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The Australian share market has closed relatively flat, after investors received a lacklustre lead from overseas markets and took a breather from the year-opening rally.

The Roe 8 road project will be cancelled if the Labor Party wins the upcoming state election, opposition leader Mark McGowan said today, even though the government has already signed a contract for construction, with $236 million of funding to be re-allocated to three alternative roads.

Former One Nation Senator Rod Culleton says he's recovering at home following an "unexpected attack" outside a Perth court yesterday.

Banks hiking mortgage interest rates out of cycle and failing to pass on official rate cuts are expected to dampen demand for housing this year, according to a new report.

OPINION: With the hot days of summer now upon us, many Western Australians might be confused about how safe it is to head to the beach, given the state government’s mixed messages on the threat posed by sharks.

Environmental approvals to allow mining below the watertable have been granted for BC Iron's Iron Valley mine site, in a move that will give the company potential to extend the life of the project.

A $52 million impairment has been taken by Alcoa World Alumina Corporation on its share of the Warro gas project in the Perth Basin, after the company determined exploration results by project operator Transerv Energy did not support the existing carrying value.

The Australian share market was only slightly higher in early trade with gains patchy due to the absence of a catalyst.

The Australian dollar is steady against its US counterpart in early trade on Wednesday after rebounding in the previous session on positive Chinese and Australian manufacturing data.

Gold prices rose one per cent to a near 3-week high on Tuesday as early gains in stocks and other assets perceived as risky gave up gains and investors fled to save-haven bullion.

Oil prices slid more than 2 per cent on the first trading day of 2017, knocked off 18-month highs hit in early trade as the U.S. dollar rallied to its highest level since 2002 and traders took profits.

Wall Street has risen sharply as a post-election rally extended into the new year, helped by gains in Verison Communications and technology companies Alphabet and Facebook.

ANZ fires up Asia exit in $1.8b saleANZ Banking Group is pressing ahead with its Asian exit strategy, selling a stake in a Chinese bank for $1.8 billion i

Livestock exporter Wellard has confirmed it has again breached banking covenants, and expects a loss for the first half of the 2017 financial year.

The last 10 days of 2016 were a busy period for WA corporate deals, with the Rae family attracting a bumper price for its Gull New Zealand business, Chinese group MMG selling the Golden Grove mine, Diploma Group going into receivership and seven new listings on the ASX.

A number of board members have joined the list of substantial holders at Quest Minerals as the company seeks to raise money amid ongoing court battles, while Steve Formica has been appointed to the board.

Disgraced international markets trader Paul Thompson appears to be gearing up for a return to Perth’s property market.

The Australian share market has started 2017 positively, closing above 5,700 points for the first time since June 2015 as stocks across the board made gains.

Hills will no longer make and sell the Hills Hoist but the iconic Aussie clothesline will live on under new ownership.

A host of Western Australian businesses has designed or invented lifestyle products that could have been a perfect Christmas gift. If not, most of them will accept investors.

Chinese chemical company Shandong Mingrui Group will buy a lithium project in Southern Mali from ASX-listed Birimian Resources in a $107.5 million deal.

The appointment of Richard Homsany as executive chairman at West Perth-based uranium hopeful Toro Energy ties up leadership changes at the company with chairman John Cahill resigning today just a month after managing director Vanessa Guthrie.

Australian factory activity picked up last month on the back of improving demand and recovering commodity prices.

Perth’s housing market continued to show life to round out 2016, with median house prices posting their first quarterly increase since April last year, according to property analytics firm CoreLogic.

ANZ is continuing to offload Asian assets with the sale of its 20 per cent stake in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank for $1.84 billion.

The Australian share market has climbed to a 17-month high in early trading during the first session of 2017, mirroring gains in European markets on Monday.

The Australian dollar has again slipped close to its lowest level since March 2016 after worse-than-expected Chinese economic data over the weekend.

Oil prices settled slightly lower on Friday, the year's last trading day, but attained their biggest annual gain since 2009, after OPEC and partners agreed to cut output to reduce a supply overhang that has depressed prices for two years.

Barnett comes out swinging in fight to secure third termWestern Australian Premier Colin Barnett has ditched his usual Christmas and new year holidays to dig in and fight

The Australian share market has closed at a 16-month high thanks partly to offshore markets' Trump-fuelled rallies, with strong gains locally coming from retailers and banks.

Two local not-for-profit groups have announced changes to their leadership today, with UnitingCare West appointing Amanda Hunt as chief executive from March next year while St Vincent de Paul Society WA chief executive Mark Fitzpatrick will leave that role in February.

The proposed part sale of Western Power is not the only move towards increased private investment in the utilities sector.