Mark Beyer

The annual Business News corporate finance survey has highlighted the top advisers in the WA market and the emergence of a new style of strategic investor.

Nicola Forrest has signed up two experienced Minderoo executives as co-directors of a new foundation but says she remains committed to her philanthropic endeavours with ex-partner Andrew Forrest.

Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the battery metals shake out; Santos legal delay impacts; high energy prices; HBF cost cut; McCusker charity news, and a magazine preview.

Fortescue Metals Group will need to spend an extra $US100 million to repair a faulty water pipeline at its Iron Bridge project but has otherwise reported strong half-year production results.

Wholesale electricity prices in WA were double the national average in recent months, driven higher by the November heatwave and the increased cost of managing a restructured market.

Jack McGinn and Mark Beyer discuss the plight of the government's FOGO recycling plans.

A spike in construction costs has halted a major government recycling project, but private companies are keen to fill the breach.

Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the shakeout in battery metals; the Santos court ruling; plans for a new PCEC; two 'rich listers' taking a hit, regional power cuts and Liberal Party preselection.

BHP has become the latest nickel producer to review its operations in response to the market downturn, while its iron ore business has reported a lift in quarterly production.

The dramatic downturn in the battery metals sector has forced Albemarle to slash spending, with one casualty being the planned expansion of its Kemerton lithium refinery.

US company Albemarle has appointed brokers to sell its stake in Liontown Resources, three months after Hancock Prospecting effectively blocked its $6.6 billion takeover bid.

The giant Japanese trading house will join Macquarie Group as a shareholder in UON, despite the Wangara energy company losing a court battle over its intellectual property.

The listings of Infini Resources and Kali Metals have delivered a salutary lesson for investors with both stocks well ahead of their IPO pricing but failing to maintain early strong gains.

Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Alcoa's refinery closure; Panoramic's shuttered mine; Stockland's retirement living vision; another Creasy deal; a new Yallingup resort, and preview the upcoming magazine.

Ian Trahar has moved to take full ownership of environmental services company CO2 Australia, which was demerged from Seafarms Group more than five years ago.

ANALYSIS: Alcoa opened its Kwinana alumina refinery 60 years ago and that goes a long way to explaining why the US company decided to shut down the operation.

Mark Beyer and Jack McGinn discuss BGC results; home building incentives; housing price hikes; Rio royalty payments; Harvest Road's loss; all the action in lithium; Satterley's LWP deal and Cottesloe preselection.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has paid $125 million to a major Aboriginal group in the Pilbara and is likely to contribute more in future after underpaying royalties over many years.

Westgold Resources has revealed it is being prosecuted over a mine site fatality after Byrnecut, Northern Star Resources and Billabong Gold were fined more than $2 million.

Nadia Budihardjo and Mark Beyer discuss the business successes of Osborne Park-based Zella DC.

From a small and innocuous factory unit in Osborne Park, local company Zella DC is exporting Australian technology to a global market.

Spanish engineering giant ACCIONA has won the contract to design and build WA's next desalination plant at Alkimos after beating a rival bid from CPB Contractors, according to industry sources.

A new hub in the north-west is another step in building an innovation ecosystem in the region.

Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss EPA changes; Alcoa gas outlook; migration strategy; and the year in review for politics, deals and property.

Three Karratha businesses have teamed up to start exporting locally built waste sorting machines.

The state government has approved a continuation of Alcoa's expansive bauxite mining operations in the Darling Range despite the possibility of a full review by the EPA.

Western Australia faces gas shortage over the next decade unless major new supplies are developed, with shortages more extreme from 2031 after the government shuts its coal-fired power stations.

Mark Beyer and Nadia Budihardjo discuss WA business dynasty Craig Mostyn Group.

The state government is spending nearly $500,000 evaluating the establishment of a German innovation institute in WA to accelerate the take-up of clean energy and support decarbonization.

A private exploration company chaired by Curtin University's Brent McInnes has announced the discovery of a huge gas field that could underpin a new LNG plant in PNG.

More than $1 billion is being spent at WA's northern ports to expand and diversify their trade.

The family-owned WA business shares some of Wesfarmers' corporate DNA, which helps explain its longevity.