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Australian shares have opened higher on the back of gains in healthcare, telecoms and materials shares, and in line with a rise on Wall Street overnight.

Rates on the rise: Westpac takes first shot with interest hike

US stocks have extended their rally with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hitting record highs for the fourth straight session as technology companies pushed indexes higher and promising trade negotiations stoked investor sentiment.

Oil prices have risen more than one per cent, with Brent at its highest in seven weeks and US crude touching a three-week peak, supported by a drawdown in US crude and petrol stocks and reduced Iranian crude shipments as US sanctions deter buyers.

Rising bank stocks drove a late surge on the ASX on Wednesday after Westpac announced a hike in mortgage rates, adding to earlier gains from easing global trade tensions.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has ruled out running for the seat of Curtin if Julie Bishop decides to quit, saying the marginal seat of Pearce is his community.

GR Engineering Services has been awarded a $23.9 million contract to build a backfill plant at the Fosterville gold mine in Victoria.

An accountant who pocketed almost $1.8 million after lodging more than 100 fraudulent income tax returns has failed in a bid to have his eight-year sentence reduced.

Eastern Goldfields' executive chairman and largest shareholder Michael Fotios has resigned from the embattled gold miner, while US investor Hawke’s Point Holdings looks set to increase its stake in the company after agreeing to buy some of its debt and support a planned recapitalisation.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has promised Western Australia a legislated floor in GST payments, saying Labor is on a unity ticket with the Coalition to deliver a fairer carve-up.

Diversified miner Independence Group has reported a big jump in profit for the 2018 financial year, driven by the first 12 months of commercial production at its Nova operation.

Neil Warburton-led Coolgardie Minerals is set to list on the ASX tomorrow, while shares in Black Dragon Gold began trading today following a $6 million initial public offering.

Every sales presentation is different, and must be adapted to meet the customer’s needs.

Anglicare and UnitingCare West are among eight not-for-profit groups to have secured financial backing from Community Sector Banking, which has distributed $300,000 through its 2018 national grants pool.

Virgin Australia has reported a full-year loss of $681 million after impairments and tax adjustments, its sixth consecutive year of losses, but the airline is optimistic about delivering a statutory profit in the next half.

Bankwest has launched an in-app messaging service that allows its customers to have their questions and queries answered securely, quickly and easily.

Dining accolades, tourism successes, exploratory wines and a new venture in the pipeline – it’s a big year for Voyager Estate, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Australian shares have opened largely unchanged, with losses in healthcare and energy capping gains, despite a small rise on Wall Street overnight.

Warrington in $170m William Square exit

Oil prices have slipped as some investors take profits on recent strong gains, but losses were limited the day after a US-Mexico trade agreement eased worries about tensions between the two countries.

US stock indexes have risen, with the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq indexes hitting fresh all-time highs, as a trade agreement between the United States and Mexico calmed fears of a global trade war.

Perth accountant Peter Moltoni has been hit with a $34.5 million tax assessment after the ATO took a close interest in disputed payments by his former client Pankaj Oswal.

August property deals.

Australian shares have ended higher on Tuesday, following on from a record close on Wall Street and hopes of reduced global trade tensions.

Canada-based Pacton Gold has announced the acquisition of two gold projects in the Pilbara worth about $5.8 million in the past week.

Shares in Sheffield Resources have reached their highest mark in nearly four years after the company won a National Native Title Tribunal ruling, which allows for a mining lease to be granted at its Thunderbird mineral sands project in the Kimberley.

The state government has shortlisted three consortiums to build and maintain 246 new railcars during the next decade, while choosing Bellevue as the preferred site for the associated manufacturing facility.

The state government has chosen Investec to advise on the partial privatisation of Landgate, a day after the agency's Victorian equivalent sold for $2.9 billion.

Caltex Australia says it is considering selling part of its convenience retail assets valued at $2 billion, even as higher costs kept its first-half profit at the lower end of its guidance.

Outgoing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed she will remain as the member for Curtin despite moving to the backbench following last week’s leadership spill.

The Royal Automobile Club of WA today announced that current group chief executive Terry Agnew will step down in March 2019 after 20 years in the role.

RCR Tomlinson has revealed the details of a $57 million write-down at one of its solar projects, with the contractor today announcing a $16.1 million loss for the 2018 financial year and a $100 million capital raising to help cover the cost overruns.