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Global equity markets have swung between gains and losses, as volatile oil prices rebounded from multi-year lows while weakness in credit markets weighed on sentiment before an expected US interest rate rise.

Gold has fallen one per cent ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting this week, which is expected to announce the first interest rate rise in nearly a decade.

Construction contractor Georgiou Group has encouraged Perth corporations to reject what it calls ‘tokenistic connections' with the arts community.

Traditional businesses were slow to wake up to the threat posed by disrupters such as Uber and Airbnb, but they're now warned and should prepare for further assaults.

German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp is continuing to advance its case for the federal government's upcoming submarine contract, worth around $20 billion, partnering with Civmec to build a small demonstration hull in Perth.

VDM Group is expected to seek debt funding from its largest shareholder after a planned $18 million equity capital raising with an unnamed investor fell through.

One of the nation's leading providers of no-interest loans is preparing to merge with a Western Australian charity in order to remain viable.

The federal government's National Innovation and Science Agenda, released last week, has been well received by Western Australia's business community, despite mixed evidence that publicly funded incentives for research affect growth.

LandCorp is close to releasing prime land in the inner western suburbs, with its Shenton Park Hospital site one of 30 redevelopment opportunities across the state expected to deliver more than 14,000 homes.

Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who has served in federal parliament since 1998, says he'll use the Christmas break to contemplate his future, after Queensland's Liberal National Party said today it wound not support his switch to the National Party in Canberra.

The Australian share market has fallen sharply to close below 5,000 points - an important psychological level - as mining and energy stocks took a beating on lower prices for iron ore and oil.

Woolworths is expected to reinstall a version of Qantas frequent flyer points after dumping it for a revamped rewards scheme.

As residential construction comes off a massive peak, there is an opportunity for a subtle policy response.

The environmental impact of what could be one of Western Australia's first uranium mines outweighs its "scant" economic benefit, conservationists say.

Doubleview-based Ausnet Real Estate Services, which is backed by mortgage aggregator Finsure and led by chief executive Paul Niardone, is seeking an ASX listing through a reverse takeover of Namibian Copper, which saw its share price crash by more than 50 per cent after the deal was announced.

Perth conservationist Harry Butler has been praised for his work as a community educator and a partner with industry, after passing away on Friday following a lengthy illness.

Alternative construction techniques are gathering momentum in Western Australia, but not all builders are convinced that double brick's dominance is about to end.

Austal has won a $63 million contract to build two patrol boats for the Australian Department of Defence, with the terms of the deal signed with National Australia Bank including a buy-back clause.

Challenging conditions loom for homebuilders in WA, as demand for new housing slows after record-breaking peaks of activity last year.

The Australian share market has again slipped below the crucial 5,000-level in early trade on Monday, with mining and energy stocks inflicting the most damage.

Forrest's shock and ore at big miners' expansion

The Australian dollar has been weighed down by continued declines in commodity prices.

Gold prices have bounced, erasing earlier losses as the US dollar and US Treasury yields fell, but was still on track for a seventh weekly drop in eight as investors positioned themselves for a likely US rate rise.

THE innovation and diversification of Californian businesses, and the rapid growth they have driven, hold valuable lessons for Western Australia's economic development, according to some of the state's leading policy minds.

The Department of Education is advising state schools against establishing new farmers' markets on their grounds amid growing demand for the popular weekend attractions.

This week we discuss the continuing weakness in commodity markets, and the local impacts from that, and the legal fallout from post-boom disputes, innovation and startups, Perron Group and residential home building.

WA needs to get behind its early stage tech sector or risk losing 25 per cent of state GDP.

Legislative changes and a desire to attract professional board members are driving significant governance change at WA's smallest NFPs.

A long-running campaign to sell a 50 per cent stake in Exchange Tower is coming to a close, with property syndicator Primewest to pay $113.5 million for half of the CBD skyscraper.

Recent annual meetings have failed to resolve long-running divisions at two of WA's most important Aboriginal corporations.

NAB chief economist Alan Oster predicts the start of production at the swag of new LNG facilities under construction, and good performance in the services sector, will help Australia avoid a recession next year.

Woodside Petroleum's impending exit from its namesake office tower on St Georges Terrace has already affected the building's value, with its owner, DEXUS Property Group, saying it was now worth $80