Gary Kleyn

IT IS difficult to tell how hard the recent interest rate rises will hit Australia's home loan market, says Mortgage Choice WA state manager Murray Sebbes.Since November, Australia's official cash rate has risen by 1.25 per cent.

Imports increaseAUSTRALIAN merchandise imports increased almost 10 per cent during August – a 21 per cent rise on a year ago, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The strongest rises were concentrated in manufactured imports.

THE Federal Government's new First Home Owners Scheme is missing the mark, according to the Master Builders Association of WA.

STAFF should never have to be more motivated than their manager, says Commonwealth Bank WA general manager Andrew Thorburn.

WA know-how has produced the goods again.From the construction of the showpiece for the biggest sporting event in the world to providing embroidery on souvenir towels, WA firms have helped Olympic organisers stage the world's biggest sporting event in S

THE GST has resulted in the WA property industry enduring two of its slowest months on record, according to figures from the Department of Land Administration.

A PROPOSAL from six Australian banks to review the process and methodology of setting credit card interchange fees has been approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

A RISE in Internet banking has lifted B-Pay to new heights. The bill payment service hit a record $1 billion in bill payments in July.

AN OLD cottage at 245 Vincent Street, Leederville is to be retained and restored as an entry statement for the Town of Vincent.

Mr Sebbes said Mortgage Choice's biggest challenge was to increase its WA market share to about 20 per cent.

THE inference by some non-bank lenders that they are cheaper than the banks is often incorrect, says Resi Home Loans WA manager Peter Yacopetti.

Economy: The Australia's Gross Domestic Product expanded by 0.7% during the June quarter, below expectations, as weak public sector spending offset a strong contribution from the mining sector. Even though inflation pressures remain under control as measu

IN THE tradition of junior miners gone hi-tech, Ramsgate Resources has changed its name to Internet Solutions Australia and moved its stock from the mining to the industrial index of the Australian Stock Exchange.

*BGC has contributed more than $250,000 towards the construction of the Alzheimer's Association's $2.5 million fully integrated live-in respite service facility to be built on gifted land in Bedrock Place, Shenton Park.

LEADING electronic media reporting and analysis agency Rehame has opened a bureau in Parliament House.

AUSTRALIA'S 120 property fund mangers manage more than 400 direct and indirect property funds with total assets of $95 billion for more than 800,000 investors, according to a survey by Property Investment Research outlined in the Directory of Australian P

EXECUTIVES should plan for their retirement now because it won't come cheaply, says Channel Nine Money Show host Paul Clitheroe.

A PLAN to corporatise Australia's “cottage” physiotherapy industry is paying off for WA physiotherapy group Lifecare Health.

PROPERTY developer Menzies Court has exceeded its own forecast to announce a before-tax profit of $10.2 million for the 1999-2000 financial year.

IN THE past year the five major banks operating in WA have been jostling for a stronger grasp of the WA market.Despite this, WA's home bank, BankWest, remains the undisputed leader in terms of total deposits and loans placed, according to the just relea

PERTH'S CBD office market is still buoyant and has a bright future despite the failure to sell two of the city's foremost buildings, according to Colliers Jardine WA chief executive Ian Campbell.

WA HAS lost another major sporting event with the State Government refusing to commit funds to a V8 Supercar Grand Prix proposed for the Perth CBD.

Profits during the past 12 months have risen by 31% buoyed by manufacturing and a doubling of resource company profits. Resource earnings have been boosted by better commodity prices and a weak A$.

PERTH lawyer Glen McLeod has been appointed chairman of the International Solid Waste Association's (ISWA) legal issues working group and will oversee the drafting of a waste convention for adoption by the United Nations and government agencies worldwide.

IT'S boom time for WA's mineral and energy sector.Sales have risen to record $21.3 billion for 1999-00, according to the Department of Minerals and Energy.

THE median value of residential properties rose in July despite a slow down in sales according to the latest monthly, survey of the Perth housing market.

THE following company personnel changes have been notified to the WA office of the Australian Stock Exchange:David Smith has been appointed as Chairman of Hugall & Hoile Ltd to replace David Nicholls. Mr Nicholls remains as Managing Director of the Com

THE creation of a satellite city north of Perth with a population five times the size of Bunbury has moved a step closer.

PERTH prisoners are paying their way by producing 2,000 wine boxes for a South West winery as the prison system moves to provide external services.

WA's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.4 per cent in August, from 6.1 per cent in July.

FINDING a tenant might become more difficult over the next 12 months as the supply of new residential buildings peaks following the GST boom in new housing, according to Hegney Property Valuations managing director Gavin Hegney.

PERTH City Council has accepted a $5,000 offer from the East Perth Redevelopment Authority for an 86 square metre strip of land at the southwest corner of Pier and Parry streets in Perth.