AAP

Tyre recycling company Pearl Global has signed a conditional placement agreement with cornerstone investor ROC Asset Management to fund the addition of thermal desorption units.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ramped up his attack on Labor's plan to lift wages, accusing Bill Shorten of forcing business to sack people to give others pay rises.

Listed investment firm Keybridge Capital has unwrapped a $20 million takeover bid for loss-making confectionary company Yowie.

Australian shares have fallen with losses across almost all sectors of the market.

Oil prices edged slightly higher overnight, supported by signs of tightening global supply after a Saudi official said the kingdom plans to cut oil exports in April, while the US government reduced its forecast for domestic crude output growth.

Gold gained overnight as the US dollar slipped after tame US inflation data supported the Federal Reserve's "patient" stance on interest rate hikes, while investors awaited a key Brexit vote.

Australian shares have closed down slightly as an early rally couldn't be sustained.

An emotional Western Australian premier has promised to reimburse more than $2,000 in accommodation costs after coming under fire for bringing his family on official regional trips, saying "hurtful" and "vile" attacks by the opposition must stop.

Mortgage brokers will continue receiving trail commissions beyond 2020 under a federal coalition government, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealing a plan to scrap them has been dropped.

A BHP Group rail maintenance crew applied brakes to the wrong locomotive when they tried to help the driver of a runaway iron ore train, which ended up being deliberately derailed in the Pilbara region.

Intellectual property firm IPH has made a $197 milllion hostile takeover bid for Xenith IP, just three weeks before Xenith shareholders were scheduled to vote on a merger with QANTM Intellectual Property.

Consumer confidence "nosedived" last week as the GDP results showed the Australian economy had entered a so-called per-capita recession, ANZ Banking Group analysis said.

Australian shares have opened higher as energy stocks bounced after oil prices jumped more than one per cent overnight.

Oil prices rose more than 1 per cent overnight, lifted by comments from Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih that an end to OPEC-led supply cuts was unlikely before June.

Gold fell overnight, moving further off the key $US1,300-per-ounce mark it briefly surpassed in the previous session, as global equities rallied following last week's slide with stronger-than-expected US retail sales allaying some fears of an economic slowdown.

The Australian sharemarket has started the week on a down note, with energy investors appeared spooked by news the world's largest wealth fund plans to sell its stakes in oil and gas companies.

Australia's visa rules have been relaxed to make it easier for farmers to hire skilled seasonal workers. The new rules also apply to tennis coaches, artists, dentists and anaesthetists among a handful of other professions.

Newcrest Mining will pay Toronto-listed Imperial Metals Corp $US807 million ($A1.15 billion) for a majority stake in a Canadian copper and gold mine.

Australian shares have opened lower after negative leads from overseas at the end of last week.

Oil prices fell about 1 per cent on Friday after disappointing US job growth revived concerns about a slowing global economy and weaker demand for oil.

Gold rose a per cent to a one-week high on Friday, briefly breaching the pivotal $US1,300-per-ounce ceiling, as weak US payroll data dented the US dollar and risk sentiment while also exacerbating a gloomy global economic picture.

Australian shares have hit the skids over concerns about a global growth slowdown, with nearly every sector on the local bourse in the red.

A recommendation by Western Australia's environmental watchdog that new emissions-intensive projects should be carbon neutral has swiftly been rejected by the state government.

The prime minister is preparing to unveil a $96 million package designed to ease traffic congestion on Perth's roads.

Australian shares have moved lower amid concerns about a global growth slowdown, with nearly every sector on the local bourse in the red.

Gold edged lower overnight, holding near a multi-week low as the US dollar gained against the euro after the European Central Bank postponed an interest rate hike, but the bank's gloomy economic outlook limited the metal's fall.

Oil prices edged higher overnight, supported by OPEC-led supply cuts and US sanctions against exporters Venezuela and Iran, but gains were capped by falling stock markets and renewed concerns over demand growth.

Wall Street's main indices fell for a fourth consecutive session, after Europe's central bank said it would defer interest rate hikes and offered banks a new round of cheap loans, raising fresh concerns about global economic growth.

Australian shares hit a six-month high despite falls from major miners trading ex-dividend and disappointing retail sales figures.

Western Australia shouldn’t expect much cash in next month’s federal budget because it has plenty of Commonwealth commitments already including GST top-ups, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated.

Australia's trade surplus increased to $4.5 billion in January, the second largest surplus on record, as the value of gold exports exceeded expectations.

NAB shares have opened strongly with investors apparently welcoming the lender's appointment of Philip Chronican as chairman.