Latest Headlines

Commercial property owners seeking to install solar panels under long-term purchase agreements have received a boost, with the state government announcing cuts to licensing red tape for providers.

An $86 million insurance settlement accounted for almost the entirety of Perth-based iron ore miner Mount Gibson Iron's profit result for the 2016 financial year, however it was a substantial improvement on last year's $911.4 million loss.

Property developer Stockland is reaping the benefits of a surge in house and land sales driven by strong population growth, job growth and low interest rates.

Leadership WA chief executive officer Robin McClellan spent 10 minutes with the state's chief scientist Peter Klinken, who wants Perth to be a centre of innovation and creativity.

Western Australia is catching up with South Australia and the Northern Territory in introducing a container deposit scheme for drink cans and bottles, likely from mid-2018.

Junior miner Kidman Resources has tapped investors for $21 million to fund exploration work at its gold and lithium deposits in the Goldfields.

Perth-based Rox Resources accepted a revised offer from Marindi Metals for its stake in the Reward zinc-lead project in the Northern Territory, with the new cash-and-scrip deal worth $21 million.

James Packer's Crown Resorts still sees Macau casinos as a good investment despite its joint-venture operations there continuing to weigh on profits.

QBE Insurance Group shares have dropped as much as 11.5 per cent after the insurer downgraded its full-year gross written premium guidance, citing pressure on product pricing and the value of its investments following a sharp drop in first-half profit.

The Australian share market has opened lower.

Oil has settled up nearly two per cent, hitting five-week highs for a second straight day as sources at OPEC spoke of Saudi Arabia's desire for higher crude prices while Russia met the producer group to discuss the market.

Gold has cut its gains after mixed US economic data failed to give clarity on the prospects for a US interest rate rise this year and the US dollar pared losses from a seven-week low.

The Australian dollar is lower against its US counterpart after the greenback strengthened following earlier losses and the Reserve Bank minutes failed to give clear direction.

BHP calls end of the price routBHP Billiton has committed to growing cash flow and has declared commodity prices have stopped falling, after slashing its

Miner BHP Billiton has posted a loss of $US6.4 billion for the 2016 financial year following its $7.2 billion impairment of US shale assets in January, a slightly better result than had been anticipated by the market.

The Australian share market has closed slightly lower as investors put aside a positive lead from record-setting US markets to digest local company earnings results.

3D printing firm Aurora Labs has wrapped up its first day of trading on the ASX, after raising $2.8 million in its initial public offering.

If utilities such as Water Corporation can't fulfill their primary responsibility to the public, maybe an alternative ownership model would be a better option.

Resources businesses are developing innovative workplace relations strategies in response to a lack of reform from government, as costs come under continued scrutiny due to low commodity prices.

Perth charity Telethon Adventurers has plans to expand nationally at the end of this year, following the success of recent fundraising and research programs.

After a year of acquisitions and big contract wins, diversified business OTOC has returned to the black and will pay its first-ever dividend.

Perth IT firm ASG Group has boasted a strong financial year on the back of growth in large-scale contracts and a tightening of its operations.

The influence of Adrian Fini's hospitality dream team was celebrated last night, with the two latest ventures by the group that founded Little Creatures Brewing among the highlights at the Australian Hotels Association's 2016 accommodation awards.

West Perth-based advisory firm Otsana Capital has established an office in Israel to work closer with startups in the region seeking a presence on the ASX.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive Ian Narev took home $12.3 million in total pay in the last financial year, up more than 50 per cent due to performance-related share bonuses.

Engineering group RCR Tomlinson has won a $120 million contract to build processing infrastructure at Rio Tinto's Silvergrass iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

PHOTO ESSAY and MULTIMEDIA: The industrial application of automated and robotic technologies has been a feature of manufacturing for many years.

The Australian share market has opened higher.

The Australian dollar has risen slightly ahead of the release of official minutes from the Reserve Bank board's August interest rates meeting.

Gold has risen as the US dollar has edged lower as expectations dwindled that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rate this year.

Oil prices have hit five-week highs, gaining 10 per cent or more in a three-day rally as speculation intensified over potential producer action to support prices amid a crude glut.

Farmers hit back at sale restrictionsThe National Farmers Federation warns that changing foreign investment rules in recent government decisions threatens