Government

Rio Tinto eyes next big iron ore play

Oil fell on Thursday after US government data showed an unexpected build in crude oil stockpiles.

Wall Street's major indexes have risen as reports the US and the European Union may agree to withdraw auto tariffs fostered optimism on international trade relations among investors.

The planned overhaul of the GST distribution system may not be perfect, but it's a pragmatic and creative response all states and territories should be able to accept, Western Australian Treasurer Ben Wyatt said today.

Oil prices fell on Thursday after US President Donald Trump sent a tweet demanding that OPEC reduce prices for crude.

States get $9b top-up in GST fix

Brent oil has risen, driven higher by a threat from an Iranian commander and a drop in US crude inventories for the second week in a row.

Gold has touched a one-week high, extending the prior session's rebound from a seven-month low, helped by a softer US dollar and smouldering trade policy tensions, though the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates further may limit gains.

The Turnbull government has rejected a key recommendation of a review into the carve-up of GST revenue among the states and territories.

ASIC calls for crackdown on card sharks

Wall Street dipped on Tuesday, weighed down by Apple, Facebook and other technology stocks, in a trading session that ended early ahead of the US July 4 holiday.

Crude prices ended the overnight session slightly higher after a volatile day in which the US benchmark passed $US75 a barrel for the first time in more than three years before turning negative and later recouping its losses.

Gold prices have recovered from a near seven-month low and platinum bounced from close to a 10-year low as the dollar eased.

The Reserve Bank has left Australia's official interest rate at its record low level of 1.5 per cent for the 23rd month in a row, with weak household spending remaining an area of concern for the economy.

Opinion: Too many governments spend their time trying to be all things to all people, rather than seeking to deliver a couple of landmark reforms.

Oil futures have fallen as supplies from Saudi Arabia and Russia rose while economic growth stumbled in Asia amid escalating trade disputes with the United States.

Oil surge to drive $8.1bn LNG windfall

Wall Street has ended higher after a choppy session, with gains in Apple and other technology stocks offsetting worries about an escalating trade war between Washington and its trading partners.

Gold has slipped more than one per cent to its lowest in 6-1/2 months ahead of a US holiday, and platinum headed to its lowest in nearly 10 years as the greenback strengthened and an ongoing US-European Union trade spat pressured precious metals.

Oil prices have dipped amid escalating trade disputes between the United States and other major economies, although crude markets remained tight due to supply disruptions, high demand, and the looming US sanctions against Iran.

Coal to reclaim mantle as nation’s top export earner

Labor leader Bill Shorten has backed down from his ‘captain’s call’ to roll back company tax cuts for businesses with turnovers between $10 million and $50 million a year, after a leadership meeting today.

The state government is aiming to decide the future of the TAB by the end of this year, following today's release of a Treasury paper warning that failure to sell the state’s betting agency could create a major risk for the longevity of the local racing industry.

Despite the turnaround in the Darling Range by-election, the Liberals would do well not to get ahead of themselves.

Shorten hit by Labor tax backlash

The Australian dollar has bounced back and is higher against the greenback, after trading at its lowest level in around 18 months on Thursday.

Oil prices have climbed with US crude hitting a three-and-a-half year high, bolstered by supply concerns due to US sanctions that could cause a large drop in crude exports from Iran.

US stocks have risen as technology and other growth sectors rebounded from the prior day's declines and financial shares snapped a 13-day losing streak.

Western Australia was among the states leading a rise in job vacancies, which lifted 5.7 per cent between February and May driven by with growth in both the private and public sectors.

Chevron set to axe 400 jobs

The Australian dollar is lower against the greenback after a moderation in the Trump administration's approach to Chinese investment spurred the US dollar to rally against most major currencies.

Oil prices have jumped as plunging US crude stockpiles compound supply worries in a market already uncertain about Libyan exports, a production disruption in Canada and Washington's demands that im