The Australian dollar is back under 80 US cents as the downward movement in the US dollar seems to have stopped and weaker metals prices offered no help.
Gold prices have declined as the US dollar ticked up against the euro after US jobs data showed a robust rise in jobs and wages and 10-year US Treasury yields peaked.
Oil prices have fallen as the dollar has surged following strong US jobs numbers, though compliance with output cuts by OPEC and rising global demand kept much of the early year oil rally in place.
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The state government has opened up the Pilbara electricity market to greater competition after privately-owned Alinta Energy applied last year to gain access to state-owned Horizon Power's network.
New Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle has left the door ajar for the Western Force to return to the fold in 2021, but the Indo Pacific Rugby Championship remains in limbo.
The state government has selected investment bank Investec as its commercial adviser on land registry agency Landgate, adding to speculation it is a likely privatisation target.
The Australian share market has made solid gains after a surge in energy stocks and improvements for the big banks turned around a mixed overnight lead out of the US.
Aspiring graphite miner Hexagon Resources has signed a non-binding offtake agreement with a Chinese building company for 30 per cent of the company's planned production at its McIntosh project in the Kimberley.
North Fremantle-based Mustera Property Group has announced the launch of a new fund, with its first purchase being a $16.5 million shopping centre in Perth's southern suburbs.
West Perth-based CBH Group has recorded a grain harvest of 13.2 million tonnes for the 2017-18 season, well above initial estimates following good finishing rains.
Rare earths developer Northern Minerals has lifted the limit on its share purchase plan to $15 million on the back of strong demand from existing shareholders.
Uranium miner Paladin Energy has confirmed the approval of its recapitalisation deal, which will leave existing shareholders with a 2 per cent stake in the company, and appointed Daniel Harris and David Riekie to the board.
Australian shares have opened lower following a mixed lead from Wall Street's key indices and despite a generally strong performance across the commodities market.
Three building companies with strong indigenous links have been appointed to a panel that will handle at least $25 million of state government housing work in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
Peninsula Energy has signed an agreement to sell a portion of its interests in an existing long-term uranium sale and purchase deal for $US19 million ($23.7 million).
Copper and gold explorer Stavely Minerals has raised $8.3 million via a share placement and share purchase plan, with the company completing drilling programs at a number of tenements on the east coast.
Aspiring mineral sands miner Sheffield Resources has signed an offtake agreement with a Chinese processor for nearly 20 per cent of the planned zircon production at its Thunderbird project near Derby.
Mining services company Ausdrill has received a letter of intent for a three-year contract worth $180 million with Mineral Resources at its Wodgina lithium mine in the Pilbara.
Belmont-based Pindan has been awarded a $23.4 million contract at Cape Naturaliste College, south of Busselton, while FIRM Constructions has won a $2.5 million government contract.
Global Advanced Metals has submitted a development plan to begin direct tantalum mining at Greenbushes in Western Australia's South West, as it continues legal proceedings against the company that mines lithium at the same site.
Collaboration is key for the launch of the West Australian Ballet's 2018 season, as ballerinas and indigenous dancers come together to perform the contemporary work Milnjiya, while opera singer Deborah Cheetham provides support with a score of traditional indigenous sounds.
Perth house prices fell 0.4 per cent in January, according to the latest data from CoreLogic, though its figures have disguised big gains in some of Perth's more affluent suburbs.
The 2016 Aboriginal Western Australian of the Year, Rishelle Hume, has today launched a new not-for-profit organisation with Robyn Smith-Walley that aims to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage.
Tap Oil has announced the resignation of four of the company's directors, including executive chairman James Menzies and Peter Mansell, with two nominations from major shareholder Risco Energy Investments appointed as replacements.
The Australian share market is stronger during morning trade following a positive lead from Wall Street and positivity over the local company earnings season.
Early signs of recovery are starting to emerge across Perth's CBD office market, with vacancy rates falling below 20 per cent for the first time in two years, according to the Property Council of Australia.
