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The property sector has been given its first taste of the latest changes to the state’s planning systems, with experienced town planner and urban designer Evan Jones revealing his initial ideas at a recent Urban Development Institute of Australia event.

OPINION: The challenges facing the McGowan government are laid out in the report into the Barnett government’s financial record.

Downer EDI has posted an $11.1 million first-half loss, dragged down by a goodwill impairment on its mining operations, write-downs from its freight rail divestment and redundancy costs from its recently acquired Spotless.

Local tech firm Nuheara has posted positive half-year results, with significant growth in revenue and its gross profit margin as the company continues to expand internationally.

Seven Group Holdings has lodged a big increase in earnings for the half-year, as improvements in the mining industry aided the strong performance of WesTrac.

Wages growth was stronger than expected in the final three months of 2017, but annual growth of 2.1 per cent is only slightly ahead of inflation.

Fortescue Metals' half-year profit has dropped 44 per cent as the miner offered wider discounts on its lower-grade product, but the result still came in ahead of market expectations.

After selling its Southern Cross gold operation last year, Chinese-owned Hanking Gold Mining has made a takeover proposal for Primary Gold worth $37.5 million.

Wesfarmers' first-half profit has plummeted 86 per cent to $212 million on the back of more than $1.3 billion in impairments against its UK hardware business and Target department stores.

Australian shares are marginally lower in early trade as investors take cues from a decline on Wall Street and local corporate earnings weigh on sentiment.

Boutique property player LKD Development Group has taken the next step in delivering its latest project, appointing Jaxon to commence construction of its nine-storey residential development on Tully Road in East Perth next month.

Joyce clings to power as Nats dissent grows

US crude has risen to a near two-week high on signs of inventory declines at a key storage hub, while Brent eased under pressure from a stronger dollar.

The Australian dollar is firmly back below 79 US cents.

Gold prices have been pressured by a stronger US dollar and rising interest rates, dropping for a third session, but were underpinned by political worries and uncertainty about this week's huge US bond auctions.

Australian shares have ended the day flat with a no-surprises line-up of company profit results failing to fire investor action in the absence of major overseas leads.

Mining contractor NRW Holdings has recorded strong growth in underlying earnings for the half year, but has decided against paying a dividend to ensure debt is fully serviced.

A review of Barnett government programs and projects has identified a raft of shortcomings in governance, project management and financial management, and listed Royalties for Regions as the single biggest problem.

Master Builders Association WA executive director Michael Mclean has announced plans to retire at the end of this year while former Perth business director Suzanne Ardagh has been appointed to lead Lester Blades’ board advisory service.

BHP Billiton has increased the expected cost of its South Flank iron ore project to $US3.6 billion ($A4.6 billion), substantially above the estimated range it provided in June 2017 when initial funding was approved.

Deputy Prime Minister and National Party leader Barnaby Joyce’s position has been further weakened today after the Western Australian branch of his party called for his resignation.

Aspiring gold miner KIN Mining is still on the hunt for a new managing director after the resignation of Don Harper last week, with the company announcing a board restructure that will include an independent chairperson.

Shares in Vocus Group have hit a four-month low after the telco held off paying its half-year dividend and downgraded its annual earnings guidance.

Engineering services firm Monadelphous Group has lifted half-year profit by nearly a third as it rides the rebound in resources sector activity.

Local gold producer Saracen Mineral Holdings has announced an impressive rise in net profit for the half-year, while Northern Star Resources has recorded a slight dip in earnings in its results.

The director of a Perth security company has been acknowledged for selling personal assets to provide back pay for staff who were underpaid more than $200,000.

Seven West Media's first-half profit has risen to $100.7 million but the broadcaster has temporarily suspended its dividend to focus on managing expenses.

The Australian share market has opened lower in the absence of a lead from US markets, which were shut for a public holiday, leaving local investors with only a negative lead from Europe and Britain.

Union readies for new tug of war with BHP

EY has named Fiona Drummond as its next managing partner in Western Australia, making it the second of the big four accounting firms to have a female heading its Perth office, and only the sixth out of 86 accounting firms listed on the BNiQ Search Engine.

Gold prices are down slightly as the US dollar claws back some recent losses and stocks rose, but worries about US inflation keep buyers in the metal.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower against its US counterpart which has rebounded off three-year lows.