Mark Beyer

The strength of the State’s resource sector has been reflected in the companies that dominated the top-performing stocks over the past 12 months to June.

Concern about Western Australia’s skills shortage is growing as industry finds it increasingly difficult to recruit the people it needs. Mark Beyer reports.

Total Shareholder Return is a well-recognised tool for analysing the high-level performance of listed companies.

Food manufacturer Kailis & France Foods is planning to increase its size and diversify its business in response to margin pressure from Australia’s big supermarket chains.

Oil and gas giants ChevronTexaco and Woodside have set off alarm bells in business and government by raising the possibility of sending engineering design work for the Gorgon and Train Five projects offshore.

Bottled water company Refresh is raising extra capital to support its continued growth, including further moves into the big interstate markets.

Alinta is believed to have teamed up with Alcoa and Macquarie Bank to lodge a joint bid for the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.

The Federal Government has claimed its $15 million assistance program for Western Australia’s timber industry will create 900 new jobs.

A recent survey by the National Insurance Brokers Association found that prices for ‘long-tail’ insurance classes like public liability and professional indemnity have continued to climb.

Two experienced insurance brokers have formed a new firm that plans to target the top end corporate market in Western Australia.

A multi-million dollar Federal Government assistance package for WA’s timber industry just before an election has raised questions about the process, reports Mark Beyer.

The single largest investment in Western Australia’s timber industry is about to start bearing fruit at a vast factory at the Neerabup industrial estate, north of Wanneroo.

State Opposition leader Colin Barnett has announced plans to reverse most of the Gallop Government’s industrial relations reforms to pave the way for more individual employment agreements.

The State Government will make up to $50 million available for a proposed indoor sports and entertainment stadium, despite its expression of interest document making it clear the Government wants to limit its financial contribution.

Private equity fund Hawkesbridge has become a major shareholder in two of Western Australia’s most innovative new companies, Advanced Powder Technologies and Vitrostone.

Integrated Tree Cropping will be the second largest integrated hardwood timber company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange following completion of its acquisition of Vict

Listed company Echo Technologies has taken another step towards its goal of becoming a vertically integrated pharmaceutical business, signing an agreement with Malaysian firm Xepa Soul Pattinson.

The latest round of Federal R&D grants has gone to a diverse collection of Western Australian companies, including mining software specialists Micromine (see story, bottom). Mark Beyer reports.

Listed company Hailian International is seeking to raise fresh equity to make up for an unexpected $7 million increase in the cost of acquiring a university campus in China.

BankWest’s new managing director says the bank aims to be fully integrated with its parent company HBOS Australia by the fourth quarter of this year.

The new managing director of gold miner St Barbara Mines has highlighted the company’s future potential after winning a bruising boardroom stoush.

The new head of Western Australia’s peak business body plans to challenge future governments to develop a clear vision of the State’s future.

Listed stockbroking firm Euroz has reported a significant increase in profit for the year to June 2004, helped by buoyant trading activity and increased capital raisings.

German industrial company Kaefer GmbH has agreed to acquire the operating assets of its listed Australian subsidiary, Kaefer Technologies.

Branding is a concept that, although not widely understood, attracts enormous attention.