AAP

Gold turned higher on Tuesday, nearing the prior session's five-month peak, bolstered by a softer dollar, lower US Treasury yields, North Korea tensions and nervousness ahead of the French presidential election.

The share market has fallen after the heavily weighted mining, energy and banking sectors were sold off amid commodity price falls and global political concerns.

TPG Telecom shares have slumped in their first trading session since the internet provider launched a capital raising to help fund its plan for its own mobile network.

The Australian share market is trading lower following falls in iron ore and oil prices and as tensions between the US and North Korea weigh on investor sentiment.

Gold pared gains from a five-month high on Monday, losing steam as U.S. Treasury yields turned higher and the dollar came off its lows, after rising geopolitical tensions over North Korea spurred earlier safe-haven buying in bullion.

US stocks have opened higher, rising for the first time in four days, helped by gains in technology and financial stocks.

The Australian dollar is trading higher against its US counterpart, which has come under some pressure due to geopolitical tensions over North Korea.

The share market has fallen as investors fretted over political tensions related to Syria and North Korea, and mining stocks were pummelled after a steep drop in the iron ore price.

Construction and contract mining giant CIMIC Group's quarterly profit has jumped 23 per cent and the company says it has solid pipeline of potential projects and opportunities to expand its mining and mineral processing activities.

Myer has saved troubled luxury clothing labels Marcs and David Lawrence from extinction two months after the Australian brands hit financial strife.

The jobless rate in Western Australia notched up 0.4 percentage points last month, while national unemployment figures remained steady.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group's shipments dropped 6 per cent in the March quarter due to heavy rainfall and port closures, the company says.

The share market has opened weaker after a sharp fall in iron ore prices and a global risk-off mood among investors, due to ongoing political concerns.

US stocks opened slightly lower on Wednesday amid lingering geopolitical risks as investors braced for the first rush of corporate earnings, starting Thursday.

The Australian dollar has gained after comments from US President Donald Trump overnight weakened the US dollar against major currencies.

The share market has eked out a tiny gain despite a sharp drop in Telstra shares.

The share market is steady in early trade as investors take their lead from Wall Street, where indices were marginally lower.

US stocks ended down but well off the day's lows with worries over geopolitical risks dragging down sentiment as investors readied for the start of US earnings.

The Australian share market looks set to open slightly higher amid subdued trade in global markets ahead of the Easter holiday and brushing off concerns about military developments in Syria and North Korea.

The share market remains at a two-year high after a third straight day of gains, thanks to strong demand for financial and energy companies.

Retail giant Woolworths could face a $100 million shareholder class action for allegedly failing to properly inform investors it would not meet its profit growth forecasts in the 2014-15 financial year.

The Australian Rugby Union has offered the Melbourne Rebels and the Western Force more time to state their case for Super Rugby survival beyond 2017.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has rejected a proposal by hedge fund Elliott Advisors to restructure its business by shedding its dual Australia-UK listing and spinning-off its petroleum business.

The Australian share market is flat as energy companies benefit from a rise in oil prices while a fall in iron ore weighs on the mining sector.

Gold prices have ended little changed as expectations that the Federal Reserve will press ahead with interest rate rises offset concerns over political tensions in North Korea and the Middle East.

US stocks ended a choppy session slightly higher on Monday as gains in energy shares offset losses in financials ahead of quarterly corporate earnings later this week.

The Australian dollar has crept higher against its US counterpart to a slither above 75 US cents.

Oil has risen toward $US56 a barrel, supported by another shutdown at Libya's largest oilfield over the weekend and geopolitical tensions following last week's US missile strike on Syria.

An international hedge fund holding 4.1 per cent of the shares in BHP Billiton's UK-listed stock wants the global miner to scrap its dual listing in Australia and the UK and spin-off its US petroleum business for listing on the New York share market.

The Australian share market has hit its highest level in two years amid investor optimism after events in Syria did not escalate and a range of other positive economic developments.

Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry is urging fans to put their money where their mouth is after the threat of the club's extinction intensified over the weekend.

The Australian share market has opened higher, despite major indices on Wall Street ending last week fractionally lower in a choppy session.