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The Australian stock exchange has bounced back from its early losses to finish the day nearly flat as the big banks dragged on the market.

Car dealers are reeling from the "huge blow" of General Motors retiring the Holden brand in Australia, as the peak dealership group calls for regulations to protect businesses.

Rio Tinto has announced the development of a $US98 million ($A144 million) solar plant at its Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, which is expected to supply around two thirds of the mine’s average electricity demand once completed.

Mandurah Magistrates Court has hit Queensland-based property manager Asset Realty with an $80,000 fine, for failing to lodge tenancy bonds on time as well as falsifying dates on records.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has launched a $300 million capital raising and slashed its interim dividend as rising costs weigh heavily on its first-half result, while NAB says it will raise about $750 million to refinance debt, as it seeks to meet toughened capital requirements.

Australian shares have opened weaker amid investor caution after a strong end to the last week.

No onus on us: Woodside

Oil prices rose over 1 per cent on Friday, posting their first weekly gain since early January.

Gold prices rose to the highest level in more than a week on Friday, on track for a weekly gain, as investors bet on the safe-haven metal to hedge against the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Beverage manufacturers have been informed of the prices for Western Australia’s container deposit scheme on Friday, with the average price of a container starting at 11.65 cents.

The Australian share market has closed higher for a fourth day, with the benchmark index finishing just under a record closing high set three and a half weeks ago.

Woodside Petroleum has won a long-running contractual dispute with Melbourne-based explorer FAR over its purchase of a stake in the Sangomar oil project, off the coast of Senegal.

As recently as a fortnight ago, industry leaders and government officials were urging caution as the novel coronavirus swept through China, with representatives from Western Australia’s tourism and education sectors confident the state was prepared to manage any possible fallout.

The corporate watchdog has charged former Bellamy's director Jan Cameron over the alleged masking of her stake in the infant formula business via a mysterious Caribbean-based associate.

Australian stocks have crept just above a flatline in cautious end to the week following mixed offshore leads.

Third telco enters 5G race

Oil prices edged higher overnight as investors hoped the world's biggest producers would cut output more.

Gold prices jumped overnight to their highest in more than a week after a sharp increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in China renewed fears over global economic impact and persuaded investors to seek lower-risk assets.

The Australian share market has closed marginally higher after fears from the Covid-19 coronavirus cast a pall on a record-setting day.

Perth Glory chief executive Tony Pignata declined to be drawn on the specifics of a proposed sale of the football club to a London-based cryptocurrency exchange, overshadowing a state government announcement this morning of a sponsorship deal with the club.

Woodside Petroleum has deferred a final investment decision on the giant Browse gas project as it deals with the complexity of the planned development and unresolved commercial differences with its partners.

Telstra has reported a 7.6 per cent drop in first-half profit to $1.14 billion - in line with guidance and expectations - with bushfires and the ongoing NBN rollout weighing on the telco's bottom line.

Caltex stocks jumped more than three per cent in early trade after it received a improved $8.8 billion buyout proposal from Alimentation Couche-Tard to acquire all its shares at an indicative price of $35.25.

South32 has reported an 80 per cent plunge in half-year underlying profit due to a temporary tax increase and lower prices across key commodities

Australian shares have dived right after reaching a record high following news of a big jump in coronavirus deaths and infections in China.

Hydrogen the ‘hero’: chief scientist backs PM on gas as transition fuel

Oil prices rose over 3 per cent overnight as China reported its lowest daily number of new coronavirus cases since late January, stoking investor hopes that fuel demand in the world's second-largest oil consumer may begin to recover.

Gold prices eased to a near one-week low overnight as risk sentiment improved after a drop in the number of new coronavirus cases comforted markets that the epidemic's effects could be contained.

Stellar results from Commonwealth Bank have pushed the Australian share market higher for second day, even as the mining sector lost ground.

UPDATED: The state government has said it will adopt most of the recommendations arising from a parliamentary inquiry into short-term accommodation, with Tourism Council WA and the Australian Hotels Association WA welcoming the pledge to apply more stringent regulation to the sector.

Henderson-based Civmec has reported a 38.7 per cent rise in net profit to $8.1 million for the six months to December, sending its shares nearly 9 per cent higher at the market open.

Vitamin company Blackmores has scrapped its interim dividend and slashed its full-year profit guidance, blaming it on adverse costs and the coronavirus outbreak.