AAP

Gains by the major banks, energy stocks and big miners have helped push the Australian share market well over one per cent higher as the oil price lifted and investors considered an improved likelihood of Britain staying in the European Union.

Metcash's core food and grocery business suffered a significant fall in profit as the group tried to keep up with the major supermarkets' price cuts, with the company warning of ongoing pressure in Western Australia following Aldi's expansion into the state.

A 32-year-old man has died on a Rio Tinto mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Australian share market has opened higher, led by financial and resource companies, including Macquarie Group, Commonwealth Bank, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

The Australian bond market is down with sentiment remaining stronger after weekend Brexit campaigns were suspended in the wake of the killing of a British MP.

Gold rose more than one per cent on Friday, supported by a softer dollar and cautious interest rate comments by a voting US Federal Reserve policy member, and was headed for a third week of gains.

A surge in oil prices has buoyed he Australian dollar ahead of the UK's Brexit referendum vote this week.

The share market has ended a rough week with a gain as anxiety about the UK's possible exit from the European Union eases.

The consumer watchdog is launching an industry-wide investigation into Australia's new car retail business following its probes of Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler.

Agribusiness Elders is raising $102 million from investors so it can buy back the group's hybrid securities and simplify its share structure.

The Australian share market has opened higher, driven by banking and resource heavyweights.

Gold turned lower on Thursday, as sterling bounced higher and US stock markets came well off their lows following the suspension of Britain's campaign for next week's referendum after a member of Parliament was shot dead.

Wall Street has closed higher as investors digest the implications of a British MP's death on the country's referendum on whether to leave the European Union.

The Australian dollar has bounced after sentiment turned sour overnight as Brexit concerns intensified.

The share market's early gains have evaporated as concerns about Britain's possible exit from the EU continue to dominate.

Close to $1 billion has been added to Crown Resorts' market value as investors speculate a demerger of the casino operator will enable billionaire James Packer to privatise part of the group.

Unemployment rose in Western Australia last month, while the national rate held steady at 5.7 per cent, with no full-time jobs added in three months.

The Australian share market has opened higher, led by banking and resource companies.

The Turnbull government is resisting calls for a bailout of troubled steelworks Arrium as Labor pledges $100 million in assistance.

The US dollar has fallen along with bond yields after the Federal Reserve left US interest rates unchanged and hinted at a less aggressive outlook for rates.

The Australian dollar has picked up pace after the US Federal Reserve left rates on hold and flagged a more gradual tightening path.

OZ Minerals has reached a $24 million settlement with Zinifex shareholders who received a stake in the company following its merger with Oxiana eight years ago.

The share market has posted a second straight day of sharp falls on fears Britain will leave the European Union.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says a Labor government would review the NBN Company board in the wake of questions about the impartiality of its chairman.

Virgin Australia plans to raise $852 million and sweep the broom through its operations by cutting its aircraft fleet and workforce.

The Australian share market has opened lower after Wall Street dropped for a fourth straight session.

Rio Tinto will purchase a total $1.747 billion of 2018 capital notes under its debt reduction plan.

The Australian dollar is likely to slide further as Brexit fears keep global markets in risk-averse mode.

Gold hit its highest in almost six weeks on Tuesday, rising on worries about a potential British exit from the European Union and expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates at its June meeting.

Wall Street has dropped for a fourth straight session as central bank policymakers weighed the health of the US economy and investors worried about an upcoming vote in Britain on whether to leave the European Union.

The Australian share market has fallen nearly 2 per cent to a seven-week low, wiping out $27 billion in value, amid concerns about US interest rates and the Brexit vote.

Indian businessman Pankaj Oswal misappropriated more than $150 million in company funds for his Perth homes, a vegetarian restaurant chain, luxury cars and planes, a court has heard.