Latest Headlines

Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum has recorded a 41.4 per cent fall in full year net profit to $US1.75 billion ($A1.94 billion).

US stocks have closed mostly higher as investors weighed mixed company news and an unexpected slump in home builder confidence.

US oil prices have jumped to a four-month high due to the effects of a cold winter in the US and rising concerns about stability in some key oil exporters.

The Australian dollar has fallen but weak US economic data has stopped it from dropping too low.

While it's important your business's website has a professional look, people need to be able to find it.

Perth-based gold companies Perseus Mining and Kingsrose Mining have strengthened their balance sheets after completing share placements worth a combined $40 million.

Panoramic Resources' share price rocketed higher today after the company reported drill results that it described as a “potential game changer” for its Savannah nickel project.

Apartment developer Baltinas Made has signed Resolute Constructions to build its $32 million Velo project on Aberdeen Street in Northbridge.

Coles managing director Ian McLeod is set to move to a senior role with parent company Wesfarmers after six years of overseeing massive growth in the supermarket chain.

Contractor Brierty has posted a 19 per cent half-year profit reduction as increased competition in the company's civil construction division squeezed its margins.

The Australian market closed slightly higher as gains from mining giant BHP Billiton's strong profit results were dragged down by a disappointing result from Coca-Cola Amatil.

If you want to know how good you are at business, ask your customers – and then honestly assess how much you can improve.

Seven Group Holdings chief executive Don Voelte has stepped down from his role as chairman of oil and gas junior Nexus Energy, saying the position was no longer appropriate as Seven Group eyes opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Amcom Telecommunications has reported strong results from the first half of the financial year with underlying profit increasing 11 per cent.

The economy is showing signs of getting stronger and that means more interest rate cuts from the central bank are unlikely.

Macmahon Holdings has returned to profitability but warned that tough conditions for companies servicing the mining industry are unlikely to pass anytime soon.

Perth's CBD office market is still proving to be attractive to offshore investors, with the office building at 130 Stirling Street sold to a Singaporean firm for $90 million.

Engineering group RCR Tomlinson says its $140 million purchase of infrastructure business Norfolk Group is paying dividends, announcing a 14 per cent increase in half-year net profit.

Seven West Media is back in the black after the television, magazine and newspaper company posted a $150 million half year profit.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has posted a record half-year net profit of $87.1 million, with cost-cutting efforts offsetting softer revenue.

Alcoa of Australia has announced it will permanently close its Point Henry aluminium smelter at Geelong in August because it has "no prospect of becoming financially viable" in another blow to the nation's manufacturing sector.

Western Australia's peak business body for sustainable energy has welcomed the federal government's review of the Renewable Energy Target, welcoming the challenge to reveal the benefits of the RET

A team from Queensland has taken out the third OzApp awards held in Peth yesterday.

The Australian sharemarket has opened higher, helped by BHP Billiton's massive profit rise.

Western Areas is looking to raise $104 million to reduce debt and provide greater financial flexibility after a positive half-year report which saw the nickel miner turn a big loss to a modest $2.7 million net profit.

BHP Billiton has delivered a better than expected half year profit based on cost cutting rather than commodity prices while predicting the good times to continue.

Gold and silver have hit fresh multi-month highs on the European spot market, although analysts say there are near-term risks to further gains.

The cost of doing business in Australia means the country has become an investment no-go zone for international companies.

The Australian dollar has lost a bit of ground in quiet overnight trade with US markets closed for the Presidents' Day public holiday.

Western Australians could go back to the polls as early as next month after the High Court could not declare who was elected to the WA Senate because of lost votes.

The Film and Television Institute is forging the way for game developers in Western Australia, appointing Kate Raynes-Goldie as its first director of Interactive Programs.

Energy and Minerals Australia has appointed former state government minister Cheryl Edwardes as chairman, replacing Mike Young who has taken a new role as managing director.