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Perth residential property prices fell 2.4 per cent in the September quarter, as the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia tipped eight suburbs to watch next year.

Growth forecasts have been cut and deficits are higher across the next four years in the federal government’s budget update released in Perth today, with Treasurer Scott Morrison touting a reduction in spending growth as revenue continues to plummet.

Woolworths has performed a major backflip and reintroduced Qantas frequent flyer reward points for shoppers, two months after it angered many loyal customers by dumping them.

The consumer watchdog has found retail margins in the petrol industry are at their highest level since monitoring began 13 years ago.

Curtin University has become the latest sponsor of Hockey Australia, leveraging the fact that Australia’s globally dominant teams are based at the Bentley campus.

Qantas shareholders could be set for another windfall after the airline revealed it is on track for a record full-year profit, just two years after its biggest ever loss.

Education provider Navitas will end its affiliation with Western Kentucky University and has flagged the closure of several of its underperforming SAE colleges, in an effort to cut back on costs.

Eden Energy, which is seeking to commericalise its innovative concrete product, is looking to wipe out its debt by completing a $6.1 million capital raising, with its major shareholder committing to over a third of the offer.

The Australian share market is higher in early trade, on the back of positive cues from Wall Street, but the S&P/ASX200 remains below the crucial 5,000 level.

Woolies and Qantas in loyalty rejig

The Australian dollar has firmed following a rebound in commodity prices overnight.

Global equity markets have swung between gains and losses, as volatile oil prices rebounded from multi-year lows while weakness in credit markets weighed on sentiment before an expected US interest rate rise.

Gold has fallen one per cent ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting this week, which is expected to announce the first interest rate rise in nearly a decade.

Construction contractor Georgiou Group has encouraged Perth corporations to reject what it calls ‘tokenistic connections’ with the arts community.

Traditional businesses were slow to wake up to the threat posed by disrupters such as Uber and Airbnb, but they’re now warned and should prepare for further assaults.

German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp is continuing to advance its case for the federal government’s upcoming submarine contract, worth around $20 billion, partnering with Civmec to build a small demonstration hull in Perth.

VDM Group is expected to seek debt funding from its largest shareholder after a planned $18 million equity capital raising with an unnamed investor fell through.

One of the nation’s leading providers of no-interest loans is preparing to merge with a Western Australian charity in order to remain viable.

The federal government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda, released last week, has been well received by Western Australia’s business community, despite mixed evidence that publicly funded incentives for research affect growth.

LandCorp is close to releasing prime land in the inner western suburbs, with its Shenton Park Hospital site one of 30 redevelopment opportunities across the state expected to deliver more than 14,000 homes.

Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who has served in federal parliament since 1998, says he'll use the Christmas break to contemplate his future, after Queensland's Liberal National Party said today it wound not support his switch to the National Party in Canberra.

The Australian share market has fallen sharply to close below 5,000 points - an important psychological level - as mining and energy stocks took a beating on lower prices for iron ore and oil.

Woolworths is expected to reinstall a version of Qantas frequent flyer points after dumping it for a revamped rewards scheme.

As residential construction comes off a massive peak, there is an opportunity for a subtle policy response.

The environmental impact of what could be one of Western Australia's first uranium mines outweighs its "scant" economic benefit, conservationists say.

Doubleview-based Ausnet Real Estate Services, which is backed by mortgage aggregator Finsure and led by chief executive Paul Niardone, is seeking an ASX listing through a reverse takeover of Namibian Copper, which saw its share price crash by more than 50 per cent after the deal was announced.

Perth conservationist Harry Butler has been praised for his work as a community educator and a partner with industry, after passing away on Friday following a lengthy illness.

Alternative construction techniques are gathering momentum in Western Australia, but not all builders are convinced that double brick’s dominance is about to end.

Austal has won a $63 million contract to build two patrol boats for the Australian Department of Defence, with the terms of the deal signed with National Australia Bank including a buy-back clause.

Challenging conditions loom for homebuilders in WA, as demand for new housing slows after record-breaking peaks of activity last year.

The Australian share market has again slipped below the crucial 5,000-level in early trade on Monday, with mining and energy stocks inflicting the most damage.

Forrest’s shock and ore at big miners’ expansion