Government

Gold eased to its lowest level in nearly one week overnight as the dollar rose and investors latched on to gains in global stocks, while palladium touched record highs on expectations of higher demand for the auto-catalyst metal.

Premier Mark McGowan has reallocated six portfolios within his cabinet, including the energy portfolio being transferred from Treasurer Ben Wyatt to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston.

GIC backs $326m buy as mining cities regain lustre

Oil prices have risen, bolstered by export cuts from Libya and planned OPEC-led production cuts, pulling back briefly after the United States reported a smaller-than-expected crude inventory drawdown.

Gold prices edged higher as the dollar slipped overnight and expectations for the number of US interest rate hikes next year dimmed, increasing the appeal of non-interest yielding bullion.

US stocks have closed up, though well below their session highs as investors pulled back in the last few minutes of trading despite optimism about US-China trade relations and some reassuring signs in British politics.

Fremantle’s port has room to grow container trade, possibly for three decades, according to a new report by the state government’s Westport taskforce, but freight infrastructure improvements are needed in the short term at Fremantle, Bunbury and Kwinana.

The state government has voiced its frustration at the Commonwealth’s decision to choose Adelaide as the home of Australia’s $41 million space agency.

Financiers take control of $61 million Park Avenue apartment complex

Gold is holding steady near a five-month peak as expectations for fewer interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve next year supported the non-yielding precious metal.

The S&P 500 and the Dow have closed marginally lower after volatile trading as investors swivelled their focus between China-US trade talks, President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the US government and political uncertainty in Britain.

Oil futures pared most of their gains overnight as stock markets turned negative on worries about a possible US government shutdown.

Opinion: Two high-profile billionaires have the state government in their sights, and Premier Mark McGowan has some tough decisions ahead.

Australia seeks more of lithium battery pie

Gold edged lower as the US dollar firmed against the pound on doubts about Britain's departure from the European Union, but falling equities and prospects of a slower pace of US interest rate hikes in 2019 kept bullion near a five-month peak.

Oil prices have fallen nearly two per cent, echoing the weakness in global stock markets as the focus returned to demand growth concerns and crude prices erased some of the gains made last week on an OPEC-led decision to cut output.

The state government has assured fishing industry representatives it has no plans to change how it determines catch limits across the sector after a surprise move last week to create, and take control of, new licences for local lobsters.

NBN targets business for $1 billion

Wall Street has tumbled in a broad sell-off led by declines in big internet and technology shares, and the benchmark S&P 500 index posted its biggest weekly percentage drop since March as concerns over US-China trade tensions and interest rates convulsed Wall Street.

Oil prices ended the week more than two per cent higher after OPEC members and allies like Russia agreed to reduce output to drain global fuel inventories and support the market, but the gains were

Gold hit a five-month peak as the dollar slid following weaker-than-expected US jobs data, which added to expectations that the US Federal Reserve may go slow on interest rate hikes next year.

The state government has reluctantly accepted an improved offer from the Commonwealth for remote housing funding.

Australia becomes an LNG force

Gold has risen to near a five-month peak on a weaker dollar and on expectations the pace of US interest rate hikes will slow, with the bullion also getting support from falling equities.

Oil fell about three per cent in choppy overnight trade after OPEC and allied exporting countries ended a meeting without announcing a decision to cut crude output, and prepared to debate the matter the next day.

US stocks have closed slightly lower, but well above their session lows, as the arrest of a Chinese technology executive fanned fears of US-China tensions over trade, while some beaten-up big technology and internet shares posted gains.

The state budget will be in surplus in 2019/20, according to Premier Mark McGowan, while a $421 million expansion of the Keystart program for first homebuyers and a move to reduce red tape will be two new policies to support the local economy.

Opinion: All signs point to a tough year ahead as international trade events meet tightening credit conditions amidst falling house prices and likely changes to negative gearing.

Red tape risks holding up frackers until 2021

Gold has slipped on expectations of more interest rate hikes following remarks from a US Federal Reserve official and as some investors booked profits after prices hit their highest in more than five weeks.

Global stocks have fallen, plagued by a flattening yield curve that sparked concerns about an economic slowdown in the United States and weakening expectations of a lasting US-China trade truce, while the US dollar steadied.

Oil prices dipped overnight ahead of a meeting of the world's biggest exporters, who will discuss cutting output to help shore up prices and curb excess supply.