News

Western Australia's car industry has recorded its third straight month of decline for new vehicle sales, according to the latest data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, but electric and hybrid passenger cars, and small-sized SUVs have bucked the trend.

A wave of investment in the WA aged care sector has continued, with Southern Plus opening a luxury care facility in the same week as Hall & Prior announced it would proceed with a $60 million redevelopment.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan has today announced the full-time appointment of Justice Jeremy Curthoys to the Supreme Court.

Telecommunications firm Swift Networks has entered into a three-year reseller agreement with Vietnamese systems integrator Sieu Nhat Thanh Co to expand into the South-East Asian country.

PM's $3.6b corporate tax cuts

US stocks have fallen as trade concerns lingered and declines in Facebook and Nike shares weighed on Wall Street's major indexes, though data showing US manufacturing activity accelerated in August kept losses in check.

Oil prices were little changed as energy infrastructure on the US Gulf Coast braced for a hurricane, but gains were capped as a stronger dollar and report of rising stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub weighed.

Australian shares have closed lower on Tuesday, as reports of fresh investigations into financial institutions kept investors on edge, while overall sentiment was cautious ahead of key economic data.

After eight months of community protest over its education spending cuts, the state government has reversed its decision to close Moora Residential College following an $8.7 million federal grant.

The Foundation for the WA Museum has appointed two new members to the board, with Nev Power set to become its chair.

Australian shares are down at the open, with the financial sector weighing heavily on the market ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate decision.

Retail spend stalls as house prices take hit

Oil prices have risen, supported by concerns that falling Iranian output will tighten markets once US sanctions bite from November, but gains were limited by higher supply from OPEC and the United States.

Gold prices eased slightly after the US dollar held near a one-week high on worries over an escalation in trade conflicts between the United States and other countries.

Australian shares slipped in subdued trading on Monday, as US-China trade tensions kept investors wary and the Aussie dollar came under renewed pressure from local retail data.

A 7.4 per cent decline in the number of WA trainees and apprentices in-training is leaving the state at risk of a skills shortage.

Perth-based company director Peter Hepburn-Brown, who was on the board of three listed mining companies, has passed away following a period of ill-health.

Australian shares have opened slightly higher despite the lack of a clear lead from Wall Street, with the health care and consumer staples sectors leading the way.

Savings savaged by bank squeeze

Oil prices have slipped, pressured by renewed concerns that a global trade war could dent energy demand, although impending US sanctions on Iran and falling Venezuelan output limited the decline.

The S&P 500 ended flat on Friday while the Dow edged down and the Nasdaq closed higher in light trading as Canada and the US concluded trade talks without resolution ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The Australian share market has closed lower on the last major day of the profit reporting season, dragged down by the telecommunications sector as well as the miners after a dip in iron ore prices.

Australian shares have opened lower after falls on Wall Street overnight, with the materials sector weighing on the market following a dip in iron ore prices.

Capex darkens RBA's rosy outlook for the economy

US stocks have ended their four-day winning streak as risk reduction ahead of the long holiday weekend accelerated on growing trade anxieties.

Oil prices rose on Thursday to the highest in more than a month, extending gains on growing evidence of disruptions to crude supply from Iran and Venezuela and after a fall in US inventories.

The Australian share market closed flat on Thursday, falling back from a new post-GFC intra-day high after a late slump in banking stocks.

Vodafone Australia and TPG Telecom have agreed to merge into a single $15 billion telecommunications firm in an effort to more effectively challenge telecoms giants Telstra and Optus.

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.