The Australian dollar has fallen and economists say a Reserve Bank rate cut is more likely next Tuesday following the release of data showing annual inflation is at its lowest level since June 1999.
Shares in miner Atlas Iron were up 10 per cent today after the company reported cash generation of $30 million after interest and profit sharing for the June quarter.
Gold and nickel miner Independence Group has announced a $280 million capital raising to bolster its balance sheet, making it the largest raising by a Western Australian company for 2016.
Fortescue Metals Group is targeting further cost reduction in the current fiscal year as it seeks to match the cost structure of larger rival Rio Tinto in an effort to boost returns.
US stocks were mixed as Federal Reserve policymakers kicked off a two-day interest rate meeting and investors braced for quarterly scorecards from Apple and Twitter.
Gold has risen as the US dollar hsa fallen, but remains hemmed in to a range at the start of a two-day US Federal Reserve policy meeting which is being closely watched for clues on the outlook for interest rates.
US crude prices have fallen, hitting three-month lows, on renewed worries of a glut while Brent settled higher due to its better fundamentals versus US crude.
The Australian share market has finished slightly higher as investors punt that second quarter inflation figures will prompt the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates next week.
The Australian Securities Exchange has delayed the introduction of tougher listing requirements by three months, after stockbrokers and corporate advisers expressed concern about the changes.
Protean Wave Energy has recruited former Woodside Petroleum executive Steve Rogers as its new managing director, with his predecessor Bruce Lane and chief technology officer Sean Moore both stepping down from their roles at the clean energy company today.
Contractor Monadelphous Group has announced a move into the growing renewable energy market by setting up a joint venture with Newcastle-based ZEM Energy, with the two partners having already won work on a 270 megawatt wind farm near Canberra.
Resorts and hotels operator Crown Resorts has given the state's hospitality sector a handy fillip, launching a recruitment drive for more than 500 employees to run the luxury Crown Towers property
High-end residential property prices in Perth have weakened considerably since the iron ore construction boom ended and oil prices collapsed, although these two negative events are slowly slipping from the headlines and being replaced by positive changes.
Australia's retail broadband market, which is dominated by Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom, needs to lift its game and give consumers better information on broadband speed, the competition regulator says.
Ramelius Resources has raised $25 million from investors to fund a development program in the Murchison region that is targeting a 40,000 ounce increase in gold production by FY18.
Mark Bennett's gold hopeful, S2 Resources, has tapped investors for a $12.1 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Polar Bear project near Norseman.
Engineering and construction business Valmec has won a $13.3 million contract for work on the first stage of the $1.12 billion NorthLink WA roads project, which is being built by John Holland.
The Australian dollar has slipped slightly against its US counterpart in overnight trade, weighed down by continuing expectation of a lift in US interest rates.
The Australian share market has resumed its upward course, boosted by expectations of an interest rate cut, and a big lift in the shares of Woolworths after the ailing supermarket giant announced restructuring plans.
