AAP

Ambulance ramping will be banned at three Perth tertiary hospitals from July 1 to cut down on patient waiting time.

Origin Energy will take $150 million in costs out of the business by June next year to defend its position as the nation's largest utility company.

The unemployment rate is expected to have remained steady in May, with job cuts in the coal and iron ore sectors keeping a lid on jobs growth.

Conflict of interest concerns have again been raised about Transport Minister Dean Nalder, this time regarding the contentious $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link.

The Australian share market has opened flat, following a similar lead from Wall Street.

Gold prices rose as European stock markets fell and commodities picked up across the board.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher but flat local job advertisement figures are capping any gains the currency makes.

Wall Street stocks have finished a choppy session little-changed as a big General Electric asset sale offset worries about spiking US treasury yields.

Oil prices have surged as traders girded for a bullish US crude storage report and the government lowered its forecast for American production in the second half of 2015.

The share market has extended its horror run despite rising in morning trade, closing weaker for a sixth straight session.

Home loan approvals were surprisingly strong in April, up 1 per cent, as low interest rates sparked demand for new houses, according to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has offered two pieces of advice to solve Australia's housing affordability problem - build more homes and get a good job that pays well.

The Australian share market is lower, following falls in overseas markets overnight.

Gold prices rose slightly after a three-day streak of declines as the US dollar and stock markets fell.

US stocks have dropped as the week kicked off with especially large declines in technology shares and airline stocks.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as the greenback weakened overnight and the local currency benefited from the release of some positive Chinese economic data.

Oil prices have fallen as the market weighed last week's OPEC meeting and the prospects for a breakthrough in upcoming nuclear talks with Iran.

The Australian share market is in the midst of a horror run, with a massive $75 billion stripped from its value over the week, its worst weekly performance in three years.

It's been reported that seven maintenance workers at Alcoa's Kwinana Refinery in Perth have been exposed to asbestos, but the aluminium producer says the health risk is "extremely low".

Australia has lost one of the most colourful and controversial figures in the nation's corporate and sporting history with the death of Alan Bond after open heart surgery.

National Australia Bank will conduct another offer of new shares after failing to raise its intended $5.5 billion.

Bargain hunters and a rise in the iron ore price have helped lift the Australian share market following four days of heavy losses.

Gold prices are lower following some robust US economic data and shrugging off earlier weakness in the greenback.

The Australian dollar is lower as the fallout continues from the release of disappointing local retail spending and international trade figures.

Wall Street stocks have tumbled due to unease over Greece, volatility in the bond market and worries about growth after the IMF cut its US economic forecast.

Oil prices have fallen sharply for a second day ahead of OPEC's summit to review its production levels amid an oversupplied market.

Global miner Glencore has taken a swipe at Australia's mining giants, saying their mass iron ore and coal expansions had "cannibalised" revenue and hurt the economy.

The Australian share market has fallen to a fresh four-month low as international investors sell risk assets amid uncertainty.

shares have plummeted to their lowest level in 14 years after the grocery wholesaler shocked investors by suspending its dividend payments after making $640 million worth of writedowns.

Australia has notched up its highest monthly trade deficit on record, driven largely by a slump in coal and iron ore exports.

Shares in logistics and infrastructure company Qube have hit a seven-month low as it warned tough trading conditions are unlikely to improve in the next 12 months.

Australian retail spending has hit a wall after 10 straight months of gains, with big falls in sales of liquor, footwear, food and recreational goods.