Consumer confidence increased over the weekend amid talk of a cut to interest rates while inflation expectations fell, an ANZ Banking Group analyst says.
The Environmental Protection Authority will commence formal consultation next month on its greenhouse gas guidelines, refuting media reports it has already decided to revive the guidelines that caused industry outrage earlier this year.
Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Minderoo Foundation has pledged up to $2 million to The Nature Conservancy to undertake a series of activities to improve the Swan-Canning Estuary's health, including the restoration of lost shellfish reefs.
Scott Morrison says he has high expectations for his new ministry, with Western Australians Christian Porter, Linda Reynolds and Ken Wyatt among those to be promoted.
The fishing industry says it is disappointed by the state government's backdown on a local lobster supply deal, with a planned international lobster festival to be one of the casualties.
The state government says it will fix a planning loophole that enabled small housing subdivisions in WA to be built without connection to telecommunications infrastructure.
Oil prices fell about 2 per cent overnight as an unexpected build in US crude inventories compounded investor worries that a trade fight between the US and China could dent crude demand over the long haul.
Gold was little changed overnight after the minutes from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting were released, but the precious metal was trading above the two-week low hit in the last session as stock markets slid on fresh trade tensions.
Oil futures were steady as the prospect of mounting US-Iran tensions disrupting supply was offset by concerns that a lengthy trade war between Washington and Beijing would limit crude demand.
Gold prices have dropped to the lowest in more than two weeks, as the dollar strengthened along with equities and other riskier assets ahead of the US Federal Reserve's release of minutes from its latest meeting.
Australia's tax agency says it can retrospectively deliver tax cuts if the coalition's proposal doesn't pass through parliament before the end of the financial year.
The Reserve Bank of Australia looks likely to cut the cash rate in June after Governor Philip Lowe said board members would discuss the move at their next monthly meeting.
Clive Palmer's estranged Chinese joint venture partner has largely lost an appeal over royalties from their massive iron ore project in Western Australia's Pilbara.
Oil prices rose to multi-week highs overnight before easing later in the session as OPEC indicated it was likely to maintain production cuts that have helped boost prices this year.
Gold steadied overnight after recovering slightly from a more than two-week low hit earlier in the session, as equity markets fell ahead of the US Federal Reserve's release of minutes from its last meeting.
Tanya Plibersek has announced she will not contest the Labor leadership, despite being backed by Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten, leaving Anthony Albanese as the only declared candidate.
Oil prices edged lower on Friday due to demand fears amid a stand-off in Chinese-US trade talks, but both benchmarks ended the week higher on rising concerns over supply disruptions in Middle East shipments due to US-Iran political tensions.
Gold prices on Friday slipped to their lowest in two weeks as the US dollar advanced on the back of strong US economic data, putting the metal on track for its biggest weekly decline in a month.
Oil futures were up more than one per cent overnight as tensions in the Middle East grew, with a Saudi-led coalition launching air strikes on the Yemeni capital in retaliation for recent attacks on its crude infrastructure.
Gold was headed for its biggest one-day percentage decline in a month overnight as the US dollar gained and investors opted for riskier assets on the back of robust US economic data even as the US-China trade concerns linger.
Oil futures inched up overnight as the prospect of mounting tensions in the Middle East hitting global supplies overshadowed an unexpected build in US crude inventories.
Gold steadied on Wednesday as share markets rose but concerns about global economic growth and the US-China trade fight kept the metal supported near a one-month peak.
The South West Development Commission has won a $400,000 contract to deliver the federal government's Tradestart service in the southern parts of Western Australia.
