AAP

Former Western Australian chief justice David Kingsley Malcolm achieved a lot during his 18 years in the role, and will be remembered as a kind and patient man by those who knew him.

Two major national contractors are embroiled in takeovers, with Tenix Holdings on the receiving end of a $300 million bid by Downer EDI, and Transfield Services revealling it has received a $1 billion takeover bid from a Spanish building giant.

The share market has closed firmer for a fifth consecutive session as concerns about global economic growth appear to fade.

It's the big deal nobody knows anything about.

Some farmers will have to take a hit for the nation if proposed plans to build more dams are approved, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says.

Two Chinese companies suing federal MP Clive Palmer have a genuine dispute against him, a judge says.

New South Wales has knocked off Western Australia as the country's strongest economy, as the glow of the mining investment boom continues to fade.

Shares are more than one per cent firmer as Australian investors shrug off concerns about slowing global growth.

Shares in mining services business Ausdrill have slumped to a five-year low after its second profit warning in just two months.

The federal government hopes to raise up to $5.5 billion from the sale of Medibank Private.

US shares have surged after a strong rise in Europe's equity markets, with investor zeal returning following a sell-off earlier in the week.

Gold prices have fallen as a relief rally in US equities saps investor appetite for haven assets like precious metals.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as global stock markets stabilise after last week's heavy falls.

The share market has bucked the global trend to achieve a fourth straight day of gains, as investors snap up cheaper stocks.

Oil and gas producer Santos has lifted production nine per cent to its highest level in seven years, thanks to the ramp-up of the massive PNG LNG project.

Colin Barnett has promised not to increase iron ore royalty rates amid an awkward stoush with the world's biggest miners.

Biotech firm Virax Holdings' shares have jumped 40 per cent after announcing it's set to take over US government funded clinical trials of a drug to treat terminal cancers.

Virgin Australia will pay just $1 to take full ownership of discount carrier Tigerair Australia.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has caved in to shareholder demands to list its yet-to-be-named $US15 billion spin-off in London.

The Australian dollar is weaker as iron ore prices fall and financial market volatility continues.

Wall Street has finished little changed after another rocky trading session, as the market weighed better US economic data against its fears over sluggish global growth.

Oil prices in New York have rebounded after briefly slipping below $US80 a barrel, as a mixed US crude inventory report spurred a rally.

Prices for gold and other precious metals have fallen, as a sell-off in equity markets pushes nervous investors into the US dollar amid global growth concerns.

The Australian share market has closed higher, finishing in positive territory despite falls among the miners and a dip early in the session.

James Packer says lucky high rollers and weak consumer confidence are hurting Crown's performance.

Supermarket giant Coles set aside one day a year called ‘‘profit day'' to extract improper payments from its suppliers, the competition regulator alleges.

Fortescue Metals Group's chief executive says the cost of iron ore will stay low until high-cost producers leave the market, and that was happening more slowly than expected.

Iluka Resources says it plans to re-start a Western Australian mine due to what it says is an improving mineral sands market.

The share market has opened 0.7 per cent lower after the most volatile day of trade on Wall Street in more than two years.

Woodside Petroleum has increased its full-year production guidance after a better-than-expected September quarter.

Oil prices have dropped again on rising fears that slowing economic growth will hit petroleum demand and further glut the market.

Gold prices have surged to a one-month high as jitters over the health of the global economy and steep losses in equities brought investors back into the arms of the haven asset.