Latest Headlines

A former Australian Workers Union official has appeared in a Perth court over the alleged misappropriation of more than $400,000.

Almost $30 billion has been wiped from the value of the Australian share market as concerns about delays to US President Donald Trump's healthcare and tax reforms rattled Wall Street and markets around the world.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the controversy-plagued City of Perth to not waste money on a $500,000 audit of its entire operation as his government contemplates sacking the council.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal says a modification to a previously awarded contract for littoral combat ships with the US Department of Defense is worth about $US36.6 million ($A47.8 million).

Indian sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has blasted US-based short-seller Glaucus Research Group for a scathing report which accused the Perth company of operating a Ponzi-like business structure.

Western Australia is driving a nationwide rise in Australians who are falling behind on home loan repayments, according to a report by ratings agency Standard & Poor's.

Bankwest is shutting its corporate banking services outside of Western Australia and moving customers to its parent, Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Carnegie Clean Energy has announced plans to raise up to $6 million to fund its share of the development costs of the $20 million Northam solar power project.

Premier Mark McGowan has urged the prime minister to show some backbone and change the GST carve-up, saying agreement with all other state and territories is not necessary.

Arrium administrators KordaMentha has awarded BGC Contracting a $720 million contract to continue work at the Iron Knob and South Middleback Ranges iron ore projects in South Australia through to 2022.

Bianca Rinehart has been given the go-ahead to sue her mining-magnate mother over her handling of the family's multibillion-dollar trust.

The Australian share market is lower in early trade with investors spooked by a sharp sell-off overnight on Wall Street.

Softer race hate law to hit CoalitionThe government's decision to water down race hate protection laws could cost it up to six seats due to a backlash from ethnic group

The Australian dollar is treading water against its US counterpart as the greenback falls to a six-week low against a basket of currencies but the local central bank minutes fail to shed fresh light on its likely moves.

Oil prices have fallen, with US crude dropping to its lowest since November, as concerns about new supplies overshadow the latest talk by OPEC that it was looking to extend output cuts beyond June.

Gold has rallied to the highest level in nearly three weeks after a strong debate performance from French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and as fading expectations for near-term US interest rate rise pushs the US dollar lower.

Almost 500,000 workers would need to be laid off in China's steel industry by 2020 under a plan to reduce excess capacity, according to a report released by the international Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development this week.

The Reserve Bank of Australia says there is reason to believe commodity prices could rise higher than expected but is concerned about increasing risks in the housing market.

Private company Applied Electro Systems has become enmeshed in a legal fight with construction giant John Holland after the two businesses had a falling out over contracted work on Chevron's Gorgon gas project.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as falls from the major miners and the big four banks offset gains for retailers and China-exposed baby formula and vitamin makers.

Ashley Reid has been appointed as the new chief executive of Cancer Council WA, replacing Susan Rooney who is stepping down in April, having led the organisation since 2002.

Heavy equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has launched a fully underwritten $20 million capital raising to fund its three-way merger with east coast companies Orionstone and Andy's Earthmovers.

Chevron managing director of Australasia Nigel Hearne has confirmed a fourth LNG train at the Gorgon project won't be happening in the near term, while calling on governments not to buckle to calls for higher taxes and increased regulation that will reduce competitiveness of the industry.

Shares in cleaning and catering company Spotless Group have jumped nearly 50 per cent after infrastructure and mining services firm Downer lobbed a $1.26 billion takeover offer.

Dormant explorer New Horizon Coal has extended its deadline for an $18.8 million capital raising after receiving an underwriting commitment for 70 per cent of the target amount, as it looks to shift its focus to oil.

OPINION: Western Australia has a new billionaire, or to be completely accurate, it has an old billionaire who has made another billion dollars over the past 12 months without anyone really noticing.

Premier Mark McGowan has been forced to reshuffle his cabinet just four days after his ministers were sworn in, with Labor state president Peter Tinley losing the mines and petroleum portfolio.

Financial services provider Goldfields Money has raised $4.2 million from investors as it launches a new digital platform and completes a rebranding.

Mike Nahan has been voted in unopposed as leader of the WA Liberals after two-term premier Colin Barnett stepped down, while former sports and recreation minister Mia Davies has been voted in as leader of the WA Nationals.

Royal Automobile Club of WA members will be eligible for a 5 per cent discount on health insurance cover through a new partnership with national provider HCF.

Internet provider TPG Telecom has delivered strong interim financial results - thanks largely to the contribution of its iiNet operations - and has reaffirmed its underlying earnings guidance for the year.

The share market has opened lower after US stocks fell overnight on worries about delays in US President Donald Trump's plan to cut taxes and boost the economy.