The number of new homes approved for construction in Western Australia fell for a 15th consecutive month in December, with the industry flagging a downturn in national activity.
The Australian dollar has drifted lower following the Reserve Bank's widely anticipated decision to leave interest rates unchanged for the tenth straight month.
Gold has steadied after touching three-month highs, underpinned by global growth concerns and as another sharp drop in the oil price pushed investors toward safe-haven assets.
The state government has again changed its mind on a key election promise, with Transport Minister Dean Nalder saying he is now in favour of an underground heavy rail system for Perth's north-western suburbs.
Strong gains in Facebook and Alphabet have helped Wall Street cut losses and stage a late-day rally, with major indexes closing near the unchanged mark.
Gold has risen to a three-month high, extending its recent rally on worries about global economic growth and hopes for easier monetary policy after weak factory data in Asia and Europe.
A strong end to the year in the national market for initial public offerings could be a harbinger for the year ahead, according to the annual IPO Watch Australia report.
Perth dwelling values fell 1 per cent in January as Australia's combined capital cities showed a 0.9 per cent rise, with the local market expected to remain soft this year.
Gold has edged higher following data showing US economic growth braked sharply in the fourth quarter and the price of the precious metal was on track for its biggest monthly rise in a year after global economic headwinds hit riskier assets.
The state's environment minister has picked three legal professionals to conduct a review into the Environmental Protection Authority, in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Roe 8 highway project last month.
WA is one of the world's largest producers of lithium, but a plan to diversify from mining into advanced manufacturing opportunities will be tricky to shore up.
Crude oil prices have risen to their highest in three weeks on hopes for a pact among oil producers to cut output, while the US dollar slipped on bets that interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve would be more gradual than it has suggested.
Gold has fallen one per cent, pressured by earlier strength in equity markets on the back of a rally in oil prices, with bullion investors quick to cash in gains from the Wednesday's rally to 12-week highs.
Wall Street has climbed as a blockbuster quarterly report from Facebook drove tech shares higher and a bounce in oil prices propped up the beleaguered energy sector.
A collaboration between Victor Goh's AAIG and Adrian Fini's private development firm, Fini Group, plans to develop apartments and a hotel at Elizabeth Quay, after offering $85 million for two lots.
Wall Street dropped sharply after the US Federal Reserve frustrated stock investors hoping for a strong sign it might scale back future interest rate hikes because of recent financial and economic turmoil.
