Latest Headlines

Perth-based software developer ISS Group says it will consider paying an interim dividend, after reporting a significant lift in profit in the December quarter.

Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust says it will target acquisitions for growth after it reported a $26.4 million interim profit, up 4.5 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will get a national agreement on health and hospital reforms if she can separate the GST from the deal, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess and joint venture partner Siemens have won a five-year deal with Telstra worth $350 million.

Shares in Perth-based mineral sands hopeful Latin Resources have jumped after it announced a major expansion of its Guadalupito iron and mineral sands project in Peru.

Shell Australia and Woodside Petroleum have bolstered their relationship, entering a deal to redevelop fuel supply facilities at Dampier's King Bay.

Chevron has announced its tenth offshore discovery in Australia over the past 18 months, with a significant Carnarvon Basin find that will feed into its $43 billion Gorgon natural gas project.

Residential rents have increased for the first time in a year, according to the latest market analysis by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

The Australian dollar opened domestic trade lower today, as currencies struggled to find direction during a cautious offshore session.

THE state government is evaluating a range of alternative contracting and procurement models in the health and corrective services fields, potentially offering new opportunities to building construction companies.

COMPETITION between tenants is expected to place upwards pressure on rents, that could be the lone bright spot in a struggling residential property market, according to REIWA president Alan Bourke.

Western Australia's housing construction market is seemingly emerging from its three-year trough, with industry figures showing new home sales increased for a third consecutive month in December.

PERTH'S office market is starting to tighten again for the first time since the middle of 2008 when the vacancy rates virtually hit zero at the height of the boom.

TRAVEL is a good business to be in, because it's a product that almost everyone is interested in, according to travel agent and internet entrepreneur Annette Porter.

WITH the Picassos and Magrittes safely home in Venice, Art Gallery of Western Australia director Stefano Carboni is breathing a sigh of relief that the Peggy Guggenheim exhibition went smoothly from beginning to end.

The newest addition to Mayland's burgeoning cafe scene has attracted a loyal and passionate following in just a couple of months. Natalie Gerritsen reports.

There's a mountain to climb if political correctness is to be overcome.

Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls' recent spat with Labor over FOI has raised plenty of concerns over the legislation and what is the ‘public interest'.

Recent controversy over a successful technology company highlights the need for a coherent industry policy in WA.

The figures might look good for Gina Rinehart now, but there's plenty of upside.

Smooth passage through the liquor licensing process eludes many applicants, despite the Liquor Commission's clear requirements.

Getting rich is tougher than most people think.

Under the leadership of Brendon Grylls the Nationals are increasingly confident about their future role in state politics.

IT'S common to hear the leaders of established businesses name two vital ingredients to success – planning and developing relationships.

The outlook for non-residential building construction in WA is weak but the impact on each business will depend on where they sit in the construction cycle.

“REPORTS of my death have been greatly exaggerated” is a classic line that could be applied to building construction opportunities in the office and education markets.

The West Australian government's long awaited legislation for fixed-term elections is expected to be introduced next week nearly two and a half years after it was promised.

Bankwest has recovered from last year's slump with an interim net profit of $224 million, after reducing its impaired loans expense and cutting business lending by 10 per cent.

Independence Group has launched a friendly all scrip takeover offer for base metals miner Jabiru Metals, in a deal that values the target at $532 million.

The Australian bourse closed in the black for the third consecutive day after a better than expected profit result from Commonwealth Bank drove gains in the financial sector.

The Australian dollar was lower today, as currency traders waited for local jobs data.

Developer Aspen Group says it is ready to commence development of its latest residential land syndicate, the Enclave at St Leonards, after it received bank approval for borrowing facilities.