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The prime minister wants the Perth Freight Link completed as soon as possible, despite controversy continuing to dog the project.

The Australian dollar has edged lower ahead of key jobs figures.

Gold prices have flattened, giving back earlier gains as oil prices fell and shrugging off support from the weak US dollar and shares as investors remained cautious ahead of an anticipated Federal Reserve rate rise next week.

US stocks have closed lower in a choppy session as oil resumed its decline and the S&P 500 index fell through a technical support level ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting next week that is expected to result in an interest rate hike.

This week REIWA members reported a significant decrease in the weekly sales to record 552 sales. The 19 per cent decrease in sales over the week is mainly attributed to a decrease in sales across house, unit and land sales of 20 per cent, 18 per cent and 16 per cent.

The University of Western Australia is set to cut staff numbers by around 300 places next year in a bid to rein in costs and re-target resources to more competitive divisions.

An arrangement struck two years ago allowing Perth electrical, fire and security service provider Global Electrotech to slowly repay some of its $9 million plus debt to creditors has hit a snag.

Australian mining contractors Murray Engineering and Byrnecut have been involved in the delivery of the first automated underground mine in Africa, for Randgold.

Gold miner Northern Star Resources says its recently acquired Hermes deposit in the Bryah Basin could make a ‘significant' contribution to its annual production.

A company has been fined $80,000 plus $6,000 in costs after a worker was severely burned when a tractor engine caught fire during an apprentice "challenge" in Western Australia.

Australian shares have closed lower as investors worry about global growth prospects and falling commodities prices.

Canberra's aversion to pro-active, targeted spending on military hardware has diminished the nation's role in the region, and will do so in the future.

Carbon Conscious plans to expand its business into the dairy sector, announcing plans to purchase a South West dairy property and link up with a Chinese trading group.

The corporate watchdog has banned a third former Get Approved Finance broker from providing credit and financial services, after she was found to have engaged in misconduct.

Billionaire Gina Rinehart is excited about the Roy Hill project's expected first iron ore shipment this week despite the commodity trading at a fresh 10-year low.

Engineering contractors Monadelphous Group and Wood Group have secured new contracts with Woodside Petroleum and ConocoPhillips to service existing oil & gas facilities.

Labor has urged the prime minister to redistribute federal government infrastructure funding, beginning with the Perth Freight Link.

Premier Colin Barnett has warned the state government's mid-year budget review would be 'horrible' as the state continues to suffer from a downturn in revenue.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service is seeking to buy what will be the first flight simulator of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, as part of plans to develop a state-of-the-art training centre in Western Australia.

Gleneagle Gold will make a second attempt at a reverse takeover with plans to buy a local unlisted medical cannabis company in a deal worth about $8 million.

The Australian share market is lower and under pressure from the continuing commodities rout and weaker US markets.

Arts sector hit by Fortescue's plunge

US stocks have fallen after a choppy session as lower oil prices pressure energy stocks for a fifth day and weak Chinese trade data reignites fears of a global slowdown.

The Australian dollar is getting crushed by a decline in commodity prices.

Gold has risen as the US dollar has receded slightly and stocks have fallen globally, though expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week has kept gains in check.

Economic developments in Indonesia, and more broadly across Asean member countries, represent a tremendous opportunity for WA.

A Western Australian World War II veteran who passed away earlier this year at the age of 103 has donated $3 million to Murdoch University from his estate.

This year's Business News Rising Stars award winner, Seqta, has concluded a capital raising with support from a number of high-profile investors, including Mineral Resources chief executive Chris Ellison and chairman Peter Wade, Revel Systems investor Sean Tomlinson and Navitas co-founder Peter Larsen.

The liquidators of failed engineering contractor Forge Group have gained financial backing to pursue a claim worth about $200 million against Forge's former major shareholder.

A large-scale fish kill in Cockburn Sound was caused by an algal bloom, possibly associated with low levels of oxygen in the water, the Department of Fisheries says.

Rio Tinto expects to cut its capital expenditure from a previously forecast $US6 billion to around $US5 billion next year, but it's unclear if the new figure includes the expected cost of its proposed Silvergrass iron ore mine.

The Australian share market has closed almost 1 per cent lower as a steep slide in oil prices and a weaker price for iron ore weighed on the energy and mining sectors.