AAP

The state government is planning to cap taxi payment fees at 5 per cent, which could cost the sector’s dominant player, Cabcharge, about $4 million a year.

Calls are mounting for a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia after new figures showed business conditions were wasting away, with little to no momentum building in the economy.

A sabotaged gas valve at a fracking site in the Kimberley region has been removed for further inspection.

Shares in iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group have fallen sharply after the price for iron ore dropped to a new five and a half year low.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources has lifted its full-year production guidance after achieving record production in the December quarter.

Qantas has cut fuel surcharges on its international flights in a move that will save frequent flyers money but won't reduce fares.

The share market is flat as investors shrug off an anti-austerity party's election victory in Greece.

A massive snowstorm descending on New York dulled Wall Street trade, but stocks ended a bit higher, helped by some positive quarterly earnings reports.

Gold prices have fallen as investors take profits on the metal's recent rally after a victorious anti-austerity party in Greece didn't appear inclined to take the country out of the eurozone.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a new five and a half year low, after an anti-austerity party won the Greek election and falls in metals prices.

Oil prices have fallen to fresh six-year lows in New York trade despite a warning from OPEC that prices could surge to $US200 owing to a shrinking investment in exploration.

The share market has posted its biggest weekly gain in two years, helpd by the European Central Bank's multi-billion euro stimulus package.

An Abbott government inquiry into workplace laws has opened a new battlefront with Labor and the unions.

Energy company Santos has foreshadowed potential writedowns following a steep slump in oil prices.

The next reading of inflation is expected to be one of the lowest in three years, after the price of oil more than halved in the past six months.

Former Coles boss Ian McLeod will leave parent company Wesfarmers to accept a post in the United States.

The share market is firmer across all sectors after the European Central Bank announced a much-anticipated stimulus package.

US stocks have soared after the European Central Bank announced a huge bond-buying stimulus program, with banks and big tech stocks leading the way helped by a sharply higher US dollar.

Oil prices have fallen on a jump in US petroleum stockpiles and the surge in the US dollar spurred by the European Central Bank's launch of a massive eurozone stimulus.

Gold prices have settled above $US1,300 an ounce for the first time in five months as investors anticipated weaker currencies on the back of the European Central Bank's bigger-than-expected bond-buying program.

The Australian dollar briefly fell to a two week low after the European Central announced its 60 billion euros ($A84.62 billion) a month economic stimulus plan.

Australians are continuing to buy new homes, suggesting home building will remain a shining light of the economy into 2015.

The head of gold miner Evolution Mining is confident about the year ahead but is warning the industry against losing its way again as the precious metal's value rises.

The share market has closed higher as mining companies, banks and energy producers performed strongly.

Packaging giant Amcor's long-serving chief executive Ken MacKenzie has announced his surprise resignation, but his replacement says it will remain business as usual.

Colin Barnett has no intention of becoming Western Australia's longest-serving premier, admitting he will not serve a full term if he wins the next state election.

Virgin Australia has lowered fares to Los Angeles as plunging oil prices cut its fuel costs.

Medicinal marijuana company Phytotech Medical has made a stellar stock market debut, with its shares doubling in value.

A shock rate cut from the Bank of Canada overnight has added to calls for the Reserve Bank of Australia to do the same next month - with one economist calling Australia's interest rate levels "absurd".

A heatwave in Western Australia's north is likely to bring record-smashing temperatures, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The share market is firmer as expectations of European Central Bank stimulus measures boost the resources sector.

Wall Street has finished higher for the third straight session, shrugging off global growth worries in expectation the European Central Bank will announce aggressive stimulus measures on Thursday.