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Oil prices rose slightly as Saudi exports fell and solid demand soaked up some of what is seen as an oversupplied market, but Ecuador's decision to opt out of an OPEC-led supply reduction pact complicated the outlook.

Gold prices hit a more than two-week high supported by expectations of stronger demand from the physical market and as the dollar fell on fading prospects of an imminent increase in US interest rates.

The share market has ended the session sharply lower after a spike in the Australian dollar hit export-oriented companies, while the financial sector led broad-based losses.

Construction and contract mining giant CIMIC Group has rewarded shareholders with a 25 per cent increase in dividends, as revenue growth in all of its core businesses contributed to a 22 per cent rise in half-year profit.

Spotless Group's directors have reluctantly recommended shareholders accept a $1.3 billion takeover bid from engineering company Downer.

The Australian share market has opened lower, as broad-based losses follow an uneventful Wall Street session. 

WA wants unspent port cashThe State Government has demanded Canberra hand over $339 million that has been sitting in Federal coffers for almost nine years for the now-a

The Australian dollar has slid from its two-year high against its US counterpart, falling back below 78 US cents.

Oil fell one per cent lower as investors continued to await strong indications that an OPEC-led effort to drain a glut was proving effective but output increases in some top producers eased, keeping losses in check.

Gold climbed \and was likely to see further gains after the dollar slumped to multi-month lows on the back of data that pointed to weak US inflation and dampened prospects for rate hikes.

Declines from the heavyweight banks and health care companies have partly offset strong gains from the miners and energy players to send the Australian share market lower.

The share market was flat after a choppy first half hour of trade for the week, despite a positive lead from US markets.

GST push puts frack ban at riskThe State Government would have to abandon its ban on gas fracking across the South West and open the Margaret River area to coal mines u

Gold prices jumped 1.4 per cent to the highest level in nearly two weeks on Friday after data pointed to weak U.S. inflation, reaffirming doubts that the U.S. central bank would again hike interest rates this year.

The Australian dollar has retained most of its gains against its US counterpart after surging to a 15-month high on Friday following disappointing US inflation data.

The Australian share market has closed out another volatile week of trade on a positive note, with gains across the board led by a resurgent energy sector.

The Australian share market has opened higher with all sectors except telecommunications posting gains.

Telstra under pump to slash dividendTelstra investors are bracing for a cut to the company’s popular dividend, as the telecommunications giant faces growing pressure fr

The Australian dollar is still rising strongly and as reached a four-month high against its US counterpart which remains unchanged ahead of key US jobs figures.

Oil prices have 1.3 per cent after much stronger demand in China overshadowed a downbeat report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that showed higher production by key OPEC exporters.

Gold has retreated from earlier gains as the US dollar has turned higher and global stocks gain on upbeat data, even as investors wager that policy tightening in the United States will be glacial at best.

Gains have been made in nearly all sectors of the share market as it rose by more than 1 per cent, following signals from the US Federal Reserve that it will gradually tighten interest rates.

Human skeletal remains have been found at the building site of the new WA Museum in Northbridge and the Homicide Squad has been brought in.

Western Australian businessman Roger Hussey has been remembered by his colleagues as an intelligent and energetic contributor to the local community, following his death yesterday.

The Australian share market has opened higher with all sectors in the green on the back of a strong lead from Wall Street, where the Dow Jones closed at a record high. 

Business backs WA GST pushThe nation’s biggest businesses have thrown their support behind an overhaul of the GST, saying the system is holding back the national econom

The Australian dollar is again heading upwards against its US counterpart, which has remained steady, and toward 77 US cents.

Oil futures have risen as a report showing hefty drawdowns in US crude inventories are offset by data pointing to lacklustre petrol demand.

Gold prices have risen, edging further from this week's near four-month low after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen curbed speculation that US interest rates would rise more than once this year.

Rising iron ore prices couldn't protect the Australian share market from the fallout from the latest political drama in the US, with all sectors shedding value as investor sentiment was hit by concerns about the future of the Trump administration's economic agenda.

The Australian share market has opened weaker after Wall Street ended lower and as investors await testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

Get on with energy fixThe new boss of the Australian Energy Market Operator has increased the pressure on federal and state energy ministers to endorse the Finkel revie