AAP

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit an all-time high for the third straight day, helped by a record-setting surge in industrial stocks, but a drop in technology heavyweights kept the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq in negative territory.

The Australian dollar has fallen as the US dollar has hit a 14-year high after strong US economic data fuels investor hopes that the Federal Reserve will raise its interest rates in December.

Gold has fallen more than two per cent to a nine-and-a-half-month low as a buoyant US dollar extends its rally to the highest since 2003 on the back of upbeat US economic data that further cemented a case for increasing interest rates next month.

Oil prices have slipped slightly lower amid investor doubts that OPEC will agree to a production cut large enough to make a significant dent in the global glut of crude as US drilling rises.

Australian shares have hit a five-week high as high commodity prices, a Wall Street tailwind, and adjusted expectations of local interest rate cuts helped deliver gains across several sectors.

A 39-year-old man killed when he was crushed on an oil rig support vessel in waters off the Pilbara coast last year was standing in a dangerous spot in treacherous weather, the transport safety watchdog has found.

Programmed Maintenance Services is back in the black and plans to use its Skilled labour hire business to cash in on government projects, programs and private maintenance contracts.

The Australian share market has opened higher in the wake of a positive lead from US markets and strength in prices for base metals.

Oil has turned negative in volatile trade on worries Iran and Iraq are not ready to agree on an OPEC output freeze after prices earlier rose to the highest level this month on reports cartel members had overcome their internal disputes.

The Australian dollar has slipped below 74 US cents but its decline against the US dollar has been capped by stronger commodity prices.

Gold has edged lower after US equities hit all-time highs on market expectations for higher growth and more spending from a Donald Trump presidency.

The Australian share market has closed higher led by strong gains in the energy and mining sectors, with giant BHP Billiton one of the star performers.

The Australian share market has opened sharply higher on the back of surging oil prices and a lift in base metal prices.

Oil prices have surged four per cent to a three-week high, bolstered by growing conviction that major oil producing countries will agree next week to limit output.

The Australian dollar is higher on the back strong oil prices and a pause in the US dollar's rally.

Gold has rebounded from five-and-a-half-month lows as the US dollar shed some of the hefty gains made the previous week on bets that US President-elect Donald Trump's plans for fiscal stimulus would prove inflationary.

The Australian share market has ended slightly lower after day of choppy trading as investors wonder if US President-elect Donald Trump will implement policies to stimulate the US economy.

Building materials supplier Boral has agreed to buy US firm Headwaters Incorporated for around $US2.6 billion ($A3.5 billion), which Boral says will more than double its US business and help accelerate development of its light building products platform.

The Australian share market has opened lower, following Wall Street's weak leads and amid uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's effect on the US economy.

Weaker commodity prices and a soaring US dollar have driven the Australian dollar lower.

Oil prices have settled higher, closing out a strong week that has seen crude buoyed by growing expectations that OPEC will find a way to cap production at the end of the month.

Gold has fallen to its lowest level since late May as the US dollar surged to its highest in more than 13-and-a-half years on expectations of a December US interest rate rise and higher fiscal spending from President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.

The share market has ended the week with a modest gain due to Telstra's continued rise and a big jump by Myer.

The Australian share market is higher with investors hunting yields and bargains as global bond yields rise on the back of firming US interest rate hike expectations.

Gold has fallen to a five-and-a-half-month low, giving up earlier gains as the US dollar index tapped a 13-and-a-half-year high on strong US economic data and comments by US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen that bolstered the case for raising its interest rate in December.

The Australian dollar has dropped against a strengthening greenback after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen flagged a rate rise could come soon.

Oil prices have settled slightly lower, before falling as much as one per cent in the after-market session as a stronger US dollar outweighs expectations of an OPEC deal to limit production.

The benchmark S&P 500 index rose to within a hair of its record high on Thursday as bank stocks got a boost from bets on higher interest rates and consumer discretionary stocks were helped by economic data and earnings.

Global miner BHP Billiton says it has no clarity over the timing of a potential restart at its Samarco joint venture operation in Brazil, underlining the continuing uncertainty over the business that was hit by a fatal dam disaster last November.

The Australian share market has held onto a slim gain as investors wonder how the US political landscape will change under Donald Trump when he assumes the presidency.

Pizza Hut has bought the troubled Eagle Boys pizza chain and begun converting stores with its own branding.

Telstra is targeting $1 billion-plus in cost savings over the next five years and kicked off a review of its capital needs, amid mounting competition.