Gold is holding steady near a five-month peak as expectations for fewer interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve next year supported the non-yielding precious metal.
The S&P 500 and the Dow have closed marginally lower after volatile trading as investors swivelled their focus between China-US trade talks, President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the US government and political uncertainty in Britain.
Mining and health care stocks lifted the Australian share market higher, but the gains did little to recover the significant losses inflicted during Monday's trading.
Oil prices have fallen nearly two per cent, echoing the weakness in global stock markets as the focus returned to demand growth concerns and crude prices erased some of the gains made last week on an OPEC-led decision to cut output.
Gold edged lower as the US dollar firmed against the pound on doubts about Britain's departure from the European Union, but falling equities and prospects of a slower pace of US interest rate hikes in 2019 kept bullion near a five-month peak.
The Australian share market slumped to a two-year low, weighed down by the major banks as hopes for a trade resolution between the US and China continue to dissipate.
One month after resigning as a director, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis has rejoined West Perth-based contractor Tempo Australia as chair, replacing Charlie Bontempo, who resigned two weeks ago.
IOOF Holdings' managing director and chairman have stepped aside following moves by the prudential regulator to disqualify the beleaguered wealth manager's top brass.
Australian shares have slumped at the start of the new trading week, with declines widespread as local markets follow Wall Street lower amid fresh uncertainty over US-China trade.
Wall Street has tumbled in a broad sell-off led by declines in big internet and technology shares, and the benchmark S&P 500 index posted its biggest weekly percentage drop since March as concerns over US-China trade tensions and interest rates convulsed Wall Street.
Oil prices ended the week more than two per cent higher after OPEC members and allies like Russia agreed to reduce output to drain global fuel inventories and support the market, but the gains were
Gold hit a five-month peak as the dollar slid following weaker-than-expected US jobs data, which added to expectations that the US Federal Reserve may go slow on interest rate hikes next year.
The Australian share market has closed higher due to strong gains from supermarket and healthcare stocks, offsetting losses to the commodity-related sectors as investors moved away from volatile shares.
Two major arts companies have today announced new leadership, with the WA Symphony Orchestra appointing Mark Coughlan as chief executive and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts naming David Shirley as executive dean.
Melbourne-based executive Lisa Rodgers has been appointed director general of the Department of Education, making her the fifth woman to be appointed to a director general role in Western Australia this year.
The Australian share market has lifted at the open with the healthcare and financial sectors among the best early performers as the bourse shrugs off a choppy Wall Street session and subdued oil prices.
Gold has risen to near a five-month peak on a weaker dollar and on expectations the pace of US interest rate hikes will slow, with the bullion also getting support from falling equities.
Oil fell about three per cent in choppy overnight trade after OPEC and allied exporting countries ended a meeting without announcing a decision to cut crude output, and prepared to debate the matter the next day.
US stocks have closed slightly lower, but well above their session lows, as the arrest of a Chinese technology executive fanned fears of US-China tensions over trade, while some beaten-up big technology and internet shares posted gains.
The Australian share market closed lower, as nervousness about the US economy and the tentative trade stalemate between China and the US weighed on stocks.
Australian shares have slipped at the open, dragged lower by heavyweight mining and banking stocks, after Wall Street took the session off to mark the funeral of former US President George Bush Sr.
Gold has slipped on expectations of more interest rate hikes following remarks from a US Federal Reserve official and as some investors booked profits after prices hit their highest in more than five weeks.
Global stocks have fallen, plagued by a flattening yield curve that sparked concerns about an economic slowdown in the United States and weakening expectations of a lasting US-China trade truce, while the US dollar steadied.
Oil prices dipped overnight ahead of a meeting of the world's biggest exporters, who will discuss cutting output to help shore up prices and curb excess supply.
