News

Gains by the major banks, miners and energy companies have pushed the share market's benchmark index past 6,000 points for second time this month.

Local contractor EC&M has been awarded the electrical, instrumentation and controls construction contract for Chinese company Tianqi Lithium's $400 million processing facility in Kwinana.

The trouble-plagued and long-delayed Perth Children's Hospital will be ready for its first patients in May, more than two years after its intended opening date.

IT services provider Empired has flagged modest results for the first half of the financial year due to a drop in public sector revenue in New Zealand.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt says the state government will drop its proposal for a gold royalty hike after a revised plan was blocked in the Legislative Council last night.

RAC has announced that it will partner with French autonomous vehicle manufacturer Navya and the state government to trial driverless vehicles on Perth streets next year.

Engineering contractor RCR Tomlinson has secured a $33 million contract to design and construct a five-kilometre relocatable conveyor system for Fortescue Metals Group.

Australian shares have registered strong gains in early trade as local investors follow the cue from Wall Street, where indices hit fresh highs overnight.

Mine law needs Federal fix

Perron Institute has committed to strengthening international ties in Asia to expand its global reach, resources and research capacity.

The state government will draft amendments to the Mining Act that validate granted tenements, in the wake of the High Court's recent ruling that kept sand mining off Andrew Forrest's family pastora

Mining services company Ausdrill has secured three contract extensions, highlighted by a two-year, $US108 million ($142 million) deal at the Iduapriem gold mine in Ghana.

Medicinal cannabis company Creso Pharma will raise $17.5 million through a strongly supported share placement, while also announcing a partnership with Swiss chocolate firm Aeschbach Chocolatier to develop marijuana flavoured chocolates.

The share market ended a day of fluctuating fortunes slightly weaker, amid falls for the heavyweight banks, miners and telcos.

303 MullenLowe chairman Al Taylor will step down at the end of the year after 17 years at the Perth-based advertising agency.

Carnegie Clean Energy has signed a binding term sheet with government agency Indigenous Business Australia and the Perth Noongar Foundation for a 50 per cent stake in the renewable energy company's $17 million Northam solar farm.

BHP Billiton expects to lower costs in its Australian mining operations by a further 10 per cent, and has forecast the division will deliver $US1.6 billion ($A2.2 billion) in productivity gains over the next two years.

The Chinese government's environmental crackdown could provide a boost for the beleagured Sino Iron project, notwithstanding a recent adverse court ruling.

Weaker commodity prices have weighed on resources stocks and Telstra is losing ground but the Australian share market is slightly stronger in early trade.

South32 to run solo coal unit

Two of the state's major agribusiness operators have announced a phased merger, with Craig Mostyn Group moving to full ownership and control of V&V Walsh over the next five years.

Shares in Azure Minerals have risen more than 20 per cent after the miner announced high-grade gold and cobalt discoveries at its Sara Alicia project in Mexico.

Shares in Downer EDI have jumped after the engineering group lifted its full-year profit because of larger-than-expected cost savings uncovered following its purchase of Spotless.

TransAlta officially opened its new 150-megawatt combined cycle natural gas power station in South Hedland today, with Horizon Power as its sole foundation customer after Fortescue Metals Group backed out of an offtake agreement.

Telstra shares have sunk after NBN Co said it would temporarily suspend the National Broadband Network rollout to work on improving the quality of the service.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher following a late burst in buying that lifted the market out of a midday trough.

MMA Offshore has postponed its annual meeting after a complaint from major shareholder Halom Investments to the Takeovers Panel regarding a $97 million capital raising.

Tap Oil has submitted an application to the Takeovers Panel requesting the disclosure of details surrounding major shareholders Risco Energy Investments and Chatchai Yenbamroong, and for the pair to be restrained from voting at the company's annual meeting.

Australian shares have started the week ignoring a positive lead from Wall Street and its fresh record highs, with local indexes unsettled and swinging in and out of positive territory at the opening of trade.

Novo cruels Pilbara gold rush

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has endorsed the environmental watchdog's rejection of Mineral Resources' Jackson 5 and Bungalbin East iron ore project, however, the government is yet to make a final decision on the proposal.

The state government has signed an agreement with the mining industry to ensure social and economic benefits to the Pilbara community with a focus on pathways to employment.