AAP

The radical reshaping of Western Australia's local councils has begun, with the state government announcing on Sunday that the City of Perth will more than double in size to include Crown casino, t

The Australian share market has started the week flat, following a soft lead from the US and weakness in Japanese stocks.

Premier Colin Barnett has again warned of a "very tight" budget for Australia's economic golden child, as pressure comes from Defence Minister Stephen Smith to spend money on roads infrastructure.

US stocks rallied from intraday lows on Friday, picking up momentum after a dreary open and ending narrowly in the black.

Whoever wins the federal election will be tasked with managing an economy that can no longer rely on a mining investment boom that has helped extend the nation's unbroken expansion to a staggering

A rally by banking shares has helped the Australian share market shrug off weaker resources stocks and close the week with another rise.

The coalition will let Labor's Gonski-based funding system stand for a year if it can't get legislation repealing it through parliament.

Mining giants BHP Billiton and its partners, including Rio Tinto, will spend $US3 billion ($A3.2 billion) to build a new seawater desalination plant at the Escondida mine in Chile.

Resource companies are struggling as the Australian market opens flat.

The Australian dollar is higher after disappointing US durable goods data dampened hopes that the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its economic stimulus soon.

US stocks have closed higher as soaring Facebook shares were up 30 per cent, boosting sentiment.

The Australian share market ended the day flat as resources stocks were hit by weaker metals prices and financial stocks rose.

Shares in OZ Minerals have dropped more than seven per cent after the miner warned it would produce less gold this year than previously expected.

Like the captain of a sinking ship, the days of cheaper petrol, electronics, clothing and overseas travel will go down with the falling Australian dollar.

Troubled gold miner Newcrest is expecting production to fall during the September quarter.

The Australian share market has opened a quarter of a per cent lower.

Perth median house prices hit a new record in the June quarter, according to a new report, with population growth and the state's strong economy likely to contribute to further rises in the near fu

US stocks have closed mostly lower, with weak earnings and a gloomy outlook from Caterpillar weighing down the Dow.

Gold has fallen as stronger economic data bolstered the US dollar and fanned worries about the end of US monetary stimulus measures.

The Australian dollar hit a one month high after the release of lower than expected local inflation figures, but later fell on the release of weak Chinese manufacturing figures.

Livestock exporter Wellard has been cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation into the cull of more than 20,000 Australian sheep in Pakistan, angering animal welfare groups.

Resource companies have shaken off a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing to help the Australian share market finish firmer.

Australand's profit dipped in the first half of 2013, and the property developer says months of takeover speculation have affected the company.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the government is still gauging the state of the budget as policy makers face fiscal pressures globally.

Australia has recorded another quarter of low inflation, but economists say the numbers fail to give a clear indication of whether there will be an interest rate cut on August 6.

The Australian share market is a little higher ahead of the release of key inflation figures and data from China.

US stocks have closed mixed, with the Dow creeping up to close at a new record high after mixed company results, while Apple dragged the Nasdaq lower.

The Australian dollar has hit a one-week high, getting a boost from the rising gold price and a good performance on Asian share markets.

Receivers and managers have been appointed to The Rare Coin Company after 31 years of trading.

Another day of soaring gold and commodity prices has helped the Australian share market close higher.

A rise in the gold price has delivered resources stocks a boost and helped to lift the local sharemarket.

Around half of Australian businesses say they recorded no revenue growth in the past 12 months, but most believe the future is looking brighter.