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Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott says the Bunnings and Kmart owner has detected a "modest improvement" in retail conditions following a lift in property prices and government tax rebates.

There's no bad news in Western Australia's battery industry, Energy Minister Bill Johnston says, shrugging off the deferral of major projects in recent months.

Western Australia has recorded the largest increase in employment of any state for the month of October, up by 6,300 people, but its unemployment rate has remained static at 5.7 per cent, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Engineering company Monadelphous has entered the Chilean market with the acquisition of two jointly-owned mining services providers, Buildtek and Maqrent.

Magellan Power is considering operations for a capital raising early next year, including an IPO, as it sharpens its strategy to expand production of standalone power systems and microgrids.

Western Australia needs to be more aggressive in attracting foreign investment, Premier Mark McGowan told a Business News breakfast this morning, where he announced a recently established state economic office that is already facilitating dozens of projects.

Pawsey Supercomputing Centre has announced a tender as part of a $70 million new supercomputing system to replace its existing Magnus and Galaxy supercomputers.

Medibank chief executive Craig Drummond says the private health insurer's policyholder growth since the end of the last financial year is twice that of the prior corresponding period.

Nearmap shares have gained more than 16 per cent after the digital imagery company reaffirmed its guidance for this financial year.

BHP chief executive Andrew Mackenzie will retire as boss of the world's biggest miner at the end of 2019, when insider Mike Henry will take the reins.

The Australian share market has risen and the dollar slumped after jobs data for October showed a rise in unemployment.

Rio workers exposed to 'toxic gas'

Oil prices edged up overnight after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said it saw no signs of global recession and rival US shale oil production could grow by much less than expected in 2020.

Gold gained overnight as US President Donald Trump's speech on the trade ties with China diminished optimism for a deal and dented risk appetite.

WA-based construction contractors Civmec and Ausgroup have both reported a dip in quarterly profits as they gear up for an increase in maintenance work and new projects.

Two previously-rejected South Perth apartment proposals will be reassessed by planning authorities next week, with local developer Sirona Capital and a private Singaporean group scaling back their towers in efforts to win approval.

The Australian share market has fallen, with every sector save one in the red, after US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate his trade war with China if the two countries can't reach a deal.

A new land and house development is set to revitalise the former Kinlock Primary School site in Ferndale, with Yolk Property Group and Ventura Home Group appointed as project managers.

Perth's residential downturn has provided a strong boost to housing affordability, but there remains just two regions in the city where it is cheaper to buy than rent.

A 30-year-old FIFO worker accused of murdering a colleague on a Pilbara mine site has faced a West Australian court.

Fortescue Metals Group has agreed to a $6 million farm-in with Carawine Resources to explore its Paterson project in Western Australia, and a $2 million farm-in with Reward Minerals to explore its potash tenements in the McKay range.

Junior gold explorer Breaker Resources has agreed to a non-brokered $8 million placement to a private equity fund managed by New York-based Electrum Group, with the proceeds to fund drilling activities at Breaker's Lake Roe mine in Western Australia.

Wages growth softened as expected in the September quarter, offering more insight into why household consumption remains sluggish.

Afterpay will be available on eBay's local site next year in what the buy now, pay later service says represents its largest online arrangement in Australia.

WA is uniquely equipped to become a global leader in the space industry, according to the state's scientist of the year.

OPINION: Businesses need to step up and work with schools to support initiatives and programs to counter online bullying.

A suggestion by the Productivity Commission that Australia should employ wellbeing leaders to oversee mental health policy has raised debate over how schools can best approach mental health.

The Australian share market has moved lower, dragged down by falls in the heavyweight mining and financial sectors.

Canavan calls for good faith to settle Browse deal

Oil prices were little changed overnight after paring gains of about 1.0 per cent following a speech from US President Donald Trump that offered few new details about his country's trade talks with China.

Gold slipped overnight to its lowest in more than three months on increased appetite for riskier assets while US President Donald Trump failed to provide any information on the trade deal with China in his speech.

Perth-based WestStar Industrial has increased its service capabilities with the acquisition of oil and gas-focused steel fabricator Alltype Engineering.