Financial Services

Oil and gas explorer Red Fork Energy has raised $5 million through a placement to fund the development of its projects in Oklahoma.

The new company to emerge from a merger between Jackson Minerals and Scimitar Resources will seek $7.5 million in fresh capital to ramp up exploration activities at its uranium assets.

The average weekly wage in Western Australia has grown more than 6 per cent over the past year to $1,338, higher than the national average of $1,182.

Western Australia continues to dominate the country's share of capital investment on advanced projects with latest figures showing the state accounted for more than 70 per cent of expenditure.

Heron Resources has suffered a blow with Brazilian mining giant Vale withdrawing from the $2 billion Kalgoorlie nickel joint venture, leaving the West Perth-based company looking for a new partner.

West Perth-based ThinkSmart has expanded its reach in Spain with the execution of a new three-year deal with Phone House.

Business satisfaction with banks has fallen to a new low with the latest customer survey showing the big four suffering drops in their overall rating.

Property developer Aspen Group has locked in $41 million from its planned $82.4 million capital raising, with the institutional component oversubscribed.

Woodside Petroleum has entered a deal with Apache Corporation for the supply of gas from two Western Australian fields for a second processing train at its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

More than 40 directors have dropped off the WA Business News rich list during the past 12 months.

A MICROFINANCE program that provides a safe line of affordable credit to low income earners in Western Australia is creeping closer to a $500,000 milestone.

THE building and construction sector has welcomed the state government's record capital works program, as the industry looks to the government to stimulate activity while private sector investment languishes.

LAST week, the Baltic Dry index, which is a benchmark measure for freight costs of bulk commodities including iron ore, coal and grains, rose 22.

CCIWA says the state deserved more from the federal budget, despite ports securing millions in funding.

Questions are being raised over the government's plans for infrastructure.

EIGHT former company directors and families have managed to bypass the global economic downturn, cashing in their shareholdings before the world went belly-up.

State and federal budgets provide some welcome, but unexpected, outcomes.

THERE weren't too many winners to emerge from the gloomy economic backdrop surrounding last week's federal and state budgets, but the small business sector has more to be pleased about than most.

PERTH miner Norseman Gold is shaping up to be the second Western Australian company to list on the Australian Securities Exchange this calendar year.

The collapse of two agribusiness companies in less than a month has raised doubts over the sector's viability.

RESIDENTIAL property developers and builders were big winners from state and federal budget initiatives, which will provide much-needed stimulus to the property industry.

East Energy Resources managing director Mark Brusa has spent more than $3.1 million buying shares in the company as part of a rights issue.

THE world's second richest man, Warren Buffett, told shareholders early this month that good, skilful management was a key attribute he looked for in a potential investment.

If we are to have a carbon tax, it's important we get it right – first time.

Mining services company Emerson Stewart Group will buy back more than 31 million shares from a major shareholder at a premium to its trading price.

Construction and engineering company Paladio Group has unveiled major changes with managing director Victor Kuss to step down and a name change to Decmil Group.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA has thrown its support behind Treasurer Troy Buswell's wariness over plans to align occupational health and safety rules across all states.

Former nickel miner Australian Mines will resolve its outstanding debts through the issue of nearly 3 billion shares to creditors at no cost.

Miner Panoramic Resources has moved a step closer to full ownership of the Lanfranchi nickel project after shareholders of a joint venture company approved the sale.

Property developer Aspen Group has unveiled plans for a fully underwritten capital raising of more than $82 million, which will be used to "secure an enhanced senior debt facility".

A consortium of banks, owed $600 million, have called in receivers to timber plantation and cattle project manager Great Southern.

Shares in Atlas Iron have risen after the miner announced a five-fold resource increase at its Wodgina iron ore project near Port Hedland.