Latest Headlines

Perilya has today appointed a new chairman after Chinese company Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co took control of the miner a month ago.

The state government expects to save over $1 million after it placed a cap on the value of homes for the first home owners grant which will leave 2 per cent of buyers ineligible for an assistance package.

The current backlog of ships has prompted grains handler CBH Group to implement a temporary system that will see grain marketers bid for shipping slots to export grain.

A new expert group has been established by the state government to guide the future expansion of Fremantle Port.

Nomad Building Solutions has secured contracts worth nearly $30 million from Woodside Petroleum for the construction of two housing lots in the Pilbara, which will house workers for the Pluto liquefied natural gas project.

Building approvals in Western Australia have nearly halved over the past year as the latest January figures solidifies the property slump in the state.

The turn in global markets has prompted Reindeer gas project owners Apache Energy and Santos to re-tender contracts, with Clough today awarded a substantially smaller contract compared to the $460 million deals it won last year.

Fertiliser plant set to create 1,500 jobs; Rio still open to iron ore merger; Investors face $7bn cut; ASIC to rule on short-selling; Weaker shares close to testing 3,000 level

WESTERN Australia's big private businesses hold surprisingly uniform views on most subjects, and that extends to the federal government's $52 billion in extra spending via two stimulus packages.

Investing in 2009 will be counterintuitive – something that does not happen in the way you would expect it to.

AS Australia's oldest family company, Lionel Samson & Son has successfully weathered many economic storms.

There seems to be a disconnect between the price of oil and petrol's price at the bowser.

Advertising agencies are reviewing aspects of their business as the downturn bites.

STAYING close to customers is an important strategy to many of Western Australia's big private businesses.

The federal Liberals may feel they've done it tough lately, but things could get a whole lot worse

THE Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has denied its pre-budget submission to the state government includes a hit list of agencies it wants split or privatised.

CHINESE company CITIC Pacific Mining is doing more than its fair share to counter the downturn in mining and construction jobs in Western Australia, announcing that the peak workforce on its Sino Iron project will peak at a larger than expected 4,000 peop

Four WA ex-banking executives have taken new roles in vastly different fields.

ECONOMISTS have described the central bank's decision to hold the official cash rate this week as a pause to the rate cutting cycle.

BOORAGOON-BASED recruitment firm Total Staffing Solutions has given a rare public insight into the challenges facing small and medium sized businesses trying to secure finance in the current market.

Thirty Western Australian mining services companies were in Indonesia last week for the annual Ozmine Conference, which aims to align Australian suppliers with the Indonesian mining industry, delivering positive results for those involved.

SHARES in Fortescue Metals Group fell as much as 14 per cent in trade as the miner called off its widely mooted $500 million capital raising to institutions.

This current down cycle is different from the others in terms of its speed and widespread impact.

The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA with the support of the WA government's Department of Industry and Resources.

COLES owner Wesfarmers Ltd has completed a retail stock offering, securing commitments totalling $1.8 billion from investors.After scaling back, Wesfarmers says it expects to raise around $1.7 billion

THE changing face of Perth's jazz music scene was highlighted this month by the approval of redevelopment plans for one historic venue coinciding with the opening of another.

Sales activity in the Perth CBD commercial market is gathering pace, as some real estate investment trusts look to sell assets and private investors scour for bargains.

CHEVRON says it is a step closer to commercialising its Wheatstone project after exploration of two natural gas fields showed there were enough resources to support a two-train development.

THE Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA remains concerned that the federal government's proposed industrial relations reforms will have a negative effect on business, despite a Senate inquiry dismissing recommendations for significant changes.

OVER the past 20 years or so, there has clearly been a growing, but until now unrecognised, systemic failure of the modern capitalist system, culminating in the US's sup-prime mortgage crash of 2007.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder and director James Graham have shown their support for the company's retail entitlement offer which raised some $1.8 billion.

Air services provider National Jet is embarking on a complete rebranding and name change amid the renegotiation of $90 million in aviation contracts with Western Australian mining companies.