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The banking and resources sectors are recovering after a day on the slide, with the heavyweight stocks lifting Australian shares at the open and away from a six-month low.

Labor retreats on trade

US stocks have fallen at the open as an increase in tensions between Western powers and Saudi Arabia added to worries over rising borrowing costs and the impact of tariffs, following the main three indexes' biggest weekly declines in over seven months.

Oil prices have steadied, supported by geopolitical tension over the disappearance of a Saudi journalist that has stoked worries about supplies from the world's top crude exporter, but weighed by concern over long-term demand outlook.c

Gold has risen to its highest level in two and a half months as a slide in global stock markets, exacerbated by mounting tensions between Western powers and Saudi Arabia, forced investors to find safety and unwind some bearish bets in the metal.

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australia is a place best known for what it does below ground level, but entrepreneur Chris Hill believes we should look to the stars for the state’s next big opportunity.

The state government is planning to restrict new residential developments in the west end of Port Hedland while also implementing a new regulatory framework for air quality in the town, which is located adjacent to large iron ore stockpiles.

US-based engineering giant KBR has been awarded a concept definition contract for Woodside Petroleum’s planned Browse gas project.

Overseas weakness has proven to be a drag on the Australian share market, with the benchmark index falling to a six-month low led by losses in banking and mining stocks.

SPECIAL REPORT: A group of companies offering a faster alternative fixed-wireless internet service has dialled into a niche market.

SPECIAL REPORT: Four state government contracts have delivered extra work for six information and communications technology contractors in Perth.

Shares in Orbital Corporation jumped 16 per cent today, after the local tech company announced a contract extension with multinational The Boeing Company and provided revenue guidance of $24 million for the 2019 financial year.

Northern Minerals has announced a $27 million funding package, which includes a $25 million investment from a Chinese rare earth company.

The seventh annual MACA Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised $4.1 million, bringing the total amount raised by the event to over $31.8 million.

Perth-based Bis has acquired mining services company UGM, while SMS Mining Services has merged with haulage provider Rivet Group.

Atlas Iron has announced a raft of board changes, including the appointment of former state government tourism boss Stephen Wood and National Australia Bank executive Spiro Pappas.

Peel Mining advises that the fully underwritten non-renounceable entitlement offer announced on 7 September 2018 closed 2pm Wednesday, 3 October 2018.

The Housing Industry Association has appointed former Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA director of advocacy Cath Hart as its Western Australian regional director.

Coles' supermarket sales have jumped during the first quarter, with parent company Wesfarmers citing a successful 'Little Shop' campaign, and investment in flybuys promotions, as preparations continue for a vote on the chain's proposed demerger.

An already-bruised Australian share market is ignoring a lead from Wall Street and a commodity price rebound to dive lower at the open, with the banks and miners weighing heavily amid broad-based losses.

Investors brace for another volatile week

Crude futures have steadied late in the session, following the stock market slightly higher, after earlier swinging lower on a weakening oil demand outlook.

Gold prices have eased after their biggest daily gain in more than two years, coming under pressure as the US dollar climbed and global stocks rebounded from a six-day rout.

The Australian share market has finished flat after its worst trading week in almost three years.

NRW Holdings has announced a series of contracts worth about $92 million, including an extension at Talison Lithium’s Greenbushes mine and work at BHP Billiton’s South Flank project.

Melbourne-based Capitol Health has expanded its West Australian network with the acquisition of two South West radiology clinics for $5 million.

The board of Explaurum has rejected a $59.2 million hostile takeover bid from gold miner Ramelius Resources, saying the offer is opportunistic and undervalues the target.

BGC Australia has appointed three high profile independent non-executive directors to help advise the family-owned business empire as it enters a global sale process.

BGC Contracting and Laing O’Rourke have terminated their contract with Omega Construction on the Northlink road project after the sub-contractor disclosed it had major financial problems.

PODCAST: In this podcast Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss investment market volatility, property prices, BGC, Navitas heads three major deals in the offing, restaurant awards, Beaumonde Catering, Julie Bishop, and our special report on ICT infrastructure

ASX-listed Huon Aquaculture has been granted a license to operate an aquaculture farm off Geraldton, while Fremantle-based Ocean Grown Abalone has awarded a $2.7 million contract to build a processing facility in Augusta.

Former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop says it’s too early to speculate if she’d run for the Liberal leadership after the next election, but she believes the party needs to do more to recruit women and keep a broad base of talent, speaking at today’s Success & Leadership breakfast.