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Gold prices have jumped two per cent, rising well above $US1,200 an ounce to a five-week high as US the dollar hit a three-month low after disappointing US employment data.

The Australian dollar has surged past 81 US cents to an almost four month high on speculation the Federal Reserve could delay raising its interest rate.

A recapitalised Stanfield Funds Management is set to resume trading on the ASX today, with a new focus on Asian technology companies and a strong Western Australian connection.

Overall sales eased back 8% last week but still remain 7% above the average since the start of the year.

Wall Street stocks have finished little changed in choppy trade following a lacklustre US retail sales report and disappointing earnings from Macy's.

Global oil prices have dipped despite a much bigger-than-expected decline in US crude inventories, as a slowdown at refineries raised concerns about the strength of demand.

The federal government has adopted a Keynesian-style stimulus policy with its new temporary instant asset write-off, moving cash flows for small businesses forward and recouping the revenue in later budgets.

Struggling iron ore miner Gindalbie Metals has proposed to turn part of its Badja Station east of Geraldton into a national radioactive waste management facility.

The share market has rallied on the back of a positive federal budget, with retail stocks leading the way.

Troubled department store Myer has delivered some good news to investors with a solid lift in third quarter sales.

Premier Colin Barnett has rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the iron ore industry, despite repeating his criticism of the major producers.

Oil and gas explorer WHL Energy has secured a $US4 million ($A5 million) funding commitment from New York-based Magna Equities to continue prospecting its African tenements.

China is banking on two enormous infrastructure projects helping it to shape the economic environment around its interests.

Toll Holdings' shareholders have overwhelmingly backed a Japanese takeover of the Australian logistics company.

Andrew Forrest's private vehicle, Minderoo Group, has subscribed for a majority of A1 Consolidated Gold's recently announced $2.5 million convertible loan placement.

Local biotech firm Sun Biomedical has announced plans to buy Melbourne-based Dimerix Bioscience in exchange for a share package worth about $8.3 million.

Sirius Resources has signed an offtake agreement with Dutch commodity trading company Trafigura for copper from its Nova mine in the Fraser Range.

Fortescue Metals Group is cutting up to 100 jobs a day, founder Andrew Forrest has confirmed.

Former Wallaby player and experienced minerals executive John Welborn will take the helm of Perth-based gold company Resolute Mining when outgoing CEO Peter Sullivan steps down in late June.

Federal Labor says the government has broken a pre-election promise to deliver the national broadband network to all Australians by the end of 2016.

The Australian share market has opened higher, getting a boost from strong gains in retail stocks.

Gold prices rose up to one per cent as the US dollar and European shares suffered from a sell-off in global bond markets.

The Australian dollar is higher after there was a positive reaction to Tuesday night's federal budget.

Accelerated depreciation for small businesses, a tough new multinational tax avoidance law and a $5 billion concessional loan scheme for northern Australian infrastructure development were among the new policies announced in last night's federal budget.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has delayed the federal government's return to surplus by another year, forecasting that the country will be not be in the black until 2019-20 and meaning the Commonwealth will extend its run of seven deficits to 11.

Global oil prices have climbed, getting a boost from a weaker dollar as traders awaited the latest US crude-oil inventories report.

An international planning expert says he believes Perth is the least dense major city in the world, an issue looming as a major constraint to the financial feasibility of developing

Wall Street stocks have finished lower as worries over higher US Treasury bond yields offset Verizon's $US4.4 billion ($A5.58 billion) takeover of AOL.

The view from outside of Australia is particularly upbeat for WA, so maybe it's time to focus on the positives.

Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have highlighted their competitive advantage in the iron ore market, with BHP predicting further large reductions in its operating costs in the Pilbara and Rio detailing the big price discount Fortescue Metals Group has to accept for its products.

Private New Zealand company Todd Corporation has launched a takeover bid for Pilbara infrastructure developer Rutila Resources, following news yesterday that it has struck a deal to buy an associated iron ore mine from Flinders Mines.

Copper miner Aditya Birla Minerals has suffered a contractor fatality at its Nifty copper mine in the Great Sandy Desert.