Latest Headlines

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman has sought to soften the blow of a reduction in Royalties for Regions funding by promising a more a strategic approach to spending and greater investment in the southern regions.

A new survey by the Australian Institute of Management has provided further confirmation that Western Australia's massive wage growth has come off the boil, with companies reporting a solid decline in average salary growth.

The share market has opened lower as further falls in the price of Australia's largest export, iron ore, hit the mining sector.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has abandoned a $US2.7 billion gas deal in Israel, one of the company's two major long-term growth prospects.

The Australian dollar fell to a three week low, coming under pressure from weaker iron ore prices and concerns about the Chinese economy.

Oil prices have closed mixed as traders tracked the supply outlook amid unrest in Libya, the Ukraine-Russia crisis and the eve of US inventory data.

Wall Street stocks have slumped on a batch of mostly-disappointing retail earnings and after a US Federal Reserve official endorsed a speedier rise in benchmark interest rates than some expect.

The Perth Freight Link is the latest in a string of big projects to highlight the lack of cohesive, long-term infrastructure planning in WA.

Telstra customers will share access to their home wi-fi networks in a plan to create one of the world's largest networks of public hotspots.

AnaeCo director Ian Campbell has lost control of his 6.5 per cent stake in the waste treatment company after the shares were used as security for separate loans.

The Australian share market has closed higher as bargain hunters moved in following falls in morning trade.

Trucking company CTI Logistics has paved the way for further expansion of its Hazelmere depot with the purchase of a 30,000 square metre property adjoining its existing premises.

Mining contractor Byrnecut has been awarded a $200 million contract for underground mining at Sandfire Resources' DeGrussa copper-gold mine near Meekatharra.

Western Australia's leading property industry groups have warned the government not to abolish its Keystart shared equity home loan scheme, arguing it could push thousands of low-income earners into public housing.

The winemaker behind brands including Penfolds has rejected a $3.05 billion takeover proposal from a US investment firm while announcing plans to slash costs and jobs.

Biotech player Orthocell has appointed two financial advisory firms to seek out investors as part of the company's plans to go public.

Perth's industrial land sector is likely to experience a short-term supply shortage, with land values the most expensive in the nation and high construction costs affecting developers' ability to create new facilities.

The proposed $750 million redevelopment of Garden City Booragoon is the latest project in a booming retail construction sector.

Deutsche Bank's latest analysis of Boral has rekindled debate over a potential move on the Buckeridge Group.

Borrowers can rest assured that interest rates aren't going anywhere any time soon, with the Reserve Bank of Australia again giving no indication of any future change to the cash rate.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has warned Australia's AAA credit rating could be reviewed unless significant cuts are made to the budget, providing the Abbott government with much-needed ammunition as it tries to win support for its fiscal roadmap.

Sirius Resources says it is close to securing consent to mine at its Nova nickel deposit from the the traditional custodians of land covering the project in the Goldfields.

Sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has raised $67 million through a share placement, signalling it plans to increase the scale of its plantations.

The Australian share market is making losses, with a positive lead from Wall Street's gains not enough to plug the gloomy sentiment about a plunge in the iron ore price.

Fortescue Metals Group has increased the amount of iron ore it estimates is located at one of its projects in the Pilbara by more than 77 per cent.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as traders wait for the release of the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's May board meeting.

Tech stocks have led US markets higher helped by the truce in the smartphone patents battle between Apple and Google.

Oil prices have been mixed amid escalating violence in crude producer Libya following a revolt by a rogue general that has raised concerns about potential supply disruptions.

The Abbott government has put off making the really tough decisions in its first budget.

Seventeen Western Australian business people have been nominated as finalists in the 2014 round of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award.

Shares in Perth-based rubber recycling and manufacturing company Reclaim Industries have soared on the ASX on the back of its $3.8 million all-scrip takeover of cloud-based recruitment business Skills Connect.

Property player Megara Developments will build eight apartments for the Town of Port Hedland in exchange for the right to sell house-and-land packages at South Hedland's Catamore Court estate.