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Australian stocks are set to plunge again after fears about the spread of the coronavirus sparked a major sell off on global markets overnight.

Oil prices has slumped by nearly 4.0 per cent as the rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak in countries outside China added to investor concerns over the effect on demand for crude.

Gold has soared as much as 2.8 per cent on Monday to its highest level in seven years, as investors worried about global economic growth in the face of sharply rising coronavirus cases outside China.

The Australian share market has suffered losses across the board, with $60 billion in value wiped out in the local bourse's worst day in six months. Energy stocks were hardest hit, as concerns grow over coronavirus, while gold was one of the few positive sectors.

Australia's four major airports achieved record profit in the past financial year, according to the ACCC, with Perth Airport touting its high passenger satisfaction relative to its counterparts on the east coast.

Energy, chemicals and resources company Worley has posted a 40 per cent jump in interim net profit to $115 million thanks to improved market conditions and the benefits of its Jacobs Engineering division buy, while at the same appointing Andrew Liveris as its deputy chairman.

Health insurer nib has posted a 23 per cent fall in first-half profit, blaming a rise in claims for the softer result.

Australian stocks have plummeted after offshore markets fell on fears the coronavirus outbreak is spreading across Asia and will increasingly affect global economic activity.

All eyes on Rio Tinto and its $6b payout

Oil prices fell about one per cent on Friday on renewed concerns about crude demand being pinched by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, while OPEC and allied producers appeared to be in no rush to curb output.

Gold has jumped more than 1.5 per cent to its highest level in seven years as investors rushed to the metal's safety due to concerns over global economic fallout from the fast-spreading coronavirus.

The Australian share market has finished lower for the first time since Tuesday, with every sector down except financials after the two days of gains sent it into record territory.

Business Events Perth has announced that ‘evokeAG’, Asia Pacific’s largest agri-tech event, will come to Perth in February next year, the first time the event will be held outside of Victoria.

Australian shares have dipped following a record high on the local market and after US markets soured following a rise in coronavirus cases.

Qantas boss threat to use foreign pilots

Oil prices rose on Thursday after the US government reported a much smaller-than-anticipated rise in crude stocks, but gains were capped by worries about the spread of coronavirus outside China.

Gold prices climbed to their highest level in seven years overnight as an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases in South Korea fuelled worries over the wider economic impact of the outbreak.

Australia's share market has hit a record high - while the Australian dollar has sunk to a decade low after China's central bank cut interest rates.

Little Green Pharma began trading on the ASX today, with its shares closing 10 cents below the price of its initial public offering, despite signing a five-year supply contract with a UK pharmaceutical company overnight.

Western Australia’s unemployment rate has risen to 5.8 per cent in January, sitting above the national average, despite the state recording 6,700 more people in employment for the month.

Santos has posted a 7 per cent rise in annual net profit as a jump in production helped offset weaker gas and oil prices across the year.

Super Retail Group's shares have jumped more than 10 per cent despite announcing a 20 per cent drop in first-half profit and admitting its underpayments problem is worse than first thought.

Boral has halved its interim payout on a 40 per cent first-half profit dive, with the troubled building materials firm weighed down by higher costs and weak housing construction activity in Australia and South Korea.

Australia's share market has hit a new high amid a slew of mixed local earnings results and positive leads from offshore.

Lithium still a good bet despite dip

Oil prices gained more than 2 per cent overnight as worries eased about demand declining due to the spread of coronavirus cases in China.

Gold has risen, holding above $US1,600 per ounce, as worries over the new coronavirus and its impact on global growth boosted safe-haven demand, while palladium continued its record run driven by short supplies of the metal.

The Australian share market has clawed back its losses from earlier in the week to hit a fresh all-time closing high - even as five more companies announced their earnings had been affected by the coronavirus epidemic.

Vocus shares have risen after the broadband provider said it had made progress digging out of its mountain of debt and had delivered on major projects as part of a three-year turnaround.

Western Australia’s tourism industry could receive a much welcomed boost in the coming months, as Princess Cruises diverts several of its routes to Australia due to port closures throughout Asia.

Crown Resorts has posted net profit of $173 million for the year to December 2019, an 11 per cent drop on the previous period that chief executive Ken Barton attributed to mixed trading conditions across various arms of the business.

Britain's EG Group had offered to acquire Caltex Australia for $3.9 billion in cash and separate shares to be issued in a newly listed company on the ASX.