hit by concern over increased tension between the US and North Korea.

Oil prices have risen per cent higher after a report shows US refineries processed record amounts of crude in the past week, eating into inventories, although a surprise jump in petrol stockpiles limited price gains.

Gold has risen to the highest in nearly two months, after North Korea said it is considering an attack on the US Pacific territory of Guam and US President Donald Trump boasted of the strength of the American nuclear arsenal.

The Australian share market has gained ground as Commonwealth Bank's record annual profit was well received, and the Australian dollar fell sharply amid political tension and a weaker iron ore price.

The man who famously led the sea rescue of yachtsmen Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois 20 years ago has been employed by the state government to fight to get more defence contract work for the state.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has reported an increase in cash profit to $9.8 billion for the 2017 financial year, while its Perth-based subsidiary, Bankwest, delivered a fall in profit as a result of increased home loan impairments.

Western Australian indigenous and community leaders are pleading with the prime minister to urgently expand cashless welfare card rollouts, releasing a graphic video depicting "war zone" conditions across the state.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia says it is buying the remaining 20 per cent stake of Aussie Homes Loans from founder John Symond.

Australian shares have opened higher as investors, pleased with the Commonwealth Bank's bigger-than-expected full-year cash profit, helped fuel a big rise in banking and mining stocks. 

The Australian dollar is lower against its US counterpart which has strengthened following a much-stronger-than expected US jobs opening report.

Oil prices have pulled back from recent gains as exports from key OPEC producers have risen and despite news of fewer shipments from Saudi Arabia.

Fortescue Metals Group is likely to join mining giant Rio Tinto in raising dividends as the price of iron ore remains elevated.

The share market has closed lower with every sector down after the miners gave up earlier gains as Chinese iron ore futures eased.