AAP

The Australian share market has kicked off the week lower, hurt by energy and resource companies.

Gold prices have steadied after falling to nine-and-a-half-month lows, heading for a third consecutive weekly decline as investors sold on factors including expectations of a US interest rate rise.

US crude have fallen nearly four per cent, dragged down by uncertainty over whether the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will reach an output deal, after Saudi Arabia said it will not attend talks on Monday with non-OPEC producers to discuss supply cuts.

The Australian dollar has edged higher against its US counterpart after investors sold the greenback on Friday as US bond yields stabilised.

The share market has hit a three month high thanks to demand for mining and energy stocks including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Woodside Petroleum.

Australia could become the epicentre of global mining if it had more ambition and more competitive tax policies, says the chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto.

A company angling for a share of the 1.6 billion strong global video gamers market - and maybe doing it with government backing - has leapt on debut on the ASX.

Global mining giants BHP Billiton and Brazil's Vale have offered new loans to their Brazilian joint venture, Samarco, as it assesses whether it can reopen the iron ore project where a dam disaster killed up to 19 people last year.

The share market is flat in early trade with strong gains from gaming giants Tabcorp and Tatts Group, and utilities offsetting weakness from the banks and miners.

Commodity prices have boosted the Australian dollar against the greenback which has stalled as the US celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday.

Oil prices are little changed ahead of next week's meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to discuss implementation of its proposed cap on production.

Gold has edged lower as the US dollar trades within reach of an almost 14-year high hit on positive US economic data, which increased expectations the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates in December.

The share market has closed almost unchanged as investors paused ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

The federal government is aiming to provide better transport across the nation by considering changes to how Australians pay for roads.

Australia have made a solid start to the third Test, with a new-look slips cordon helping to restrict South Africa to 3-89 at tea on day one at Adelaide Oval.

Stevedoring industry veteran Chris Corrigan has announced he will retire as chairman of QUBE Holdings, saying the time is right as the logistics group enters a new phase.

Woolworths bosses have sought to reassure shareholders about the future of its struggling discount department chain, Big W, a week after its newly installed chief executive resigned.

Senior executives have created a poor compliance culture at the four major banks and should be named and shamed over mistreatment of customers, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

Rio Tinto has flagged a possible 2019 start date for construction of its next big greenfields project in the Pilbara, but in the interim will rely on the rollout of its rail automation program and better asset utilisation to drive a major round of productivity improvements.

The Australian share market is higher in early trade as the market rises broadly in line with Wall Street gains in the US session.

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.