US stock indexes are trading lower as a batch of weak quarterly reports dampened a robust earnings season and trade tensions rose on news the European Union may retaliate if the US slaps tariffs on EU cars.
After reaching a 16-year high in March, Western Australia's unemployment rate has enjoyed its third straight month of decline, with nearly 3,000 jobs added across the state in June.
Lithium advocates have been cautioned to separate facts from hype as it is not yet clear if battery manufacturing in Western Australia will be practical, although refining plans should proceed immediately, according to Mckinsey & Co partner Prabhav Sharma.
Lower company tax rates and changes to power pricing are among possible moves that would support the state's economic development, according to local academic Peter Hartley.
Gold prices have steadied as the US dollar eased off a three-week high, following an earlier drop in bullion to a one-year low as bullish comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell boosted the greenback.
Oil prices rose on Wednesday after US government data indicated bullish demand for gasoline and distillates, which overshadowed a surprise build in US crude inventories and US crude oil production hitting 11 million bpd for the first time.
The S&P 500 is hovering at five-month highs with gains in financial and industrial stocks due to strong earnings from marquee companies offsetting losses in the technology and energy sectors.
Wall Street has risen as Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's optimistic view on the US economy and solid earnings from Dow component Johnson & Johnson lifted expectations of a robust second-quarter earnings season.
With public consultation on the state government's Westport project starting this month, we look back at more than 20 years of planning for an outer harbour at Kwinana.
The S&P 500 has ended slightly lower following a drop in oil prices that weighed on energy shares and offset a jump in financials as Bank of America's results reinforced expectations of a strong US earnings season.
Mining services contractor Ausdrill has continued its board renewal, including the appointment of its first female director, just weeks after company founder Ron Sayers retired.
US stocks have risen slightly, putting the S&P 500 at its highest closing level in more than five months, as gains in industrials and other areas offset a drop in financials after results from three of the big banks mostly disappointed.
Gold edged higher as the US dollar eased off a six-month high against the Japanese yen, but bullion failed to gain traction as traders said US-China trade tensions so far were boosting the greenback instead of the precious metal.
Brent crude has strengthened, recouping some of its losses from the previous session as market focus returned to concerns about spare capacity following a warning from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Gold prices have slipped as US threat of tariffs on an additional $US200 billion of Chinese goods pushed safe-haven flows to the US dollar and dashed hopes that Washington would eventually step back from the escalating row.
Global benchmark Brent crude oil has had its biggest one-day drop in two years as escalating US-China trade tensions threatened to hurt oil demand, and news that Libya would reopen its ports raised expectations of growing supply.
US stocks have fallen, breaking a four-session streak of gains after Washington's threat to impose tariffs on an additional $US200 billion ($A270 billion) worth of Chinese goods fanned trade war fears, while a sharp drop in oil prices hit energy shares.
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.
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.
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.
