AAP

Australian shares have closed higher, led by a surge of support for consumer-related stocks following Wesfarmers' announcement of plans to spin off supermarket giant Coles.

Australian shares have opened comfortably higher, buoyed by news that Wesfarmers plans to spin off supermarket giant Coles, and after the Dow Jones index in the US made a strong surge on easing fears of an international trade war.

Investors have welcomed today's news that Wesfarmers plans to spin-off supermarket giant Coles and create a separately listed business that would rank among the 30 biggest on the Australian stock market.

The Australian dollar has hit a one-week low against a strengthening US dollar after comments from Donald Trump's new economic advisor Larry Kudlow that the president favours a stronger US dollar.

Oil prices edged higher in choppy trade, after the International Energy Agency said global oil demand is expected to pick up this year, but warned supply is growing at a faster pace.

Gold prices have dipped, under pressure from a stronger US dollar, although tensions between Britain and Russia limited the precious metal's decline a day after it hit a one-week high.

Andrew Forrest has lost his latest court fight against a sand miner operating on his cattle station in WA's Pilbara region.

Updated: The search for the trainee pilot of a helicopter that crashed in open water off Port Hedland has ended after the wreckage and the missing pilot were found.

The share market has lost ground for a third straight session, weighed down by falls by the banks and concerns about a trade war.

The corporate watchdog has today released a report outlining changes made by the big four banks to small business loans to remove unfair terms, while the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has flagged concerns with the major banks' mortgage pricing strategies.

The Australian share market has opened relatively flat after US and European markets fell and US retail data was worse than expected.

The Australian dollar is only marginally higher, as falls on Wall Street weigh on the currency, after US President Donald Trump moved to impose new tariffs on China, raising fears of a trade war.

Oil prices gained 0.4 per cent in choppy trade on Wednesday, after a report showing a bigger-than-expected US crude stock build was offset by large distillate and gasoline inventory draws.

Gold prices have edged lower, pressured by a recovering US dollar and an expectation of higher interest rates, but supported by safe-haven buying after the sudden dismissal of US Secretary of State

The share market weakened after investor confidence was dented by US President Donald Trump's sacking of his secretary of state.

The Australian share market has followed US markets lower amid uncertainty sparked by US President Donald Trump's sacking of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and fears that the US may move to impose tariffs on some goods from China.

The Australian dollar is lower as US stocks fall following President Donald Trump's sacking of Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.

Oil futures fell more than one per cent on concerns over rising US production and as equities fell, erasing earlier gains driven in part by the firing of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Gold prices turned positive on Tuesday as the US dollar lost ground after news that US President Donald Trump replaced Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, while US inflation data was in line with for

The Australian share market has closed lower amid weakness across most sectors, with the miners the biggest drag following falls in commodity prices and a negative lead from US markets.

Australian shares have barely moved at the open of trade, following a mixed lead from Wall Street's major stock indices and falls in commodities.

The Australian dollar is slighlty higher, but has lost ground late in the offshore session, as US stocks suffered a fall.

Oil prices fell as investors grappled with ongoing concerns over rising US output and tight OPEC supply, while last week's data showing speculators cut bets on oil suggested more selling could be s

Gold prices dipped on Monday as the previous session's upbeat US payrolls data sparked a fresh rally in equities, shoring up expectations that the US Federal Reserve would press ahead with further

Australian shares have closed higher after regional markets lifted on jobs data positivity out of the US and Australian markets strengthened on the exemption from US tariffs on imported steel and aluminium.

Australian shares have opened higher thanks to support from industrial commodities and after US stock indexes received a boost from jobs data which relieved fears of inflation and aggressive interest rate hikes.

The Australian dollar is higher after the release of strong US jobs figures and the news that there will be a summit between the leaders of the US and North Korea.

Oil prices rose nearly $2 on Friday, rebounding from two days of declines as Wall Street climbed on strong U.S. jobs data, while investors also grew hopeful that a planned meeting between U.S.

The Australian share market has closed higher as investors saw less of a chance of a global trade war after US President Donald Trump exempted Canada and Mexico from US steel and aluminium tariffs and suggested other allies, such as Australia, could also be exempt.

The Conservation Council of Western Australia and traditional owners are continuing their fight against Cameco's planned Yeelirrie uranium mine, lodging an appeal against a Supreme Court decision to uphold the environmental approval.

Australian shares have opened marginally higher after US indexes oscillated on Wall Street before President Donald Trump appeared to soften his stance on trade tariffs, easing trade war fears that had the market on edge for a week.

Oil prices fell on Thursday, headed for a second straight weekly drop on a stronger dollar, signs of an inventory build at the US storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, surging US crude production and i