Australian shares have closed higher on Thursday, with banks and miners leading strength though broader market gains were checked by generally subdued regional markets amid trade war worries.
Gold prices have steadied as the US dollar eased off a three-week high, following an earlier drop in bullion to a one-year low as bullish comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell boosted the greenback.
Oil prices rose on Wednesday after US government data indicated bullish demand for gasoline and distillates, which overshadowed a surprise build in US crude inventories and US crude oil production hitting 11 million bpd for the first time.
The S&P 500 is hovering at five-month highs with gains in financial and industrial stocks due to strong earnings from marquee companies offsetting losses in the technology and energy sectors.
Global education services provider Navitas has announced it will close colleges in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as exiting its Australian health care training business, in a restructure of its careers and industry division.
Australian shares rose on Wednesday after global miner BHP reported record iron ore output for 2017-18, which sent its shares up over 3 per cent in a boost to peers and overall sentiment.
Trinity College has announced the recruitment of Darren O'Neill as its next principal, succeeding Ivan Banks, who announced his resignation in April and will step down after 12 years at the helm.
Gold has fallen more than one per cent and hit its lowest in a year as the US dollar strengthened during testimony by US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell to the US Congress.
Wall Street has risen as Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's optimistic view on the US economy and solid earnings from Dow component Johnson & Johnson lifted expectations of a robust second-quarter earnings season.
Australian shares have closed lower on Tuesday, with a sharp decline in global oil prices sending energy stocks down and weak commodities prices putting pressure on the broader market.
Perth-based Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has secured a number of new contracts across the country in the commercial, resources and telecommunication sectors.
Oil prices slumped more than four per cent, with Brent reaching a three-month low, as Libyan ports reopened and traders eyed potential supply increases by Russia and other producers.
The S&P 500 has ended slightly lower following a drop in oil prices that weighed on energy shares and offset a jump in financials as Bank of America's results reinforced expectations of a strong US earnings season.
Australian shares fell nearly half a per cent on Monday, led by losses in healthcare stocks, while soft weekend property auction results undermined banks, whose business model relies heavily on home loans.
Mining services contractor Ausdrill has continued its board renewal, including the appointment of its first female director, just weeks after company founder Ron Sayers retired.
US stocks have risen slightly, putting the S&P 500 at its highest closing level in more than five months, as gains in industrials and other areas offset a drop in financials after results from three of the big banks mostly disappointed.
Australian shares have finished flat after a yo-yo final trading session of the week, which saw a retreat among the banks outweigh healthcare sector gains.
Gold edged higher as the US dollar eased off a six-month high against the Japanese yen, but bullion failed to gain traction as traders said US-China trade tensions so far were boosting the greenback instead of the precious metal.
Brent crude has strengthened, recouping some of its losses from the previous session as market focus returned to concerns about spare capacity following a warning from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Strong showings from healthcare heavyweights and the major banks have propelled the Australian share market to its highest close for a decade after a nutty day of trading.
Australian shares have opened higher as strong gains from financial and consumer staple stocks more than offset materials and energy weakness from falling commodity prices.
