Latest Headlines

Labor is poised to win its battle to tax the profits of big coal and iron ore miners, after key independents bargained for closer checks on coal seam gas projects and a higher tax threshold.

The Australian dollar was largely unchanged as reports emerged that US politicians were still at odds over crucial debt negotiations.

Gold tracked equity markets to end slightly higher on Friday, even though persistent euro zone debt worries and margin liquidation from other markets sent bullion to its largest weekly loss since S

Japan's Inpex Corporation has announced that a final investment decision on its Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project may be delayed until January.

Automotive Holdings Group has become the third Perth-based company to record a large protest vote by shareholders against its remuneration report, potentially leading to a board spill next year.

Perth-based renewable energy company Solco has won a contract worth up to $850,000 to install solar power systems across seven buildings in Parkes, New South Wales.

The Australian share market closed firmly in the red on low trading volumes as concern about the eurozone debt crisis continued to weigh on investors.

Optus has made a last-ditch bid to prevent Telstra from reaching an agreement with regulators over its participation in the national broadband network (NBN).

The prospects for the eurozone are gloomy and its break-up would be incredibly painful, federal shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says.

OZ Minerals has pulled out of a uranium exploration joint venture with Toro Energy in South Australia, saying no economic uranium has yet been found at the Mt Woods project.

MMG has broken first ground at its new $22 million copper open pit at its Golden Grove operations, in the Mid West.

Strategic Marine has ramped up its expansion ambitions, announcing it is set to launch two new divisions after winning two major fabrication contracts with John Holland in Queensland.

Santos says it plans to hold on to its Barossa and Caldita gas fields in the Timor Sea, saying they provide a long-term option to feed the established Darwin LNG plant.

Energy giants Shell and Woodside have snapped up the lion's share of petroleum exploration permits which will see more than $300 million of investment in waters off Western Australia.

The retail recovery continued to strengthen in October, posting the strongest gains since September 2009, according to new research from the Commonwealth Bank.

Skilled labour in the residential building industry has hit surplus for a consecutive quarter, an industry group says.

Engineering firm Monadelphous Group has announced new contracts in Australia and Papua New Guinea with a combined value of $140 million.

Coalition MPs won't vote to increase super contributions to 12 per cent when legislation goes to parliament, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.

Telstra could reach agreement with regulators over its participation in the national broadband network before the end of the year, the telco says.

Key independent MP Tony Windsor says he is more than likely to support the government's proposed minerals resource rent tax when the bill enters parliament next week.

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent lower as expected, following falls on Wall Street and European markets overnight.

iiNet founder Michael Malone has become the second Western Australian businessman in as many years to be named Ernst & Young's Australian Entrepreneur of the Year.

The Australian dollar is lower this morning, falling below parity with the US dollar ofor the first time since October 12.

US stocks have taken a sharp plunge as fears over the contagion in the eurozone crisis trumped some mildly positive data on the US economy.

BHP Billiton has become more way about the global outlook for commodities as Europe's debt problems start to worry its big Chinese iron ore customers.

The state government has signed a new agreement with the international wing of the Japan Finance Corporation, in an effort to foster business links with the country.

Matrix Composites & Engineering has announced $61 million in new contracts, taking its order book through February 2013 to $105 million.

Federal Labor's mining tax is on the table for debate next week but is not yet a done deal as talks with crossbench independent MPs continue, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

Marine safety equipment provider Mobilarm has secured its first production order for its Crewsafe V200 emergency beacon from the Dutch Navy.

FairStar Resources has passed another key milestone for the development of its Steeple Hill tenements, after the state government granted a mining lease today.

Treasurer Wayne Swan expects the economy will still be growing at trend in the current financial year when he hands down Treasury's latest economic forecasts with the mid-year budget review.

Perth's office market has recorded the fifth strongest annual rental increase across 81 markets worldwide and is the best-performing in Australia, according to new research released by Jones Lang L