Latest Headlines

The Australian dollar is weaker following an aggressive sell-off in Chinese equities.

Spot gold has lost ground, moving closer to last week's five-and-a-half- year lows below $USUS1,100 per ounce, with expectations for a near-term US interest rate hike seen keeping momentum firmly with the bears.

Empty shopfronts in some of Perth's high-profile retail strips are a sign of WA's wider economic malaise.

Monday was a horror first day back to the trading room for Atlas Iron as the Pilbara miner's share price plunged by more than 70 per cent.

Two Western Australian firms have been among the first round of companies awarded federal grants in the ‘Accelerating Commercialisation' entrepreneurs program.

With science increasingly giving hydraulic stimulation, or ‘fracking', the thumbs up, the practice could be used to unlock enormous amounts of tight gas in WA.

SPECIAL REPORT: Global oil prices may have halved in the past 18 months, but WA onshore energy players like their prospects.

Subiaco-based Lucapa Diamonds raised $4 million from a placement of shares to grow cash flows at its Lulo Diamond Project in Angola.

The big miners have led the way as the Australian share market recovered from early jitters to end a run of three straight losses and close the day higher.

The National Australia Bank has joined the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ Bank in raising the interest rates it charges property investors, following measures announced by the banking regulator.

Atrum Coal shares almost halved in price after the company announced a heavily discounted entitlement offer to raise $5 million.

Margaret River has cemented its position among the least profitable of the nation's popular wine regions, with the latest figures showing half of its wine sold at a loss for the second year in a row.

The Northern Territory and federal governments are fast-tracking what could be one of the world's largest prawn farms by granting major project status to the proposal being driven by a Perth-based company.

Shareholders of internet services provider iiNet have overwhelmingly approved a proposed $1.6 billion takeover of the company by TPG Telecom.

Finbar Group's run of full-year net profit records appears to be over, with Perth's biggest apartment developer flagging a net profit of $25.5 million for the 2015 financial year, around $11 m

nib Stadium will host a rugby union international for the first time next year following the state government's announcement today of a two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union.

Goldminer Northern Star Resources sold a record amount of gold in the June quarter, putting it well within its sales guidance for the full year.

Perth-based education provider Navitas has announced a 39 per cent profit increase and unchanged dividend for the 2015 financial year.

Perth financial services provider Pioneer Credit has today reported its 2014-15 earnings are expected to exceed its $6.6 million forecast, and post an operating profit of $7.7 million.

The Australian share market has opened lower in the wake of weak overseas leads and weak commodity prices.

Westpac will look to raise $750 million through a notes offer to lift its capital reserves ahead of a move from the banking regulator.

The Australian dollar has edged lower, weighed down by falling commodity prices and weak Chinese manufacturing data.

Spot gold has turned higher after sliding more than one per cent to its lowest since early 2010 on Friday, as the US dollar fell from its highs and US stocks extended losses, but the precious metal was on track to see the biggest weekly decline since March.

In just a short time, fracking has gone from a little-known industry term to make its debut in the mainstream lexicon as a dirty word.

Australia's $1.2 billion live cattle trade has gone from gloom to boom this month but, while welcoming the news, major players in the sector are keeping their celebrations in check as they evaluate recent events.

The share market has closed lower for a third straight day, following a weak lead from Wall Street and pessimistic manufacturing data from China.

Major changes to Western Australia's electoral boundaries have been proposed to reflect uneven population growth in the state.

Sydney-based Perth Basin player AWE has announced it won't need to further use hydraulic fracturing at its Drover-1 well, after existing drilling results gave it a clear assessment of shale gas potential in the field.

Investment uncertainty in the renewable energy sector hasn't dampened demand, according to a local clean energy business, which is self-funding major growth plans it says are viable in the current market.

When newly appointed managing directors agree to work for nothing, it's a sure sign the cost pressures facing listed companies are getting more acute.

Perth residents want to live in apartments, and not just in the inner city, however, a leading industry lobby group believes the state government's planning regime is leaving them with little choice than to buy houses and land.

Water Minister Mia Davies announced the completion of one project and the start of two others to improve Water Corporation services at Perth's northern edge and in the Wheatbelt.