Prime Media says it is consulting with Seven West Media after reports two of its major shareholders would block Seven's takeover of its regional affiliate.
Oil prices fell overnight after data showed Chinese exports declined for a fourth straight month, sending jitters through a market already concerned about damage to global demand by the trade conflict between the US and China.
Palladium soared to a record just shy of the $US1,900 mark overnight while gold prices held steady as uncertainty over US-China trade talks took centre stage ahead of a December 15 deadline for fresh US tariffs.
The Australian share market has closed modestly higher, with a drop in the health care sector trimming some of the index's gains after energy stocks powered ahead in early trade.
The state government has announced new direct flights between the Philippines and WA beginning in March of next year, with tickets expected to go on sale this month.
The alleged biggest public sector theft in Western Australia's history has prompted an independent review into the Department of Communities' financial dealings.
The Australian share market is slightly higher, with a drop in the healthcare sector trimming some of the index's gains after energy stocks powered ahead in early trade.
Oil prices rose more than 1.0 per cent on Friday and posted sharp weekly gains after OPEC and its allies agreed to deepen output cuts by 500,000 barrels per day in early 2020.
Gold slid 1.0 per cent on Friday as strong US jobs data renewed bets the Federal Reserve would stand pat on interest rates and also boosted demand for riskier assets while supply-squeezed palladium soared to a new record high.
The Australian share market has finished a turbulent week on a quiet note as it reclaimed a little bit more of the ground lost during two days of sharp midweek losses.
Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston has unveiled a raft of strategies to crack down on wage theft, while at the same time a national Fair Work sting at capital city hospitality hotspots revealed 75 per cent of businesses were breaking the law.
Oil futures were little changed overnight, supported by expectations that OPEC will deepen output curbs but pressured by the prospect that gas condensate will be excluded from cuts for non-member producers.
Gold edged higher overnight as uncertainty emerging from mixed messages on the US-China trade negotiations offset headwinds from positive economic data out of the United States while deficit-hit palladium extended a record surge.
Curtin University has announced the departure of vice-chancellor Deborah Terry, who will take up the role of vice-chancellor at the University of Queensland.
Panoramic Resources has formally rejected the takeover bid from Independence Group and confirmed it is seeking to raise $31 million to fund its operations, including the underperforming Savannah nickel mine.
Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman has announced the formation of a cultural precinct taskforce, ahead of WA Museum’s reopening in late 2020.
Caltex Australia is planning a $500 million capital raising and the sale of an initial 25 petrol stations for $136 million as it contends with an unsolicited approach from its Canadian suitor.
Oil prices surged 4.0 per cent overnight on expectations that OPEC and allied producers would extend production curbs and as US government data showed a large drop in domestic crude stockpiles.
Gold shrugged off earlier gains to fall overnight as a report suggesting progress on the US-China trade negotiations rekindled risk appetite while palladium notched up a fresh peak.
