Today's Business Headlines

Rate alert of 8% by year's end
A leading economist has warned that official interest rates could hit 8 per cent by the end of the year, delivering mortgage holders double-digit rates on their home loans, if the surging Australian economy fails to cool and inflation remains high. The West

WA stocks fall behind benchmark
The panics on world financial markets last month has taken its toll on the Deloitte WA index, with the benchmark for WA-listed companies plunging almost 15 per cent last month. The West

Buckeridge takes port fight to court
Billionaire Len Buckeridge has vowed to seek an injunction to prevent the Fremantle Port authority building a new port near Kwinana as the long running feud between the building magnate and State Government intensifies over his plans for a private port on the site. The West

Empired swoops on lame Commander's IT outpost
Struggling Commander Communications has continued its slim down for survival campaign, selling its WA information technology service arm to the Perth-based fledgling Empired. The West

Rio boss writes off new BHP bid
Rio Tinto remains unmoved and unwilling to engage hostile suitor BHP Billiton, despite the bidder's best efforts.

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
Page 3: A leading economist has warned that official interest rates could hit 8 per cent by the end of the year, delivering mortgage holders double-digit rates on their home loans, if the surging Australian economy fails to cool and inflation remains high.

Billionaire Len Buckeridge has vowed to seek an injunction to prevent the Fremantle Port authority building a new port near Kwinana as the long running feud between the building magnate and State Government intensifies over his plans for a private port on the site.

Business: Rio Tinto is under pressure to deliver on its ambitious growth strategy at its full year results on Wednesday as the board attempts to shore up its rejection of BHP Billiton's $165 billion takeover bid.

The panics on world financial markets last month has taken its toll on the Deloitte WA index, with the benchmark for WA-listed companies plunging almost 15 per cent last month.

Struggling Commander Communications has continued its slim down for survival campaign, selling its WA information technology service arm to the Perth-based fledgling Empired.