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The Australian share market closed higher, boosted by mining stocks after the release of a bumper trade report in China.

Australian firms are unlikely to get any relief from the relentless strength of the local dollar any time soon, particularly if overseas central banks keep pursuing policies that deflate their own

Mermaid Marine managing director Jeff Weber has picked up $4.5 million worth of the company's shares through the exercise of incentive options.

Phosphate miner Minbos Resources has secured $5.5 million in debt finance to boost working capital as it continues its search for a cornerstone investor to back its African projects.

Woodside Petroleum has played down suggestions that its gas project in Israel is under threat as it faces regulatory hurdles.

A Perth technology company has signed an exclusive deal with US giant Motorola to design cutting edge headsets for international markets.

Falling residential listings in the metropolitan area and strong population growth are putting upwards pressure on Perth house prices, new research says.

Premier Colin Barnett may say tomorrow's state election will go down to the wire, but bookies don't agree, paying out early for an expected Liberal win.

Banks have rejected calls for a new tax on the industry, saying the move would hurt retirees and small businesses.

The competition watchdog has delayed its decision on Virgin Australia's proposed takeover of Tiger Airways Australia.

Australian shares remain near four-and-a-half year highs, pushed up by a fifth straight day of gains on Wall Street.

Growing investor enthusiasm for equities in the wake of this week's records pushed US markets higher again on Thursday.

Cash Converters International managing director Peter Cumins has today sold $2.57 million worth of shares in the company he and his brother Brian Cumins helped build.

Global miner BHP Billiton has rejected allegations that it manipulated the iron ore market, saying it seeks to improve transparency in its trade with China.

Premier Colin Barnett can breathe easy now - the Community and Public Sector Union says it will hold off on potential industrial action until after the state election.

Five people have been taken to hospital after a leak of chlorine gas at James Packer's Crown Casino complex at Burswood.

The Australian dollar spent the day trading lower after better than expected US employment figures boosted the greenback.

A call for Health Minister Kim Hames to be sacked over his response to a string of fatalities among patients discharged from Northam Hospital is understandable, the opposition says.

Federal Finance Minister Penny Wong has indicated the government isn't about to launch into a spending spree to garner votes for the September election.

Green power utility Enerji Limited has announced a new agreement with an unnamed major Australian resources firm to install its waste heat-to-power system at an operating gold mine.

ANZ has cut another 50 jobs, this time reducing staff in its institutional and international banking operations.

The Australian share market has finished lower, despite some resilience in the resources and materials sector.

Rail operator Aurizon has signed a deal to haul up to 65 million tonnes of coal a year from the Queensland mines of BM Alliance Coal Operations and BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal.

The slowdown in the property market means that home owners in Perth are holding onto their houses for an average of 8.2 years, nearly two-and-a-half years longer than used to be the norm.

UK-based industrial services group Cape plc is planning to offload some of its Australian assets, including two divisions in Western Australia, after it took a $250 million-plus hit to its profit a

 The federal government should use its powers to override state counterparts and stop some approvals for coal and coal seam gas mining, an environmental lobby group says.

Western Australian listed companies have shrugged off mixed commodity price moves to gain value in February, according to new research.

Construction and engineering contractor Decmil Group has extended its reach into the oil and gas sector with the announcement of a $25 million contract win with Royal Dutch Shell.

A fall in coal exports and other mining commodities have increased the trade deficit.

The Liberals' election commitments will increase state debt by $1.2 billion, pushing total borrowings to $24. 8 billion in 2015/16, according to Treasury costings released today.

Maligned Treasurer Troy Buswell has moved to quell talk that he's set to succeed Premier Colin Barnett, reiterating he will never lead the Liberals again.