Government

Tax over-claimers gouge $8.7bn

The state government says there was no conflict of interest with the recent awarding of a $205 million contract to Huawei, after it was revealed the Chinese group paid for flights and phones for two cabinet members during a trip to China in 2015.

Fragrance hangs on heritage

Wall Street's S&P 500 index rose for a fourth session to post its highest close since February 1, the day before the market began a sharp extended selloff, as strong results from PepsiCo boosted optimism about the earnings season.

Oil prices have risen, supported by a larger-than expected US stock draw and supply concerns in Norway and Libya.

Gold prices have been weighed down by a stronger US dollar, and may re-test a seven-month low after a failed attempt to break higher in the previous session.

Mining faces deep hole as students tune out

Gold has risen, touching its highest in two weeks as the US dollar weakened and the Chinese yuan recovered from June's lows.

Oil prices have gained, with US crude ending a choppy session higher on expectations for a Canadian production outage lasting until September, while global benchmark Brent gained on looming sanctions on Iran and falling output in Libya.

US stocks rose on Monday, giving the Dow and S&P 500 their biggest gains in more than a month, as bank shares jumped ahead of earnings reports later this week.

Security fears as Huawei snares $136m rail contract

US stocks have climbed, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hitting their highest levels in two weeks, as strong US jobs growth blunted the impact of an escalating US-China trade dispute.

Oil prices were mixed at the end of last week as a Canadian supply outage supported US crude prices, while an increase in production from OPEC's biggest exporter Saudi Arabia pushed Brent lower.

Gold prices fell at the end of the week but bounced off session lows as the US dollar weakened and equities rose.

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.