Oil prices have dropped from highs last seen in 2015, as soaring US production undermined a 10 per cent rally from December lows that was driven by tightening supply and political tensions in OPEC member Iran.
Western Australian merchandise exports were up 22 per cent in the year to November compared with the previous corresponding period, despite the month being slightly softer, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The number of electricity users disconnected for failing to pay bills increased around 60 per cent in Western Australia in the 2017 financial year, while more than 10,000 electricity users were on a hardship program, according to a report released by the Economic Regulatory Authority today.
The state government has announced a new board to run the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and LandCorp in the lead up to their planned merger, with just one board member from the MRA continuing on the new body.
Gold prices have risen for a fourth straight session to reach a two-week high as US data showing solid home sales but a fall in mortgage applications pushed the dollar to a two-week low.
The Australian dollar is slightly higher against the greenback after the US tax reform bill - which will slash US company taxes - was passed by the US Senate.
The state government has revised its budget deficit for the current financial year to a record $2.6 billion but insists the budget outlook has improved while also confirming it has added Landgate to its list of potential asset sales.
The Australian dollar is slightly lower against a stronger but pretty subdued US counterpart ahead of the expected Congressional vote on the Republicans' tax reform package.
Gold has dipped as US Treasury yields rose on an uptick in housing starts for November and even though the US dollar fell, a factor that generally supports gold.
Oil has edged up towards $US64 a barrel, helped by a North Sea pipeline outage, OPEC-led supply cuts and expectations that US crude inventories had fallen for a fifth week.
Christian Porter, Matthias Cormann and Michaelia Cash were among the winners from a reshuffle of the federal government ministry announced today by prime minister Malcom Turnbull.
Gold has edged higher as uncertainty over US tax legislation weighed on the US dollar, while an analyst said bullion might face renewed headwinds early next year. Platinum rose 2 per cent as investors recovered short positions.
SPECIAL REPORT: Chris Ellison's astute commercial achievements placed him at the top of our short list of nine people contending to be person of the year.
Oil prices were mixed on Friday, lingering below two-year highs as the continuing outage of a North Sea pipeline gave support, while climbing US output and weak gasoline demand kept a lid on gains.
Gold prices clung to earlier gains and were poised for their first weekly gain in four weeks on Friday, withstanding pressure from strong equities markets on continued support from this week's interest rate rise by the Federal Reserve.
Former Premier Colin Barnett has called time on a nearly three decade parliamentary career, which included leading the Liberal Party to a surprise victory in 2008, and heading a government which increased social support spending and invested substantially in infrastructure.
Gold has dipped slightly, easing off a one-week high as the US dollar rebounded following strong US retail sales data, while palladium rose to its highest since February 2001.
Oil prices have risen almost one per cent after a pipeline outage in Britain continued to support prices despite data expecting a global crude surplus in the beginning of next year.
Western Australia's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 per cent in November despite 8,500 jobs being created, while the national unemployment rate has remained unchanged even though the economy added far more jobs than expected in November.
Gold prices have hovered near their lowest in nearly five months as investors awaited an expected US interest rate increase and clues from the US Federal Reserve on its plans for further rises next year.
The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent higher against the greenback which has weakened after the Federal Reserve raised its interest rate, as expected, but left its outlook unchanged.
Oil prices have slipped for a second straight day, as a slump in US crude stockpiles was offset by a larger-than-forecast rise in petrol inventories and as US crude output continued to grow to record highs.
Australia's former Trade Commissioner to Mexico, Central America and the Carribean Chris Rodwell will take the reins of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA in February, as Deidre Willmott leaves the helm.
