Latest Headlines

The door is still open for another cash rate cut, thanks to benign inflation and the persistently high Australian dollar.

BHP Billiton will slash up to 200 jobs after closing its underground nickel mine in Western Australia due to safety fears.

The 2013/14 federal budget has blown out by $17 billion since the election and is forecast to be the third largest deficit on record at $47 billion.

The Western Australian Cricket Association and Ascot Capital have confirmed they will no longer go ahead with a $500 million redevelopment of the WACA ground after the developers failed to hit pre-sales targets for apartments.

The Australian share market is making early gains led by the banks following jumps in stocks in the US and Europe overnight.

US stocks have jumped following a strong report on US industrial output that came a day before a much-anticipated US Federal Reserve policy meeting.

It is said that in space no-one can hear you scream. Amusingly, in a dark sort of way, the same can be said of the stock exchange during a crash because it's unlikely that anyone heard a peep from the 54 (yes, 54) companies that disappeared from the Australian market over the past six months.

Oil prices have jumped after armed protesters in Libya refused to lift a months-long blockade of key oil terminals in the eastern part of the country.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower, trading in a tight range, ahead of announcements from the Australian and US central banks.

Resources companies will turn to foreign workers to service $200 billion worth of oil and gas projects in the coming years unless there is greater investment in skills training, a new report has warned.

The federal government has confirmed it will fund road projects in Western Australia's resources-rich north but it remains to be seen whether a $615 million pledge for the Swan Valley Bypass will be honoured.

A group of large industrial gas users has urged Premier Colin Barnett to stand firm in insisting the Woodside-led Browse gas project is developed onshore.

Treasurer Joe Hockey is set to announce a budget deficit of just under $50 billion as he lays out a roadmap back to the black.

Colin Barnett needs his new-look cabinet to hit the ground running in the New Year.

The Australian share market has closed lower ahead of the US Federal Reserve's last meeting for 2013.

The University of Western Australia will receive a $17 million donation from BHP Billiton for its New Century Campaign, with the engineering faculty and busines school to be the main beneficiaries.

Perth businessman Allen Caratti has requested more time to arrange his affairs ahead of a proposed deal which would see him take effective control of a forestry investment trust previously controlled by Elders.

CBH Group chief executive Andrew Crane has been appointed a member of Australia's B20 Leadership Group, a private sector consortium that produces policy recommendations for international finance leaders for the annual G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane next year.

The hype around Victoria Carbone's new Health Freak Cafe indicates one of two things, or maybe both – Perth is becoming more health-conscious, or a large number of punters partial to kale smoothies rather than caramel lattes are finally getting what they ordered.

Senex Energy has withdrawn its $752 million takeover offer for fellow Australian oil and gas producer AWE.

Freight rail operator Aurizon says no extra jobs will be lost as it shrinks the size of its rail fleet and finalises the termination of a Queensland project.

Western Australian farmers are increasingly confident about their outlook and may enjoy their best profits in a decade after the scale of the state's grain harvest was upgraded to near record levels.

Shares in Perth-based online movie company Quickflix have soared after it launched a streaming service with South Korean electronics giant LG.

The state government has endorsed designs by developers Leighton Properties and Mirvac Group for the final piece of land at the Perth City Link.

Wesfarmers has announced its second significant asset sale this month, with the disposal of the Australian and New Zealand underwriting operations of its insurance business to Insurance Australia Group (IAG) for about $1.85 billion.

The Australian stock market has started the week lower amid a selloff in banking and resources stocks.

China's growing hyper-nationalism threatens the peace and security of its neighbours, and the world.

US stocks have spent most of 2013 on an upward tear but they spent most of last week in retreat.

The Australian dollar is higher, as it goes into stabilisation mode after falling 1.5 per cent last week.

Woodside Petroleum boss Peter Coleman would love to pull off a big overseas deal and set his company up for years of strong growth.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reached a deal with the states and territories to cut red and green tape for major projects in a bid to boost the national economy.

Design proposals for the new Perth Stadium have been received from three private sector consortia – Confidem, Evolution and WESTADIUM – with a panel to announce the successful bidder for the project in mid-2014.