Latest Headlines

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he supports changing the law to allow Qantas to be majority overseas-owned, but won't be offering the airline a "free ride on the taxpayer".

Western Australia's voice for multicultural arts has announced it can no longer survive after having funding withdrawn by the state government - a claim which Minister for Planning, Culture and the

The Australian share market has opened half a per cent higher after Wall Street shrugged off disappointing retail sales figures.

History is not a useful guide in predicting movements in the Australian dollar at the moment, a central bank official says.

Perth-based mining services provider Calibre Group has been awarded a $22 million contract to provide management services for the brownfields expansion of Rio Tinto's West Angelas iron ore mine in the State's north west.

Newcrest Mining has suffered an 88 per cent profit drop after being hit by a slide in gold prices, a massive tax bill and writedowns.

US stocks have closed higher, shrugging off some disappointing retail sales and jobless claims data.

Gold has posted the longest rally since July 2011, topping $US1,300 an ounce for the first time since November, after signs of faltering US economic growth added to the increasing investor appetite for haven assets.

The spectacular collapse of Forge Group highlights some of the big differences between the resource states and other parts of Australia.

The Australian dollar has risen after weak US economic figures raised hopes the US Federal Reserve might not increase the tapering of its economic stimulus program any time soon.

Former WesTrac chief executive Jim Walker is set to step up to the role of chairman at Macmahon Holdings, replacing incumbent chair Ken Scott-Mackenzie who will retire next month.

Premier Colin Barnett has warned more workers could lose their jobs this year, after the collapse of contractor Forge Group and a jump in the state's unemployment rate.

The City of Perth is poised to give the green light to plans for a $280 million, 40-level luxury hotel development in East Perth.

Mining giant Rio Tinto posted a full-year profit of $US3.7 billion in 2013, with large cost reductions and production records driving its underlying profit growth.

Mike Young has been confirmed as the new chief executive of Energy and Minerals Australia as a condition of a deal to secure more debt funding for the uranium explorer.

Gold miner Doray Minerals plans to accelerate drill testing of near-mine exploration targets at its Andy Well gold project in the Murchison region following a $17 million capital raising.

The Australian share market's run of gains has ended, due to mixed reactions to corporate profit reports.

Agribusiness Ruralco Holdings has agreed to buy Perth-founded water management retailer Total Eden Holdings for $57.4 million from Anchorage Capital Partners.

It's not often that 6,000 investors are in total agreement, but in the case of the collapsed Forge Group there's no doubt that all of the company's shareholders will recognise that the failure had one cause – management incompetence.

Mining services company Mineral Resources is close to implementing ambitious plans to develop new transhipment facilities in the Pilbara and in Cockburn Sound to support growth in iron ore exports.

Upmarket retailer David Jones has increased its sales in the three months to January 25 by almost five per cent to $618 million.

Australia's unemployment rate rose to 6 per cent in January, official figures show, the highest level since July 2003.

The Australian sharemarket has opened slightly higher after Telstra lifted its first half profit by almost 10 per cent.

Telstra has lifted its dividend for the first time in eight years after announcing a $1.7 billion profit.

Perth-based Rumble Resources has signed an earn-in agreement with Blackham Resources for the acquisition of up to 75 per cent of the Zanthus project inside the Albany Fraser Tectonic Zone in the State's south west.

US stocks finished mixed, snapping a four-day winning streak for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

China's aggressive posturing has brought the expected response from countries in the region.

Negativity about the outlook for the European economy pushed the Australian dollar down from the one-month high hit on the back of strong Chinese trade figures.

Google Maps competitor nearmap launched its first product aimed at businesses in mining, rail and ports today.

Accounting group PKF will find itself in the unusual position of having two member firms in Perth, after the members of the mid-tier Lawler alliance agreed to join the global network.

Fortescue Metals Group has appointed the BAM Clough joint venture to design and construct a fifth iron ore loading berth at its Anderson Point facility in Port Hedland.

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