Staff Reporters

Carnegie Wave Energy says it has raised the funds necessary to advance its wave energy technology to a project demonstration phase.

Balcatta-based engine technology firm Orbital Corp's shares have jumped after it announced it had begun production level supply of its new generation LPG fuel systems to Ford Australia.

The state government says its new electronic lodgement system for mining approvals has resulted in a significant increase in online applications.

CB Richard Ellis says it will purchase the Megaw & Hogg National Valuers business from RP Data.

Mineral Resources says it will spend $44 million to upgrade facilities at Fremantle Port Authority's Kwinana Bulk Terminal, as part of an agreement that has secured the miner 4.4 million tonnes of annual export capacity.

SGIO has announced a three-year extension to its co-major sponsorship of the West Coast Eagles.

Jupiter Mines has announced a new-look senior management team, spearheaded by former Portman Mining and Cliffs Natural Resources boss Richard Mehan as managing director.

Property developer and funds manager Aspen Group has sold an Adelaide office building to an investment syndicate for $81 million.

Traditional owners have voted in favour of an agreement to build a gas hub at James Price Point, just north of Broome.

Perth-based office and computer equipment financier ThinkSmart has extended its contract with JB Hi-Fi until mid-2014.

Perth-based mining software developer Micromine has announced the opening of a new regional office in Denver, Colorado.

GGG Resources says it has received formal conditional approval for a dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The central bank has made it clear a rate rise is expected in the second half of 2011 after lifting its inflation forecasts for the next two years, economists say.

Stonehenge Metals is deep in negotiations regarding the acquisition of a uranium and vanadium project in close proximity to its Daejeon project in South Korea.

Gold explorer Doray Minerals has announced the appointment of Peter Alexander and Leigh Junk to its board as non-executive directors.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has completed a $US225 million bonds issue to fund an expansion of its US manufacturing facility.

Woodside Petroleum has announced a significant new oil discovery near Exmouth.

Four Western Australian businesses have been ranked in the top five nationally in Co-operatives Australia's top 100 list.

Perth-based explorer Orocobre's shares have jumped after a definitive feasibility study for its flagship $US221 million Salar de Olaroz lithium-potash project in Argentina revealed low costs of production.

Sandalwood producer TFS Corporation says it is in discussions to buy Elders Forestry's Indian and Australian Sandalwood plantations in the East Kimberley and Queensland's far north.

New home sales in Western Australia have resumed a modest upward trend, according to the latest figures from the Housing Industry Association.

Construction giant John Holland has won a $180 million contract with Chevron to design and construct administration and infrastructure facilities for the $44 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas project project.

Woodside Petroleum says it will issue $US700 million in corporate bonds into the United States bond market.

Engineering services firm Monadelphous says it has won new maintenance and construction contracts in the resources, energy and infrastructure markets, worth a collective $200 million.

The number of Australians who own shares has risen in the past two years, as has those with direct ownership, and many intend to buy more shares.

A large tract of development land in Baldivis formerly owned by Pankaj Oswal has hit the market.

Bathurst Resources is seeking to raise $55 million through a share placement to fund the acquisition and development of coal tenements in New Zealand.

Navigator Resources has announced the initial public offering of its spinoff, Kimberley Rare Earths, has been substantially oversubscribed.

Developer Aspen Group has received a conditional offer for a $117 million finance facility required to acquire and develop the Australian Taxation Office Building in Adelaide.

Global commodities trading house Traxys Group has agreed to take a 20 per cent interest in Perth-based tantalum miner Global Advanced Metals, subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

Australian businesses are repaying their debts at the slowest rate for three years, and the number of companies paying bills severely late has jumped by 20 per cent, according to a new report.

Perth-based iron ore explorer Nemex Resources has made a flat debut on the Australian stock exchange.