Latest Headlines

Any trade union-backed court challenge to the state government's updated wage policy would result in job losses in the public sector, Treasurer Mike Nahan warned today, as above inflation pay rises would need to be offset through lower staff numbers.

Property developer Diploma Group has entered into a heads of terms for the sale of its Quest apartment hotel on Adelaide Terrace.

Woolworths has appointed a new boss to revive the retail giant, hammered by weak earnings, stiff competition and its failed hardware chain Masters.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has signed a project development agreement with US-based Sempra Energy for a potential liquefied natural gas plant in Texas.

TeamAhoy is a web-based project management tool providing managers with a new way to keep up-to-date with everything that's happening in their team.

The Australian share market is lower in early trade, as investors remain uncertain amid volatile markets after stocks slid in China but rose on Wall Street overnight.

Billions for WA in defence boost

Wall Street has posted solid gains as higher oil prices reduced fears that banks could be hit by debt defaults and investors saw opportunities after weeks of volatility.

The Australian dollar has been pushed higher following a surge in global oil prices.

Spot gold has risen, buoyed by a strong technical formation and the potential for a bullish "golden cross" to form, while the futures market pared losses after feeling earlier pressure from the strong equity markets.

Necessity is often the mother of invention in Australian agriculture, which is why the lack of support for renewables from many in the farm sector is perplexing.

The ongoing battle over high-density development in South Perth has stepped up a notch in recent weeks.

Land developer Peet has sharpened its focus on markets in the eastern states, forecasting subdued conditions in Western Australia for the rest of 2016 after lodging a net profit of $18.5 million fo

ANALYSIS: Rubbery figures and projections aside, WA's iron ore miners are breathing a little easier thanks to improving prices and a favourable exchange rate.

Australian stocks have closed virtually flat after the market staged a turnaround during afternoon trade.

Shares in Decmil Group tumbled 18 per cent today after the contractor posted a big half-year loss, cut its dividend, and indicated more restructuring was needed.

Copper and gold miner Sandfire Resources has reported a near-50 per cent fall in half-year profit, but shareholders will still receive an interim payout.

reiwa.com property sales data for the overall market for the week ending 23 February 2016 totalled 678 which represents a 6 per cent increase in total sales over the week.

After a solid start to the financial year, mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has posted a $107.2 million half-year loss as a result of impairments to its Canadian business.

Three months after announcing an option to purchase Western Australia's eighth-biggest homebuilder, ASX-listed Simonds Group said today it would not proceed with the acquisition of Gemmill Homes.

Two business units of technology retailer Dick Smith could live to see another day, as receivers today announced that the majority of the empire will be shut down after a number of proposals to acquire the company were all deemed unacceptable.

The board and management of Western Areas will take a pay cut after the nickel miner slumped into the red with a $20 million half-year net loss.

Today at AOG: US petroleum company Hess is pursuing development of its Equus gas field off the Pilbara coast, with senior manager Andrew Drayton telling the Australasian Oil & Gas conference today it would proceed with a variety of tendering opportunities this year, including for subsea work.

Former treasurer Peter Costello will lead Nine Entertainment Co through what the group hopes will be sweeping changes to media regulation in Australia.

Crown Resorts has reported a slump in normalised first-half profit, with Perth and Melbourne maintaining their contribution but weak market conditions in Macau affecting its joint-venture casino resorts there.

Mining group South32 plans to cut 390 jobs at its Worlsey Alumina operation in Western Australia's South West, as part of a global cost-cutting drive following its $US1.7 billion ($A2.4 billion) loss for the half year to December.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher after Wall Street performed better overnight amid increased oil prices.

Wesfarmers regroups for customer focus

Gold has risen above $US1,250 an ounce and has neared a one-year high, acting as counter against risk alongside top-rated government bonds as oil's earlier weakness rippled into global equity markets.

The Australian dollar has softened, following the fortunes of global shares.

US stocks have mounted a late-session rally to close higher after an increase in oil prices helped reduce investors' fears about banks' vulnerability to energy companies struggling to pay their debts.

Grain handler CBH Group has called for more information on the $1 billion-plus offer from Graincorp-backed Australian Grains Champion to corporatise and list the cooperative, highlighting concerns around long term cost increases, the proportion of grower ownership and board representation.