A difficult 2015 financial year for the Western Australian economy has flowed through to a soft performance for the state's listed money managers, according to BNiQ research, with the biggest player considering a restructure to diversify its income sources.
US stocks have finished lower on global growth fears with shares of industrial heavyweight Caterpillar sinking after it announced thousands of job cuts.
Spot gold has rallied more than two per cent for the biggest one-day gain in almost eight months as a weak US dollar sparked short covering while platinum recovered from a four-day rout even as automotive demand woes lingered.
Top Western Australian publicly listed companies with fewer women on boards than the national average may get the boost they need following the launch of a new club.
Western Australia has experienced the nation's highest rate of births, but the second biggest percentage fall in overseas migrants, taking the state's total population to about 2,587,000.
The state government has announced a better-than-expected result in its annual report on state finances for 2014-15, but Treasurer Mike Nahan says Western Australia has a long way to go before it returns to surplus.
Platinum has fallen to a six-and-a-half-year low, on fears about reduced demand from the auto sector, where it is used in diesel catalysts to clean up exhaust emissions, while palladium, used in petrol vehicles, surged seven per cent.
Oil prices have fallen, reversing earlier gains, as a modest rise in US output overshadowed a hefty drop in crude inventories in the world's top consumer.
US stocks have finished lower with petroleum-linked equities especially weak following a report showing the feeblest Chinese factory activity in more than six years.
The state government has invited the public to have a say on red tape reform through its #ShredTheRed campaign, while highlighting a number of efficiency improvements in the transport sector.
Kerry Stokes' private company and three property investors are among five bidders shortlisted for the privatisation of Perth's major fruit and vegetable market, which includes the largest land development site in Canning Vale.
Lisa Scaffidi has set out her plans for Perth at a Business News event as she campaigned for a third term as lord mayor, in a race against one of her own councillors, Reece Harley.
Perth-based AFL fans have snapped up 10,000 corporate hospitality tickets for the upcoming grand final, even though the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle are not guaranteed to qualify.
US oil prices have fallen while Brent, the international benchmark, rose for a second day as traders continued to weigh the global oversupply and weak demand growth.
Gold has fallen one per cent, pressured as the US dollar strengthened on renewed expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise US interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Dow and S&P 500 have rallied to recover some of the prior session's losses, but gains were minimal on the tech-rich Nasdaq due to weakness among biotech shares.
Oil prices have rebounded in what analysts said looked like a technical correction from heavy losses last week as the basic global oversupply picture remained intact.
Gold has retreated from the previous session's near three-week high as strength in stocks and the US dollar dampen a rally fuelled by the Federal Reserve's decision last week to keep US interest rates on hold.
The state government will receive a budget bonus of more than $300 million thanks to the fall of the Australian dollar, while farmers and exporters will also benefit from increased international competitiveness.
Prime Minister Turnbull has received praise from industry for his government's newly announced cabinet, with a number of Western Australians earning promotions.
The Australian dollar is lower as last week's decision not to raise the US Federal Reserve's interest rate begins to be seen as a bad sign for the US economy.
