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In this week's edition of Business News Background, head of content Mark Pownall and news editor Mark Beyer discuss the week's top news, including job cuts in iron ore, the $615m takeover offer for Papillon Resources, skills shortages, and Indian investment in Western Australia.

Sundance Resources has appointed Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil Africa to build the $US3.5 billion port and rail infrastructure for the Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project.

New Energy Corporation's plans to build two Western Australian waste-to-energy facilities have received a boost after the company secured up to $50 million in senior debt from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Tax compliance costs hit all businesses, from small operators to big miners, and need to be addressed.

Amcom Telecommunications says it is on the hunt for new growth opportunities after raising $40 million through a share placement.

The Australian share market has opened higher after the European Central Bank announced measures to bolster eurozone growth.

The Australian dollar has jumped after the European Central Bank lowered one of its key interest rates into negative territory for the first time.

Gold prices rose after the European Central Bank moved deposit rates into negative territory in an effort to boost inflation.

The Dow and the S&P 500 have bolted to new records after the European Central Bank launched aggressive measures to stimulate fragile eurozone growth and avert deflation.

The fractious relationship between Colin Barnett and Clive Palmer has echoes of an earlier stoush between a 20th century premier and a mining magnate.

Aquila Resources will respond to a $1.4 billion joint takeover bid from listed railway operator Aurizon and Chinese steel giant Baosteel within the next two weeks following the dispatch of a bidders' statement today.

One month after the state government named an Asciano-led consortium as preferred proponent for a major port expansion at Esperance, it has emerged that one of the key consortium members has withdrawn.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as investors await the outcome of a European Central Bank monthly policy meeting overnight.

The war of words between online movie company Quickflix and a group of activist investors has heated up ahead of an extraordinary general meeting next week.

Falling prices for coal and iron ore have seen Australia's trade balance fall into the red following five consecutive months of surplus.

Developer Sirona Capital's mooted $30 million, 73-room Quest apartment hotel in the west end of Fremantle is the latest in more than $100 million worth of short-stay accommodation projects being planned for the port city.

Federal government moves to abolish the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission are facing increased opposition from Western Australian-based organisations.

Major redevelopment projects are transforming Perth's CBD, but only one precinct seems to be attracting anchor tenants.

Iron Ore Holdings' Buckland project has been deemed technically and commercially viable following the completion of a feasibility study at a cost of about $30 million.

Premier Colin Barnett continues to beat the drum for the state's fair share of GST, calling for more of his federal counterparts to stick up for the west.

Poseidon Nickel has restarted mine refurbishment activities at the Windarra mine site and employed new managers as it prepares for potential production later in the year.

The competition watchdog has raised concerns the proposed sale by Wesfarmers of its east-coast LPG business to competitor Elgas could leave customers vulnerable to price increases.

It's hard to not admire Frank Lowy, either as founder and major shareholder of the Westfield retail property group or for the $6 billion personal fortune he has amassed after arriving in Australia as an impoverished European migrant in 1952.

The share market is flat in early trade as investors take a cautious approach ahead of an anticipated rate cut by the European Central Bank.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has cut about 100 staff from its iron ore division headquarters in Perth.

Politicians from both sides have failed to offer real choice when it comes to our retirement from the workforce.

US stocks have risen, pushing the S&P 500 to a record close, following mixed economic data a day ahead of the closely watched meeting of the European Central Bank.

Copper prices recorded their steepest drop in seven weeks on concerns that a Chinese probe into the use of metal for obtaining loans would hurt demand.

The Australian dollar has continued to rise on surprisingly strong economic growth figures.

Satterley Property Group has been appointed the selling agent for 29 new home sites at The Pocket, Claremont.

The Australian share market has closed lower as investors shrugged off better-than-expected headline economic growth figures and decided to take profits ahead of a key European Central Bank meeting on Thursday.

Accounting firm Crowe Horwath has entered into exclusive takeover talks with a partnership between wealth management group Financial Index Wealth Accountants and private equity firm KKR Asset Management, snubbing rival bidder Anchorage Capital Partners.