Brent crude oil prices have touched their weakest level in over 11 years on concerns of global oversupply, while Wall Street ended higher as investors went shopping after two days of sharp declines.
Gold futures prices are up than one per cent as weaker than expected US data and uncertainty about how fast the Federal Reserve will tighten interest rates next year weighed on the US dollar.
US stocks have ended stronger, helped by bounces in Apple and Microsoft as well as a rally in hospital stocks after more Americans signed up for subsidised health insurance.
The Turnbull government has sought to head off a Labor-trade unions scare campaign on weekend penalty rates by leaving any change to the independent workplace umpire.
Crane hire company Boom Logistics has flagged an $18 million impairment in its half-year profit, with a portion of the write-down relating to costs associated with the shutdown of its transport business in the Pilbara.
Shares in Structural Monitoring Systems recorded big gains today after the Claremont-based company announced breakthrough agreements with The Boeing Corporation and the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States.
The state government has flagged more asset sales after its mid-year budget update confirmed deepening financial problems, with the annual deficit worse than expected and state debt tipped to reach an unprecedented $39 billion.
Telco giant Telstra and national contracting companies Service Stream and BSA have been awarded contracts for the building and maintenance of the national broadband network (NBN).
Perth-based explorer IMX Resources has announced a restructuring of its Tanzanian assets, involving plans to spin-off its graphite portfolio into a new ASX-listed entity, while retaining its base and precious metals portfolio.
Cedar Woods Properties has purchased a 3.8 hectare infill site in Queensland for $24.6 million, while also announcing the extension of a $135 million loan.
Diversified contractor SRG has won a new contract plus an extension to an existing contract to provide its services to several of Evolution Mining's gold mines, worth a combined $150 million.
SPECIAL REPORT: One of the few positives in a tough year for business was the gold sector, and at the forefront was Northern Star Resources, under the leadership of Bill Beament.
Gold rose more than one per cent on Friday, recovering from its biggest daily loss in five months as the US dollar retreated, but remained near multi-year lows after the Federal Reserve lifted US interest rates.
Western Australia's top charities have reported an average 4.2 per cent increase in revenue this past financial year, with only two of the top 10 reporting less turnover this year than last.
Acrimony and finger pointing continue at a political level as the state government faces a ‘horrible' mid-year budget review, with latest figures suggesting the recent dramatic increase in state debt has been fuelled by a spending push that has outpaced revenue growth.
