The Australian share market is lower, pulled back for a second successive session by significant falls among the big miners, with weakness among the big four banks further prodding the retreat.
Oil prices have risen but gains have been pared after US government data shows a seventh straight build in crude stocks, suggesting high inventories could undermine OPEC's move to cut output.
Gold prices have lifted 1 per cent to a three-and-a-half-month high after minutes from the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting further dampen expectations for an interest rate rise in March, lowering US bond yields and pressuring the US dollar.
The share market has lost ground on another busy day of company earnings reports, as a fall in commodity prices weighed on the big miners, and Rio Tinto traded without its latest dividend.
Oil prices have fallen 1.5 per cent on expectations of another surge in US inventories, retreating from multi-week highs hit in the previous session after OPEC signalled optimism over its deal with other producers to curb output.
Gold has turned higher as the dollar has shifted lower on Wednesday, after minutes from the last US Federal Reserve meeting showed uncertainty among policymakers about the new Trump administration's economic program.
Australian shares are flat on the negative side with profit taking in mining and energy stocks and Commonwealth Bank going ex-dividend offsetting some solid corporate results.
BHP roars back with big profitA resurgent BHP Billiton has made nearly three times as much profit in the December half as it made in the entire 2015-16
Oil prices are up one per cent after touching three-week highs on OPEC's optimism for greater compliance with its deal with other producers, including Russia, to curb output in an effort to clear a glut that has weighed on the market.
The Australian dollar is up against its US counterpart despite the greenback moving broadly higher following hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials, and finding support amid European political uncertainty.
Gold prices have pared losses on weaker-than-expected US economic data, after falling 1 per cent on renewed expectations of an increase in US interest rates next month that pushed the dollar higher.
Oil prices has inched higher, as investor optimism over the effectiveness of producer cuts encouraged record bets on a sustained rally, although growing US output and stubbornly high stockpiles kept price gains in check.
Gold has firmed as the US dollar has softened, although trading was thin due to the US holiday and as markets awaited details on President Donald Trump's tax policy.
The Australian share market has opened slightly lower as Wesfarmers goes ex-dividend and logistics firm Brambles unveils a weaker-than-expected half-year profit.
Oil prices have ended steady on the day but lower on the week, with US crude notching its first weekly decline in five weeks, as the market weighed rising US drilling and record stockpiles against efforts by major producers to cut output to reduce a global glut.
Gold prices have eased but have notched a weekly gain as investors opted for the safe-haven qualities of bullion due to uncertainty about US and European politics as well as the direction of stock markets.
Australian shares fell as losses across healthcare, resource and energy companies offset gains in some banking and real estate stocks amid another batch of company earnings results.
The Australian share market has opened flat, as strength in the industrials and IT sectors bolsters local shares against falls on Wall Street overnight.
