AAP

Oil prices dropped on Monday as investor concern waned about escalating tensions in the Middle East following air strikes on Syria over the weekend.

Gold prices rose on Monday as losses in the US dollar bolstered, though gains were muted as financial markets bet that air strikes on Syria would not escalate into a wider conflict.

The Australian share market has closed in positive territory, led by the energy sector as investors rallied around hopes that tension in Syria and the China-US trade tiff have both peaked.

Health Minister Roger Cook says Western Australia is missing out on $1 billion in health funding, and is calling on the federal government to increase the state’s share to reflect its unique challenge of isolation.

Thousands of workers will be out in force for wage increases and job security in union-led rallies across the country over two weeks, kicking off with a mass meeting of delegates in Melbourne.

Home loans to owner-occupiers rose 1.3 per cent to $21.5 billion in February, eclipsing November's all-time high.

Lower tariffs have helped boost the value of Australian wine exports to China in the year to March 2018 to more than $1 billion - the first time that exports to a single country have hit that level.

Australian shares have opened higher with investors more positive after expected conflict between America and Russia, following US-led strikes on Syria, failed to eventuate.

The number of Australia homes and businesses connected to faster national broadband speed plans has more than doubled thanks to NBN Co's temporary discounted pricing, which the company says will be superseded by new bundles from May.

The Australian dollar is lower after US stocks fell on Friday as tensions about Syria results in cautious trade on financial markets..

Oil prices rose on Friday, making the largest weekly gain since July, supported by concerns about the possibility of Western military action in Syria and reports of dwindling global oil inventories

Gold prices rose on Friday, posting their second consecutive weekly gain on lingering uncertainty over Western military action in Syria.

Western Australia will get an $80 million specialist rural fire division at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, as recommended in an independent report into the deadly Yarloop bushfire.

The Australian share market has closed higher, after Wall Street rose on easing US-Russia tensions over Syria and investors looked for bargains in healthcare and resources.

More women than men are being appointed to the boards of Australia's top 200 companies for the first time on record.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has agreed to pay $3 million after the corporate watchdog found two of the lender's financial planning arms charged customers millions of dollars for advice they did not receive.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher as investors' concerns about US and Russia's tensions over Syria eased.

The Seven Network and Foxtel have won the bidding war for cricket's TV rights, paying almost $1.2 billion and ending the four-decade relationship between the sport and the Nine Network.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher against a stronger US dollar which was buoyed by US President Donald Trump's more conciliatory trade comments, including the possibility of rejoining the Tr

Oil prices have held steady remaining close to highs last reached in late 2014 on tensions over Syria and shrinking global oil inventories.

Wall Street stocks bounced higher as expectations that lower US taxes would fuel corporate earnings added to easing of nerves over US military conflict with Russia in Syria.

Barrister John Vaughan has been appointed a judge of the WA Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Justice Peter Martino.

The Australian share market has closed lower as increasing tensions between the US and Russia over Syria unnerve investors.

Australian shares are lower as potential US military action against Syria stoked investor concerns about the impact of military action on the American economy.

Oil prices have jumped, hitting their highest levels in more than three years after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted missiles over Riyadh and US President Donald Trump warned Russia of imminent mil

The Australian dollar is slightly higher against a weaker US dollar that was weighed down by falls in US stocks after President Donald Trump tweeted missile threats against Syria and Russia.

Gold prices retreated from session highs on Wednesday but remained positive after the US. Federal Reserve confirmed policymakers' sentiment of a stronger US economy, denting safe haven appeal.

Australian shares have closed lower despite strong performances from energy and mining companies, with the market falling back after two sessions of gains sparked by an easing in US-China trade tensions.

Australian shares have opened lower despite a strong lead from the US, with investors taking a cautious stance ahead of upcoming key market events.

The Australian dollar has followed US stocks higher as investor concerns about rising trade tensions between the US and China eased after President Xi Jinping promised to cut import tariffs..

Oil prices surged more than three per cent on Tuesday as investors grew more confident the United States and China would resolve their trade dispute without damaging the global economy, while Middl

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, hitting their highest in nearly a week as the US dollar weakened and investors awaited potential US action against suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria.