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OPINION: Finding a balance in terms of market intervention and social restrictions will test governments across the country at this time of crisis.

Perth's residential property market is proving resilient in the early stages of the novel coronavirus crisis, but agents are bracing for leasing and home sale transactions to grind to a halt in coming weeks.

The Australian share market has dived to an almost eight-year low as borders close and businesses shut in efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Santos is confident a suite of financial measures introduced today will help it withstand the impacts of COVID-19, while MMA Offshore has withdrawn its guidance as the virus crisis hits the energy sector.

SPECIAL REPORT: As more businesses begin to embrace remote working, cyber security companies are warning workers to be aware of the risks they face online.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA ICT service providers have an important role to play as businesses rush to adapt amid the COVID-19 fallout, but there are challenges.

New research from BDO has found Australian companies are unaware of the cyber security threats they're facing, despite becoming more sophisticated in how they manage the issue more broadly.

BHP has announced it is establishing a $50 million Vital Resources Fund to help support regional Australian communities in areas of its operations, including the Pilbara and Goldfields regions, fac

Strandline Resources has completed a raising announced in January, while Southern Gold has cut the size and pricing of a planned capital raising.

Lynas Corporation and Galaxy Resources have suspended operations in response to tighter overseas government controls, while explorer Whitebark Energy has also felt the impacts of COVID-19.

Industry peak body Fashion Council WA entered administration on Friday, four months after private business Perth Fashion Festival suffered the same fate.

The state government is considering broadening COVID-19 testing criteria as the number of confirmed cases jumped by 20 in Western Australia overnight, with Premier Mark McGowan admonishing those not adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Virgin Australia is likely to cut more domestic flights and regional airline Rex will only operate passenger services in Queensland as a virus-spooked nation bunkers down amid new travel and tradin

Department of the Premier and Cabinet director general, Darren Foster, is stepping down immediately, with senior bureaucrats Rebecca Brown and Sharyn O’Neill stepping into the breach.

Talks are under way to convert the Western Australian holiday hotspot Rottnest Island into a COVID-19 quarantine zone as the state's border closure approaches and the number of confirmed cases continue to rise.

Pubs, cinemas and churches will be forced to close across Australia from noon on Monday to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Australian stocks have plunged more than 7.5 per cent as borders close and businesses shut in efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19: National lockdown looms as states close business

Wall Street has wrapped up its worst week since October 2008, with the Dow and S&P 500 sliding more than 4 per cent on Friday.

US crude tumbled 10.7 per cent on Friday and posted its biggest weekly decline since the 1991 Gulf War as the coronavirus epidemic dried up global demand and as officials in Washington said an envoy would head to Saudi Arabia to deal with fallout of a Saudi-Russia oil price war.

Gold rebounded on Friday, rising as much as 3.1 per cent, as a wave of fiscal and monetary stimulus by global central banks to counter the economic impact from coronavirus spread halted investors lure for cash.

A $20 billion loan guarantee for small businesses, $31.9 billion of grants to encourage small businesses to keep workers and $18 billion of support for welfare recipients and people who lose their jobs are the key elements in the federal government’s second round COVID-19 economic response.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss the market overview in these dramatic times, government and industry policy responses, travel challenges, earning guidances, businesses taking on staff, Acciona and CPB Contractors going head to head, Cottesloe aged care and apartment project, and our special report on the ICT sector.

The Australian share market has finished its worst week since October 2008 with a modest daily gain.

PM Scott Morrison announces further restrictions on indoor gatherings. He also announced a delay to the federal budget. Australia has recorded its seventh COVID-19 death. WA has 12 new cases.

Iris Residential has overcome a range of challenges to build its Booragoon apartments project, to begin within weeks.

The federal government will pour an extra $444.6 million into aged care facilities, including money to help them hold onto staff amid the coronavirus crisis.

Lithium miner Neometals has declared a partially franked dividend of 2 cents per share, despite challenging economic times and after the company delivered $45 million to shareholders over the past four years.

BHP will hire 1,500 temporary workers across the country on six month contracts, with at least 400 to be at Western Australian iron ore operations, Business News understands, while Woodside has pledged to cut payment times for contractors.

Curtin and Murdoch universities have introduced early semester breaks to prepare students and staff for a transition to online learning, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Wesfarmers has disclosed that nearly every part of its business has been affected by COVID-19, with Bunnings and Officeworks doing better while Target is suffering.

Small businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis will be able to defer their loan repayments for six months under a plan put forward by the banking industry.