AAP

The Australian dollar has rebounded in early trade as its US counterpart slipped overnight following weak US labour market data.

Gold rose to a five-week high on Monday as markets reassessed the outlook for the U.S. economy after Donald Trump is inaugurated as president later this month, taking support from the falling dollar and lower U.S. Treasury yields.

Declines in energy and financial stocks weighed on the S&P 500 have helped stall the Dow's pursuit of the 20,000 milestone ahead of earnings season and expected US policy changes under the Donald Trump presidency.

The Australian share market has closed at its highest level in 20 months after stronger US wage data boosted investors' confidence in the US economy and helped lift the local bourse to its fifth straight positive finish so far this year.

National construction activity finished the year weak as home building wound down in December, new data by Ai Group has shown.

The Australian stocks have jumped on the back of global investor confidence triggered by stronger US wage data.

The Australian dollar has slipped in early trade on Monday after its US counterpart rebounded following strong non-farms payroll data and hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve officials on Friday.

Gold prices slipped on Friday from the previous day's one-month high as the dollar strengthened on a solid U.S. jobs report, while palladium was on track for its largest weekly gain since March on record high U.S. car sales.

Oil rose slightly on Friday on futures buying, ending the week higher, but gains were limited by a strong U.S. dollar and lingering doubts about whether OPEC producers would stick to a deal to cut output.

The four-week marron fishing season begins this weekend in Western Australia and thousands of people are expected to turn out to dams and rivers to catch the unique freshwater crayfish.

Germany has won its Hopman Cup qualifying match against Great Britain 2-1 today, while in cricket Pakistan trail Australia by 428 runs in their second innings of the Sydney test match, after Australia declared at 2/241.

The Australian share market has eked out a minuscule gain to close higher for the fourth session in a row, with encouraging trade data having little impact.

Dreamworld operator Ardent Leisure says revenue at its theme parks dropped 63 per cent following their reopening in the wake of the October ride accident that killed four people on the Gold Coast.

The Australian share market is under pressure after gains in the last three sessions following a decline on Wall Street overnight.

The Australian dollar has risen on the back of strong local and Chinese service sector data.

Gold prices have risen one per cent to a near three-week high as early gains in stocks and other assets perceived as risky gave up gains and investors fled to save-haven bullion.

Oil prices have risen in an up-and-down session, lifted by news that Saudi Arabia had cut production to meet OPEC's agreement to reduce output after prices fell on data showing a surprisingly large increase in US petrol and distillate inventories.

Spain has beaten the Czech Republic in a Hopman Cup group B match on the tournament's fifth day, while Pakistan were 7/246 against Australia on day three of the rain-delayed test cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Australian share market has closed higher for a third straight session in 2017, boosted by strength among energy stocks after a lift in the price of oil.

Drivers may want to fill up at the servo in coming days with Australian petrol prices set to surge.

Australia's service sector activity is set to surge into the new year after finishing 2016 near a decade high.

A young man has died after falling from a building in Perth's CBD.

 The Australian share market has opened higher after the US dollar pulled back from 14-year highs overnight.

Western Australian Senator Rod Culleton has again denied owing large sums of money after this week's latest bizarre public incident - a scuffle outside a Perth court.

The Australian dollar has hit a three-week high after the US Federal Reserve's noted there was a risk of rising interest rates if the new US administration embarked on a fiscal stimulus program.

Gold has risen to the highest in nearly four weeks as the dollar edged back from a 14-year peak and physical demand from major consumers China and India increased.

Oil prices ticked higher on expectations that US crude inventories have dropped and on signs that the world's top oil exporters will stick to agreed output cuts that took effect this week.

The Australian share market has closed relatively flat, after investors received a lacklustre lead from overseas markets and took a breather from the year-opening rally.

The Australian share market has closed relatively flat, after investors received a lacklustre lead from overseas markets and took a breather from the year-opening rally.

Former One Nation Senator Rod Culleton says he's recovering at home following an "unexpected attack" outside a Perth court yesterday.

Banks hiking mortgage interest rates out of cycle and failing to pass on official rate cuts are expected to dampen demand for housing this year, according to a new report.

The Australian share market was only slightly higher in early trade with gains patchy due to the absence of a catalyst.