A national small business council has today endorsed the federal government's plan to increase the bankruptcy threshold, saying it will make it easier for businesses to recover debts.
Perth-based Cash Converters International says it is on track to meet its full-year profit forecast of $21 million after it today booked a 26.8 per cent increase in its half-year net profit.
Rio Tinto has started production at its $US901 million ($A999.3 million) Mesa A/Warramboo iron ore mine in the Pilbara, three years after a rare microscopic spider threatened to halt the development.
Aspen Group has returned to the black with the property developer and funds manager today reporting a net profit of $12.9 million for the first half of the 2010 financial year.
One-off impairment charges and a slow down in drilling activity overseas has weighed on Imdex's bottom line with the drilling services company today reporting a net loss after tax of $24.6 million.
A strong contribution from the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline has helped to lift investment fund manager DUET Group's interim earnings out of the black to a net profit of $94.5 million.
Perth businessman Bruce Drummond has lost his bid to recover nearly $5 million he lost in the collapse of Opes Prime from Perth stockbroking firm Euroz Securities.
Restructuring costs and a decline in product sales have affected the financial performance of minerals testing company Essa Australia, which today reported a slump in interim underlying profit to $30,000.
Miner Straits Resources has recorded a first-half profit of $10.1 million, boosted by the final payment for the sale of its majority interest in a company to a Thai entity.
Nickel miner Minara Resources says it expects to book a profit of $48.5 million for calendar 2009 on the back of higher revenue and a drop in production costs.
An option for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA to pursue damages from striking workers at the Pluto project remains open as the Federal Court again extended an interim injunction today.
Shareholders of collapsed business Brainytoys will next month vote on a recapitalisation deal struck between the Perth toy company's administrator and Faldi Ismail's Romfal Corporate.
Media mogul Kerry Stokes has injected $7 million into explorer Iron Ore Holdings as investigations continue over the possible acquisition of its Iron Valley project by Rio Tinto.
Increasing workloads outside of Apex Minerals has prompted Todd Bennett, the grandson of the late iron ore prospector Peter Wright, to resign from the gold miner's board.
Engineering and construction company Clough says it expects its second-half earnings to be lower than the first-half, as it today booked a lift in interim net profit to $25.3 million.
The state government's commitment to improving the mining approvals process has been endorsed by new figures that show it has made progress in reducing its backlog of approvals.
A strengthening nickel price and reduced operating costs have lifted Mincor Resources' earnings into the black, with the nickel miner today booking a $14.2 million interim net profit after tax.
