The Dow and S&P 500 have bolted to fresh record highs after a Federal Reserve report showed the US economy was growing amid widespread optimism about the outlook.
Oil prices in New York have gained following a drop in US crude inventories, while the international benchmark Brent has fallen on gloom after last week's OPEC decision to maintain output.
The Australian dollar is barely keeping its head above 84 US cents after disappointing economic growth figures triggered expectations of another interest rate cut.
Gold prices have risen as investors wait to see whether the European Central Bank will increase its economic-stimulus efforts at its monetary-policy meeting.
Collie coal miner Griffin Coal is endeavouring to hang onto its staff and satisfy its customer commitments after its main contractor Carna Civil & Mining walked off the site late yesterday.
The number of international visitors to Western Australia each year has surpassed 800,000, with the state again recording the highest average trip expenditure per visitor for the country.
Western Australian Governor Kerry Sanderson has appointed professor Stephen King as alternate chairman of the governing body of the Economic Regulation Authority on a part-time basis.
A draft strategy paper released by the state government today has outlined plans to close the state's largest psychiatric facility within the next 10 years.
Australia's growth rate fell to 0.3 per cent in the September quarter, less than half the rate expected by market analysts, resulting in annual growth sliding to 2.7 per cent.
The depressed iron ore price is prompting “gun shy” Padbury Mining to increase its tenement asset base, snapping up a hematite and magnetite deposit owned by Radar Iron.
Woolworths has bought itself a foothold in China's growing wine and drinks market, acquiring one of the country's largest alcoholic drinks distributors.
Oil prices have tumbled after the Iraqi government and autonomous Kurds struck a deal that will boost the country's crude oil exports to an already oversupplied global market.
Western Australia's largest indigenous corporation has announced it is cutting jobs and assessing its member benefits structure as a result of weak iron ore prices.
Local gold producer Northern Star Resources has announced a substantial discovery at its White Feather project, near its existing Kanowna Belle gold mine.
GR Engineering Services executive chairman Joe Ricciardo will step into a non-executive chairmanship role from the beginning of next year, after completing the handover of managerial control to managing director Geoff Jones.
The office building at 220 St Georges Terrace has been sold for $35 million, with a local private buyer purchasing the building in a deal brokered by commercial agency Knight Frank.
Fledging Perth technology company APE Mobile has struck deals with some of the largest civil engineering contractors and secured Perth business leader Giles Everist to join its board.
Western Australia's subdued resources exploration sector is set to receive a new boost in the form of a digital map for explorers to better target mining and petroleum discoveries.
Curtin University has unveiled the first phase of a new multi-million dollar business education precinct, made possible through a $1 million sponsorship from Wesfarmers.
