Matt Mckenzie

Drilling services provider Swick Mining Services has released its earnings and dividend for the 12 months to June 30, with net profit after tax down 83 per cent year-on-year to $1.5 million.

Ship builder Austal has won a joint contract of up to $100 million with General Dynamics for provision of modernisation services to the US Navy’s Freedom and Independence class littoral combat ships.

Fisheries minister Ken Baston has announced a new aquaculture development zone off the coast of Broome, to facilitate large scale fish farms.

Iron ore exporter Atlas Iron has taken a $25 million hit to earnings as a result of restructuring and valuation changes to its Centaurus Metals investment.

Engineering and infrastructure company RCR Tomlinson has returned a fifth straight year of revenue growth, delivering a statutory net profit after tax of $43.3 million.

Western Australia’s labour force will increase 30 per cent to 1.75 million by 2025, with the highest annual employment growth projected in agriculture, health care, education and accommodation/food services, according to a report released today by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.

Western Australian farmers benefited from low interest rates, good crop yields and timely strength in commodity prices in the most recent financial year, according to the Planfarm Bankwest Benchmarks 2013-14.

Drilling services and products supplier Imdex has been hurt by subdued activity in the minerals sector, with a net loss after tax of $5.3 million.

Gold and mineral explorer Golden Rim Resources has announced a $3 million placement, managed by Sprott Private Wealth, for exploration in Burkina Faso and working capital.