The Australian share market is higher in early trade with gains in mining and energy stocks and a boost from Woolworths, which reported positive first-quarter sales growth.
Oil has settled higher, as commitments from Gulf OPEC members to cut production assuaged some lingering doubts in the market about cooperation from other producers.
Gold is little changed, pressured by a persistently strong US dollar as the market awaits more signs about the timing of an expected US interest rate rise from the Federal Reserve.
PPL deal likely as heat on NXT over tax cutsThe business community has joined the government in pressuring the Nick Xenophon Team to pass company tax cuts and budget savin
Oil is down more than 1.5 per cent even after a surprise drawdown in US crude inventories, as traders remain cautious that OPEC would be able to cut production come late November.
Gold prices have fallen as investor appetite for riskier assets such as equities and crude oil have recovered slightly, denting demand for bullion, often considered a safe haven.
United front in war on populismTelstra chairman John Mullen has called for a unified approach by big business to defend against growing community hostilit
A combination of investor caution ahead of key local economic data and downward cues from Wall Street has pushed the Australian share market into the red in early trade.
Gold has risen to an almost-three-week high as the US dollar retreated from multi-month highs and physical demand rose before India's late-October festival season.
Oil prices have fallen more than one per cent with US crude settling below $US50 per barrel for the first time in a week ahead of data likely to show a build in domestic inventories.
US stocks slipped from two-week highs on Tuesday as results and forecasts from companies in sectors, including housing and consumer products, failed to live up to expectations.
The Australian share market has closed higher, led by the financial sector, as investors start to feel bullish ahead of earnings reports from three of the big four Australian banks.
Gold prices have slipped as the US dollar has strengthened to a fresh near nine-month high on growing speculation that the US Federal Reserve would lift its key interest rate in December.
Oil prices have dipped, with US crude briefly falling below $US50 per barrel, on news of the impending restart of Britain's Buzzard oilfield and Iraq's wish to be exempted from OPEC production cuts.
Inflation rise could blindside investorsInvestors and households betting that official interest rates are still on a downward path could be blindsided by a potential rebou
Gold prices are little changed as a strong US dollar limited gains, but the precious metal notched its first weekly rise in four as seasonal demand from Asia kicked in.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been quoted as saying that OPEC and non-OPEC nations are "very close" to an agreement on oil production curbs, Azerbaijan's state news agency Azertag reported.
Morrison targets cost of housingTreasurer Scott Morrison says property investors are not to blame for Australia’s housing affordability crisis, arguing that the government
