Latest Headlines

David Eaton has been appointed Western Australia's first Small Business Commissioner to provide a low-cost alternative dispute resolution service.

International subsea engineering company Wood Group Kenny has won an $8 million front end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the subsea development of Hess Exploration's Equus offshore deep

Legacy Iron Ore will acquire a 60 per cent share in Hawthorn Resources for $5 million in a deal which will terminate the Mt Bevan iron ore project joint venture between the two companies.

St George Bank has cut its fixed home loan interest rates again as variable rates become more attractive.

Tax professionals have questioned the logic behind the federal government's plan to remove the living away from home allowance for temporary residents, a group of employees used heavily by the mini

Engineering firm Macmahon Holdings has finalised the contract terms with Fortescue Metals Group for the construction of the Solomon Rail project.

Chief executive of market operator ASX Robert Elstone will join the board of Westpac Banking Corporation in the new year.

Australian stocks clawed back recent losses in early trade as sharp gains in offshore bourses sparked hopes for a long-awaited Christmas rally.

Australia is expected to remain a hot spot of merger and acquisition activity because of its cashed-up companies, in defiance of a worldwide slump in corporate deals, new research finds.

Australian stocks ended slightly weaker after a day of choppy trade as positive minutes from the central bank's meeting helped investors shrug off the ongoing economic gloom.

Elders says profits in the first two months of its fiscal year are on track with the agribusiness's improvement plans.

Environment minister Bill Marmion has backed the Environmental Protection Authority's decision to reject a Central West Coal proposal to develop a coal mine south of Eneabba.

Shares in Gloucester Coal are in a trading halt following reports it was in talks about an $8 billion merger that would create Australia's largest independent coal producer.

Westpac Banking Corporation says it will defend a class action against all four big banks over allegedly unlawful fees.

Perth-based Indo Mines has entered into an agreement with Indonesian investment company the Rajawali group which includes a $13.2 million share placement.

Perth-based mineral explorer Peak Resources has appointed Richard Beazley as its managing director, effective as of January 16.

Following a successful $3 million initial public offering, WA minerals explorer Goldphyre Resources today listed on the ASX, with shares dropping from an initial price of 20 cents to close at 16 ce

The federal government has asked a former federal court judge, an academic and a Reserve Bank board member to review the Fair Work Act.

CBH Group has appointed Trent Bartlett to its board as an independent director, replacing retiring director Peter Knowles.

More than one million tonnes of recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste could be diverted from landfill and used to build roads under a landmark agreement between Main Roads WA and the

Perth-based Intierra Resources Intelligence has acquired Sweden-based Raw Materials Group (RMG) to create one of the industry's largest global database groups.

The federal government is going after directors of failed companies who, having avoided liability for workers' entitlements and other debts, restart the business under a similar name.

The possibility of further interest rate cuts hinges entirely on developments in Europe's government debt crisis, economists say.

Perth-based junior Sunbird Energy announced today it has closed its $9 million initial public offering (IPO) early after being oversubscribed.

Retail spending rose in November, a new private sector survey shows, despite major retailers complaining of weakening demand.

Will China be the next financial domino to fall? That is a question which was once unthinkable, but which is now being openly discussed, with serious potential consequences for Australia.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says it expects global economic growth to stall in the coming year, keeping the door open for more cash rate cuts in 2012.

Australian stocks rose slightly as investors went bargain-hunting after a rout on the retail sector yesterday saw shares slump to a three-week low.

Perth-based gold and uranium explorer Convergent Minerals has acquired AFL Resources for the issue of 50 million shares and 25 million options exercisable at 6 cents to AFL shareholders.

Newcrest mining has reduced its full-year gold production guidance by about six per cent because of a production disruptions and lower grades and recoveries.

Buru Energy's chairman Graham Riley, executive director Eric Streitberg and CEO Tom Streitberg have collectively purchased almost $6 million in company shares.

Australian shares ended near a three-week low as the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il brought more uncertainty to a market already riled by a slump in the share price of domestic retailers.