Latest Headlines

Butler hits back over WA emissions move

US oil futures rose 1.7 per cent overnight, lifted by a deep draw on US crude inventories, especially at the benchmark's delivery hub due to increased demand with the start-up of two new West Texas pipelines.

Gold fell overnight as the US dollar rose and stock markets gained confidence with the latest positive development in the US-China trade deal but concerns over decelerating global economy kept prices hemmed near a multi-year peak.

The state government is to launch its long-awaited Asian engagement strategy today, with a broad conceptual push to align the regional trade with other key policies as well as a starting offer of up to $10,000 for 25 businesses to increase their capacity to win business in the neighbourhood.

Researchers at Telethon Kids and Harry Perkins institutes have been awarded more than $18 million in funding for health and medical research from both state and federal governments.

The Australian share market has finished flat as traders wait for the other shoe to drop on the US-China trade war.

A Chinese company suspected of illegally clearing land at a pastoral station in Western Australia's north has had its appeal against a stop-work order dismissed, but has been encouraged to apply for a permit retrospectively.

Peard Real Estate is exploring a partnership with NASDAQ-listed eXp Realty, part of a consolidation initiative that has resulted in the closure of five offices due to difficult trading conditions in Perth residential property.

Rio Tinto has awarded works to NRW Holdings at its $2.6 billion Koodaideri iron ore project, while BGC Contracting secured a contract extension at Atlas Iron's Mt Webber project.

The opening of Spaces Wentworth at Charter Hall's Raine Square is the latest in a series of growth initiatives in Perth's flexible office market.

Independence Group has reported a 44 per cent leap in full-year net profit on the back of strong production from its Nova nickel mine and Tropicana gold joint venture project.

Shares in Perenti Global, formerly Ausdrill, have surged as much as 17 per cent today, after it announced a full-year underlying net profit of $103.1 million.

Alita Resources has entered administration just two days after its biggest shareholder, Galaxy Resources, struck a deal to buy the company's $42 million in secured debt.

Nearly 160 of EC&M's 400 employees will be back at work in September, with administrators progressing deals with major clients since the business hit the wall last week.

Subiaco's transformation post-football is gaining momentum, with the state government approving $227 million of funding to revitalise the Subi East precinct, a commitment expected to be a catalyst for more than $1 billion of private sector investment.

Lynas Corporation has posted a 50 per cent jump in full-year profit amid record production of major rare earth elements but the company says most of its growth will be outside China.

Wellard's full-year loss has widened by 33 per cent to $48.4 million after the cattle exporter was hit by Turkey's halt on live feeder imports and large impairments.

Woolworths has raised full-year profit by 7.2 per cent to $1.75 billion after a robust second-half performance by its Australian supermarkets offset softness at Big W and the liquor division.

Pilbara Minerals changes tack

Oil prices rose nearly 2.0 per cent overnight after a larger-than-expected decline in US crude stockpiles helped ease worries about weakening oil demand caused by the US-Chinese trade conflict.

Gold eased overnight as the US dollar strengthened and as investors locked in profit following a more than 1.0 per cent jump in the last session but uncertainty over the US-China trade dispute and the global economy kept safe-haven bullion near a multi-year peak.

Rich-lister Tim Roberts has achieved a pyrrhic victory against law firm Clayton Utz, after his aircraft leasing business claimed $US37 million ($A54 million) because of negligent advice.

The Australian share market has climbed modestly for a second day, buoyed by the tech sector, while the Aussie dollar has hit a 10-year low against its US counterpart.

Construction of Perth's second waste-to-energy plant is scheduled to start later this year after the private consortium behind the East Rockingham project appointed Spanish engineering giant ACCIONA as its main contractor.

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers is set to become the sixth largest law firm in Western Australia after striking a deal to acquire boutique Perth firm Bellanhouse Lawyers.

Two local engineering services firms have reported contrasting full-year results today, with Valmec announcing record underlying earnings while profit at Lycopodium fell 9.8 per cent.

Game tech and VR are playing an increasingly important role in Australian workplaces.

Western Australia will be carbon neutral by 2050 under an aspirational policy announced by the state government today, although it is not yet clear what mechanism will be used to achieve the goal.

Australian Potash has slashed the capex for the development of its Lake Wells project from $338 million to $208 million, after it removed the second stage of the project, amid an increasingly competitive sulphate of potash market.

Suspended Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has told an inquiry it was a coincidence a city chief executive was axed after she learned he had referred her to the Corruption and Crime Commission.

The rate of business failures in hospitality and retail during the past year should be ringing alarm bells for decision makers.

Prospero Productions will premiere its new immersive documentary Whale Super Highway, which tracks a mother and a baby whale down the coast of Western Australia, in a 35-seat dome at CinefestOz at the end of August.