The Australian share market is lower after upbeat sentiment on Wall Street and Europe's key share markets dried up and investors await a key G7 meeting that starts tonight (AEST).
The Australian dollar is lower against a weakened US dollar and the other major currencies, while market risk sentiment has flipped from upbeat to downbeat when Wall Street opened with no obvious reason.
Global benchmark Brent crude has surged nearly $US2 a barrel, lifted by concern about a steep drop in exports from Venezuela and worries OPEC may not raise production at its June meeting.
US dollar weakness has helped boost gold prices, but gains were limited as the market awaited clues from next week's meeting of the Federal Reserve on the pace of US interest rate rises.
The building and construction industry is assessing a number of options to improve its practices in the wake of company collapses and unpaid contractors.
Australian shares have closed higher for the second consecutive day, with broad-based gains led by the miners and supported by the energy and financial sectors.
Perth house prices declined slightly last month, but are still up 1.1 per cent since February, according to the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.
Local tech company Fastbrick Robotics has rebranded as FBR, with the company aiming to broaden the use of its technology beyond bricklaying and construction.
The University of Western Australia remains in the top 100 universities in the world, while Curtin University has continued its move up the rankings, according to the 2019 QS University Rankings.
Andrew Forrest-chaired Fortescue Metals Group has taken a surprise 19.9 per cent stake in Atlas Iron, and says it will block the $280 million takeover proposed by diversified mining services business Mineral Resources.
The state's residential builders may have struggled through a slowdown in activity in recent years, but that hasn't stopped Summit Homes Group from pushing ahead with its $20 million investment in a new headquarters and client hub.
BN 25th Anniversary series- WA has been slow to introduce private ownership to some state industries, although a series of moves during the Court era generated benefits, according to one prominent WA economist.
AMP has been hit with a fourth shareholder class action over the scandals revealed at the Financial Services Royal Commission and the resulting damage to the embattled financial giant's market value.
Oil prices have fallen on worries that global supply is climbing after US inventories rose unexpectedly and Saudi Arabia and other big producers signaled that they may increase output.
Gold prices have stayed steady, see-sawing in a narrow range as a weaker US dollar and trade tensions provide support but investor anticipation of a US rate hike next week weighs on prices.
Higher prices for iron ore and oil and stronger-than-expected economic growth figures have helped boost the Australian share market and Australian dollar.
Millennium Minerals has secured a $17.5 million loan facility with Investec to fund an expansion of the company's Nullagine gold project in the Pilbara.
Avita Medical has tapped investors for $16 million as the company prepares to launch its spray-on burns treatment, which was co-developed by medical entrepreneur Fiona Wood.
Several major agricultural irrigation projects are moving forward in the state's north, with Pardoo Beef Corporation and Argyle Cattle Company among the proponents.
A joint venture established by global waste management company Veolia and indigenous partner Our Country has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract covering Rio Tinto's entire Pilbara iron ore operations.
