Government

Oil prices have dropped off three-year highs as traders booked profits but healthy demand underpinned prices near $USUS70 per barrel, a level not seen since the market slump in 2014.

Gold has slipped from the previous day's four-month high, reflecting losses across the commodities complex as the US dollar claws back some losses the day after hitting a three-year low against a basket of currencies.

The state government will determine the extent of a cap on crowd attendance at Optus Stadium for a potential Big Bash League semi-final after this weekend's community day, which will help it determine the capacity of public transport to move big crowds to and from the 60,000-seat stadium.

The political fallout from China's increasing assertiveness in the region, and the Communist government's role in business, will pose threats and challenges for WA.

The Australian dollar has continued its confident march toward 80 US cents as the greenback's weakness lingers with a holiday in the US.

Oil has hovered near a three-year high above $US70 a barrel on signs that production cuts by OPEC and Russia are tightening supplies, although analysts warned of a "red flag" due to surging US production.

Gold prices have hit a four-month peak as the US dollar index slumped to its lowest in three years but some analysts say the greenback's slide could be short-lived as it hasn't been driven by fundamentals.

The strong performance of the Business News index of 30 local companies designed to track the state's economy implies good years ahead for WA.

Local business chiefs are positive about the state's economy in the year ahead, according to the recent Business News CEO Survey.

The Australian dollar is back above 79 US cents - just.

Oil prices have risen for a sixth day after Russia's oil minister said that global crude supplies were "not balanced yet," alleviating market concerns about a wind-down of the OPEC-led deal to reduce production.

Gold has hit a four-month high heading to a fifth straight weekly gain as the US dollar fell against the euro on an agreement for a political coalition in Germany.

To a large degree, Labor's big budget repair plans have stalled, while newcomers on both sides of the aisle find their way around their house on the hill.

The Australian dollar has extended the gain it enjoyed from November's better-than-expected retail trade figures.

Oil prices have risen about one per cent to three-year highs, pushing the global Brent benchmark past $USUS70 a barrel, on further signs of tightening supply in the United States and expectations that OPEC's output cuts would underpin the market.

Gold prices have approached a four-month high set on the previous day after minutes of a European Central Bank meeting showed a more aggressive tone and boosted the euro against the US dollar.

The education, arts, accommodation and agriculture sectors were the state's biggest job creators in the five years to November 2017, according to data recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Retail sales rose 1.2 per cent nationally to $26.4 billion in November, in seasonally adjusted terms, beating market expectations of an increase of 0.4 per cent, while Western Australian retail spending was up 1.4 per cent for the month.

Top cricket venue nod for stadium

Crude oil prices have jumped, settling near three-year highs after US government data show a drop in crude inventories and production, even as fuel inventories rose.

The Australian dollar has rebounded from its previous session's loss against its weakened US counterpart.

Gold has risen, hitting its highest in nearly four months as the US dollar swoons after a report that Chinese officials had recommended slowing or halting purchases of US Treasury securities.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt has warned businesses using labour hire companies to confirm they have met their payroll tax obligations, after a number of local operators fell victim to a scam.

The Australian share market looks set to follow its international peers and open in the green, while the local dollar has fallen nearly a third of a cent against the US dollar.

McGowan says WA will clear path for gas pipeline from Browse

Oil prices have edged higher, with US crude touching its highest since December 2014, supported by OPEC-led production cuts and expectations that US crude inventories have dropped for an eighth week in a row.

Gold has edged lower, weighed down by a stronger US dollar on the back of concerns about political uncertainty in Europe, while a buoyant stock market also drained enthusiasm for bullion.

Oil prices are little changed, trading near their highest since May 2015, as political concerns in some OPEC nations offset projections for higher US oil production.

The Australian dollar has slipped a little against its US counterpart which has strengthened to a one-week high against a basket of six major currencies.

Gold has edged lower, retreating further from last week's 3-1/2-month high as the US dollar regained some ground against the buoyant euro and traders bet on further US interest rate hikes after Friday's payrolls data. The dollar, which has remained weak after its biggest annual drop since 2003, had helped to lift assets priced in the US currency, with gold last week registering a fourth straight weekly gain for the first time since April.

Former Rio Tinto executive Denise Goldsworthy and former Water Corporation chair Eva Skira have been appointed directors of Western Power, replacing Sharon Warburton and George Cash.

City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says she is focused on diversifying the city's economy away from the mining industry as she returns to work after a four-month absence.