AAP

Rey Resources has withdrawn its application for environmental approval for a controversial coal project in WA's remote Kimberley region.

The Western Force have appointed former assistant David Wessels as senior coach for the next two Super Rugby seasons, while skipper Matt Hodgson is on the verge of re-signing.

Western Australia's potato industry no longer faces heavy regulation after the state government passed legislation to remove 70-year-old restrictions.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher.

Gold prices have risen nearly two per cent, the biggest percentage gain since June, as disappointing US economic data reinforced speculation the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates at its September policy meeting.

Global benchmark Brent crude has fallen more than half a per cent as hopes wane for an agreement between two of the biggest oil producers to freeze output to tackle a global supply glut.

The Australian dollar has risen on the back of disappointing US services data and market expectations of strong local GDP figures.

The Australian share market lost further ground in afternoon trading, hurt by falls across financial, telecom and resource companies as the Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates unchanged.

An accountant who stole more than $2.1 million from his employers and gambled it all away has been jailed in Western Australia for six years.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is content to sit back and assess the impacts of its two rate cuts this year.

Three former McDonald's executives and a Sydney-based private equity firm have taken control of Pizza Hut in Australia.

JB Hi-Fi has responded to renewed media speculation by saying that it is continuing acquisition discussions with whitegoods retailer The Good Guys but nothing has been finalised.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as currency markets were relatively stable overnight.

Crude oil futures has touched a one-week high before paring gains after top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia confirmed they had agreed to co-operate on stabilising the oil market, and raised hopes of limiting output in the future.

Gold has held steady, close to a one-week high touched in the previous session, as the US dollar dipped on receding expectations of an imminent interest rate rise but the yellow metal's gains were capped by stronger global stocks.

The Australian share market has made some solid gains as the prospect of an interest rate hike in the US in September was pared back following some weaker-than-expected US jobs figures on Friday night.

The Reserve Bank is likely to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its meeting tomorrow, with the main focus set to be on potential signals of future moves.

Woolworths has pressed on with cutting ties with Masters by replacing its directors on the failed hardware chain's board with staff from insolvency firm KordaMentha.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has entered into an agreement to buy half of BHP Billiton’s stake in the Scarborough offshore gas fields in the Carnarvon Basin for up to $US400 million ($A528 million).

The Australian share market has opened higher.

Gold has risen more than one per cent after US jobs growth came in below expectations, dampening the likelihood of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this month, but bullion pared gains after the US dollar turned positive.

The Australian dollar is higher on the back of a disappointing US jobs report.

The share market has fallen for a third consecutive session as weakness in all sectors, particularly financials, outweighed gains by miners.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce's annual pay soared to $12.96 million in the year to June 30 as he steered the airline to a record profit.

Internet provider TPG Telecom has made the first move toward becoming Singapore's fourth mobile communications operator.

Long-serving economist Guy Debelle will be the new deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Aurizon has appointed Andrew Harding as chief executive in place of Lance Hockridge, calling the former Rio Tinto iron ore head the right person to increase value for shareholders.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

The Australian dollar is higher after patchy US economic data pushed the greenback lower.

Gold has turned higher after tapping the lowest level in more than two months, as the US dollar fell on unexpectedly weak US manufacturing data that raised doubts about the economy's strength.

Oil prices have fallen more than three per cent, heading for their sharpest weekly slide since January as investors brushed aside talk that OPEC might freeze production and focused on a growing glut from US crude stockpiles.