AAP

Labour hire company Skilled Group has posted a first half net loss and launched a $53 million capital raising to pay down debt and support a restructure aimed at turning the company around.

Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty will head up the review into this month's Perth Hills bushfires which destroyed 71 homes.

Coca-Cola Amatil managed to increase full year profit by more than 10 per cent in an uncertain environment as drinks sales took a hit over the wet Australian summer.

Mining services company NRW Holdings has posted a 33 per cent rise in first half net profit and says it is well-placed to achieve its target of 15 per cent revenue growth in 2010/11.

Shares in Macmahon Holdings slipped after it posted a disappointing first half loss due to a write-down on its joint venture Pilbara rail project with Leighton Holdings.

A West Australian ochre mine used for centuries by Aboriginal people will be added to the National Heritage List, the federal government says.

The West Australian government's triple-A credit rating has been re-affirmed but will come under pressure in the future from rising state debt levels.

Total construction work done in Australia rose 0.8 per cent in the December quarter in chain volume terms, seasonally adjusted.

West Australian Newspapers Holdings says it has raised $325 million from the institutional component of its entitlement offer.

The Australian sharemarket opened lower after heavy falls on Wall Street and amid several worse than expected profit reports.

Australian is in it's biggest mining boom since federation but the rise in income should be treated as being temporary, the central bank governor says.

The Australian dollar fell below parity overnight as risk averse markets continued to be concerned over the political unrest in in Libya.

US stocks fell sharply on Tuesday and oil prices spiked as investors became worried about increasingly violent protests in Libya.

Just in time, Woodside abandons Libya oil hunt – The West; Shell boss hints at Woodside exit – the Fin; Big super fund shows faith in WA property – The West; Building watchdog bares teeth – The Aus; Rare finches a threat to Ord project – The West

Earthmoving equipment provider Emeco Holdings has returned to first half profitability and says it's looking at acquisitions.

A leading environment group in Western Australia has called on the state government to impose a moratorium on the extraction of coal seam gas.

The Australian dollar fell almost a full US cent amid ongoing fears about the political crisis in oil-rich Libya that undermined investor appetite.

High global prices are expected to cushion the blow to agricultural production from Australia's wet and wild summer.

The Australian share market finished weaker as selling pressure gripped Asian bourses on concerns of more violence in Libya, higher oil prices, and local profit-taking.

Oil Search shares rose to a record high after it posted a surge in full year net profit.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is disappointed in Troy Buswell for notching up nine speeding offences in three years but says he doesn't deserve to be dumped as transport minister.

The proposed takeover of Seven Media Group by West Australian Newspapers is evidence of the growing strength of the WA business community, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has released a draft plan to improve the movement of freight on Australia's roads, rail lines, ports and airports.

Business confidence and conditions slumped in the December quarter, even before the onset of the Queensland floods, a survey shows.

The Australian sharemarket opened slightly lower this morning as positive economic news from Europe partially offset market nervousness over unrest in the Middle East.

Oil consuming nations have emergency reserves they can use to stabilise markets in case the violence in Libya and the wider Middle East escalates and crimps production, officials said on Monday.

Nickel miner Independence Group has posted a 79 per cent rise in first half profit on the back of higher nickel prices and stronger production.

BHP Billiton Ltd has entered the booming United States shale gas business with the $US4.75 billion ($A4.71 billion) purchase of assets in Arkansas.

The Australian dollar fell overnight as investors fled to safe haven assets on increasing unrest in the Middle East.

WA reviews magnetite iron ore royalties – The Fin; Voelte in talks on Shell sell-out – The Aus; WAN directors pledge to maintain dividend scheme – The West; Kalahari overrides Extract pleas for more time – The West; Labor fails at skills training –The Fin

Monadelphous Group increased first-half profit 12.3 per cent to a record as the engineering services provider forecast full year profit will rise about nine per cent.

Mirvac Group reported a first half loss of $12.7 million after making a $215 million provision for loss on inventories.