Gold extended losses into a second day on Thursday as a firm US dollar and early strength in bond yields dented its investment appeal, and weighed also by uncertainty over the timing of a US interest rate increase.
Oil prices have dived a day after hitting 2015 highs as worries about global oversupply reemerged as traders scrutinised a mixed US inventories report.
Rio Tinto reaffirmed today plans to continue its brownfield iron ore expansions in the Pilbara but has noted all new mine developments are still on hold, leaving a question mark over when it will reach its 360 million tonnes per year production target.
Mathematically it's impossible, but in about 11 days Australian investors will discover whether one plus one can add up to more than two – because that's the day the son of BHP Billiton, South32, lists on the ASX.
Former federal Treasury secretary Ken Henry will take the helm of National Australia Bank's board when chairman Michael Chaney retires at its next annual general meeting in December.
Chinese developer Zone Q Investments is advancing plans for its second major apartment project in Perth, lodging a development application for a 21-storey tower on the corner of Beaufort and Aberdeen streets in Northbridge.
Boutique Subiaco-based technology company Velpic has signed a $5.2 million deal to finance international growth plans, as part of a reverse takeover by east coast-based International Coal.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has denied reports he was told coalition MPs want Treasurer Joe Hockey dumped if next week's federal budget flops with voters.
Half of the board of Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has walked off the job, including chairman John Cooper, after it flagged a change in direction, a number of redundancies and cost-saving initiatives in response to the tough climate for local contractors.
National Australia Bank has launched a massive $5.5 billion capital raising to help it get the jump on regulators and allow it to push ahead with the public float of its troubled UK business.
South32 chief executive Graham Kerr says he is confident the diversified mining company will be ready to operate as an independent entity later this month, after BHP Billiton shareholders strongly endorsed the demerger.
Gold prices edged down on Wednesday, as the impact of higher US real yields counteracted the effects of a sharply weaker dollar, soft US data and doubts the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its June meeting.
Reported activity for primarily the first week of May was encouraging with overall sales up 38% for the week to 770, the highest level since late March.
Oil prices have scored new 2015 peaks after weekly data showed US commercial crude stockpiles unexpectedly slumped in the first decline in four months.
Wall Street stocks have fallen for a second straight session following disappointing jobs data and a warning from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on high equity valuations.
The state government is utilising rarely used powers under the Corporations Act to take control of $1.7 billion owed to creditors of the failed Bell Group and ensure a big slice of that money is distributed to Western Australian taxpayers through the Insurance Commission of WA.
Directors have indicated their support for reform to the GST, including an increase in its rate, and raised concerns that public policy debate in Australia was of poor quality, in a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
New home sales rebounded by 4.2 per cent in Western Australia in March, the first time in 2015 where transactions were higher than the previous month, according to the Housing Industry Association.
Retail spending growth seems to be slowing a bit, but no more than might have been expected, and there is no good reason to expect the deceleration to continue.
West Perth-based oil and gas explorer Orca Energy has announced former mining magnate Nathan Tinkler will be its new executive chairman after participating in the company's $20 million capital raising.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares have dropped to a near four-month low, with analysts warning there could be worse to come and investors questioning whether the dream run is over for Australia's big four lenders.
Engineering and construction firm Valmec has won a contract to supply its services to APA Group's $140 million Eastern Goldfields Gas Pipeline project for an undisclosed sum.
