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The Australian dollar is higher against its US counterpart which has lost further ground as investors rethink the growth expectations under US president Donald Trump's administration

Oil prices have again slipped, falling to their lowest since late November, with Brent testing the $US50 per barrel support, after data showed record high US crude inventories rising faster than expected, raising doubts over the viability of OPEC-led output cuts.

Gold has climbed to a three-week high as the US dollar has fallen to seven-week lows and bond yields sink on uncertainty over the economic policies of US President Donald Trump.

Air travel from Perth to Broome and Perth to Karratha fell dramatically in January compared to the same month in 2016, according to the latest data by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.

MSP Engineering has established a new headquarters in West Perth to cater for a bigger workforce as it builds a $400 million lithium processing plant in Kwinana.

S2 Resources chairman Jeff Dowling and Clayton Utz partner Stephen Boyle have been named incoming directors of Fleetwood Corporation, while Michael Hardy has retired from board.

A former chief of staff to Premier Mark McGowan has been seconded to a senior role in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, triggering speculation he may become the next director general, putting him at the centre of government power.

Dormant Perth-based biotech company Pharmanet Group will re-emerge as a gold explorer after entering into an agreement to acquire Keras Australia by way of a reverse takeover.

A former Australian Workers Union official has appeared in a Perth court over the alleged misappropriation of more than $400,000.

Almost $30 billion has been wiped from the value of the Australian share market as concerns about delays to US President Donald Trump's healthcare and tax reforms rattled Wall Street and markets around the world.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the controversy-plagued City of Perth to not waste money on a $500,000 audit of its entire operation as his government contemplates sacking the council.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal says a modification to a previously awarded contract for littoral combat ships with the US Department of Defense is worth about $US36.6 million ($A47.8 million).

Indian sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has blasted US-based short-seller Glaucus Research Group for a scathing report which accused the Perth company of operating a Ponzi-like business structure.

Western Australia is driving a nationwide rise in Australians who are falling behind on home loan repayments, according to a report by ratings agency Standard & Poor's.

Bankwest is shutting its corporate banking services outside of Western Australia and moving customers to its parent, Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Carnegie Clean Energy has announced plans to raise up to $6 million to fund its share of the development costs of the $20 million Northam solar power project.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the prime minister to show some backbone and change the GST carve-up, saying agreement with all other state and territories is not necessary.

Arrium administrators KordaMentha has awarded BGC Contracting a $720 million contract to continue work at the Iron Knob and South Middleback Ranges iron ore projects in South Australia through to 2022.

Bianca Rinehart has been given the go-ahead to sue her mining-magnate mother over her handling of the family's multibillion-dollar trust.

The Australian share market is lower in early trade with investors spooked by a sharp sell-off overnight on Wall Street.

Softer race hate law to hit CoalitionThe government’s decision to water down race hate protection laws could cost it up to six seats due to a backlash from ethnic group

The Australian dollar is treading water against its US counterpart as the greenback falls to a six-week low against a basket of currencies but the local central bank minutes fail to shed fresh light on its likely moves.

Oil prices have fallen, with US crude dropping to its lowest since November, as concerns about new supplies overshadow the latest talk by OPEC that it was looking to extend output cuts beyond June.

Gold has rallied to the highest level in nearly three weeks after a strong debate performance from French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and as fading expectations for near-term US interest rate rise pushs the US dollar lower.

Almost 500,000 workers would need to be laid off in China’s steel industry by 2020 under a plan to reduce excess capacity, according to a report released by the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development this week.

The Reserve Bank of Australia says there is reason to believe commodity prices could rise higher than expected but is concerned about increasing risks in the housing market.

Private company Applied Electro Systems has become enmeshed in a legal fight with construction giant John Holland after the two businesses had a falling out over contracted work on Chevron’s Gorgon gas project.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as falls from the major miners and the big four banks offset gains for retailers and China-exposed baby formula and vitamin makers.

Ashley Reid has been appointed as the new chief executive of Cancer Council WA, replacing Susan Rooney who is stepping down in April, having led the organisation since 2002.

Heavy equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has launched a fully underwritten $20 million capital raising to fund its three-way merger with east coast companies Orionstone and Andy’s Earthmovers.

Chevron managing director of Australasia Nigel Hearne has confirmed a fourth LNG train at the Gorgon project won’t be happening in the near term, while calling on governments not to buckle to calls for higher taxes and increased regulation that will reduce competitiveness of the industry.

Shares in cleaning and catering company Spotless Group have jumped nearly 50 per cent after infrastructure and mining services firm Downer lobbed a $1.26 billion takeover offer.