Financial Services

CAUSE-RELATED marketing campaigns continue to deliver strong results for charities, despite the difficult economy and dwindling consumer confidence.

Down south the dogs are howling. It must be truffle time. Russell Quinn reports on an emerging niche industry.

The effects of a BHP Billiton-Rio Tinto JV would be felt all around the world.

Aquila, FMG to assess Pilbara port

COMPANY directors will remember the economic downturn as a time of trepidation - and it has nothing to do with falling share prices.

Civil contractor Brierty has secured two Pilbara road contracts, valued at a total of $19 million, as it appoints chief executive Stuart Crofts to the board as managing director.

The federal government has given conditional approval to the $955 million Southern Seawater desalination project at Binningup.

A new survey has revealed a high level of dissatisfaction with banks and other lending institutions as the majority of small business operators miss out on recent interest rate cuts.

Explorer Mount Magnet South has teamed up with a Hong Kong company to jointly explore for gold on the Kirkalocka tenements in the Murchison region, in a deal valued at $1.5 million.

West Perth-based explorer Iron Ore Holdings has signed a key native title access agreement covering its central Pilbara iron ore projects.

Civil contractor Brierty has appointed chief executive Stuart Crofts to the company's board as managing director.

World Bank warns of 3pc contraction; States borrow $230bn for major projects; Browse partners urged to turn the page; Colliers buys up Werrett, tops WA shopping league; Fortescue studies second port

Perth-based Greencap, through subsidiary Leeder Consulting, has been awarded a two-year contract with coal seam gas producer BG Group to provide water, gas, air and soil sampling support.

Aquila Resources and Fortescue Metals Group have teamed up to investigate the potential for shared development of port facilities at Anketell Point in the Pilbara.

Aquila Resources non-executive director Charles Bass has donated more than $700,000 worth of shares to various charities.

Swick Mining Services plans to raise $14.5 million through a share placement and rights issue to fund expansion plans in North America and the construction of new drilling rigs.

IT service provider ASG Group, in conjunction with Sydney-based consulting company Capiotech, has secured a five-year, $13 million contract with Qantas to provide additional services.

WA delays hold up $744m nitrate plant; Rio-BHP tax bill hangs on High Court hearing; States pressured on national transport agenda; Rowsthorn rules out Asciano margin loan; Glencore, Noble eye vanadium project

Private Australian companies are weathering the effects of the global financial crisis remarkably well with a KPMG survey revealing 90 per cent of respondents claimed they were prepared to respond to market changes.

Grain hander and marketer CBH Group has appointed former Wesfarmers executive David Morony as its new chief financial officer.

Exoma Energy has moved a step closer to its acquisition of the Galilee gas project in Queensland, where it plans to spend $47 million on a four-year exploration program.

Terrain Minerals has secured $5 million in equity funding from Fortrend Securities under an innovative Standby Subscription Facility.

Subiaco-based Chrome Corporation will move into the gold sector after it struck a deal to acquire Papua New Guinea explorer Pacific Nuigini Minerals.

Shares in Atlas Iron-backed Warwick Resources have closed 17 per cent higher on a $10 million deal with Hannans Reward to acquire the iron ore rights from the latter's east Pilbara Jigalong project.

BC Iron plans to raise $22 million from a sale of new shares, as it welcomes a new cornerstone investor, Regent Pacific Group, to its share register.

South Perth-based explorer Central Petroleum has raised $31 million through a rights issue and placement which will fund a hydrocarbon exploration program in prospective basins in the middle of Australia.

Construction company Forge Group has upgraded its full-year earnings guidance by 54 per cent following revised forecasts to its projects and the inclusion of a tax credit.

Industrial software developer ISS Group has warned of continued subdued demand for its products for the rest of the calendar year as it forecasts an underlying loss of $2.1 million for this fiscal year.

Aviva Corporation and AES Corporation have submitted their wholesale power proposal in the tender phase of Synergy's 2009 energy supply procurement contract for the Mid West region.

Composites technology developer Quickstep Holdings has been awarded a $2.6 million grant under the federal government's $75 million climate ready program for the development and commercialisation of light-weight, low-emission vehicles.

CBA admits Storm Financial 'shortcomings'; Bank chiefs warn on funding gap; Corporate lawyers join forces; Another blow for investors in agri-schemes; Iron ore joint venture under fire for monopolisation

ON October 16 1997, the selling techniques of the fitness industry received unprecedented attention.