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The Australian share market is sharply lower, after global equity markets tumbled amid mounting fears of a trade war between the US and other leading economies, especially China and Europe.

Hack probe on land transfers

The Australian dollar has fallen against the US dollar amid a drop in oil prices with a looming lift in crude output and a worsening of the trade war between China and the US.

Oil has fallen as investors prepare for an extra one million barrels per day (bpd) of oil to hit markets after OPEC agreed to raise production and as US equity markets slipped on trade war fears.

Gold is hovering near last week's six-month low as investors flock to US Treasuries rather than bullion, amid concerns over a global trade war ratcheting higher after a report said the United States plans to bar Chinese companies from investing in its technology firms.

Sitting empty for three decades, the old Swanbourne Hospital site has been given a new lease of life, reopening as a high-end aged care residence and function venue.

The federal government has launched an inquiry into cheap imports of ammonium nitrate following an application by three local manufacturers, including Wesfarmers subsidiary CSBP and Orica.

The Australian share market has lost ground on Monday after losses in the finance sector following Commonwealth Bank's announcement it will spin off its wealth management business.

Western Australian electricians are the most expensive in Australia, while the majority of the state's other tradies are near the national cost average, according to new data out today.

A key government advisory body has recommended the Iconic Scarborough twin-tower project be given the green light when the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority board meets tomorrow.

Work is continuing on the stage one expansion at Greenbushes lithium mine, according to Talison Lithium, despite the business hitting a legal speed bump in a dispute with Global Advanced Metals.

The Perth-based Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe franchise has been placed into liquidation, just over a year after the business opened on St Georges Terrace.

While cost savings are one reason for greater automation in workplaces, ever-improving robotic capabilities are hastening the uptake in a range of industries.

Three junior explorers have announced capital raisings worth up to $29.5 million, with Denis Waddell-led Orion Minerals tapping investors for $17.3 million.

Perth-based MACA has been awarded a number of new contracts, totalling about $60 million, including a $12 million variation to works at the Gruyere gold project near Laverton.

Metcash shares have rallied after the supermarkets wholesaler announced a $125 million share buyback alongside an impairment-driven full-year loss of $149.5 million.

Junior gold explorers Spitfire Materials and Excelsior Gold, which own neighbouring projects north of Kalgoorlie, have agreed to a merger, with the new entity worth about $80 million.

Commonwealth Bank will demerge and list its wealth management and mortgage broking businesses, with its CommInsure insurance unit possibly next on the chopping block.

The Australian share market is broadly flat in early trade as strong gains across energy and resource stocks are offset by the heavyweight financial and healthcare sectors.

Gold prices rose from six-month lows on Friday as the dollar slipped, but the modest nature of the recovery suggested speculators might still be poised to pu

Building failures hit WA for up to $654m

The Australian dollar is back on the ascendancy after its US counterpart weakens, pressured by a rebound in commodity-linked currencies.

Oil prices have soared after oil producers agreed to modest crude output increases to compensate for losses in production at a time of rising global demand.

Stan and Jean Perron have announced they will be donating $10 million across 10 years to the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, adding to a multitude of reasons Mr Perron was awarded State Shaper by The 500 Club today.

The Perth-based company behind the disastrous Awassi Express sheep shipment to the Middle East has had its live export licence suspended by the federal government.

The Australian share market is still hovering around a decade-high despite a slight retreat on Friday after a week of strong gains.

In a wide-ranging video interview, HBF managing director John Van Der Wielen has sat down with Mark Pownall to discuss the group's future growth strategy, along with his diverse career and regulatory challenges facing the finance sector.

Busselton has been shortlisted with nine other regional cities nationwide as the potential home for the new Qantas pilot academy, weeks after the environmental watchdog recommended conditional approval for the operations of a $70 million upgrade at the Busselton-Margaret River Airport.

A greater proportion of Western Australian taxpayers are likely to benefit from immediate changes to tax thresholds passed through parliament yesterday than other states, according to Business News analysis of Australian Taxation Office data.

Yolk Property Group, in partnership with Southern Cross Care, will develop one of the last remaining sites at the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority's Champion Lakes residential development, with plans for more than 100 new dwellings along with a wellness, aged care and retirement precinct.

Perth investor Andrew Hopkins' planned $508 million buyout of national panel beating business AMA Group has been cancelled after the group failed to get an expected ruling from the Australian Taxation Office.

PODCAST: Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Perth house price outlook, Atlas Iron takeover, BGC asset sale starts, WA job vacancies, population growth and an interview with the CEO of HBF.