ASIC probes 'missing millions'; Banks pocketing rate cuts - business; Funds fear they may be sold short; Leighton slashes earnings forecast; Cloud on car sales
Perceptions of a softer housing market and better mortgage management have boosted the number of Western Australians intending to take out a home loan within the next year, a survey has found.
More than half of Australian businesses anticipate declining sales and profits in the March quarter amid fears of a steep rise in unemployment leading executives to prepare for a tumultuous year ahead.
Business braces for the worst; Lenders repossessing homes at soaring rate; Bosses eye early job cuts; ATO pursues new business dispute plan; NAB denies planning withdrawal from Britain
West Perth-based explorer Northern Iron has signed an initial five-year offtake deal with a subsidiary of the Tata Steel Group over its Sydvaranger iron project in Norway.
Takeover target Perilya has urged shareholders to vote in favour of a $45 million major acquisition by a Chinese company, in what has been described as "not fair but reasonable" by an independent expert.
Subiaco-based Golden State Resources has entered into a $3 million share facility agreement to raise additional funds for its Golden Eagle oil and gas project in Utah.
Business braces for wages battle; China manufacturers shrink again as global slowdown bites; Cape Lambert ready to pounce on assets; Resources exports will face tough year; Jobs plan to tackle next wave of crisis
Chinese steelmaker AnSteel is set to lift its stake in Gindalbie Metals to 36 per cent as the miner sets a date for a shareholders meeting for the approval of a $162 million placement.
Phosphate Resources has warned it may incur some losses in some of the remaining months of this financial year, as it reports a profit before tax of over $62 million.
Pressure grows on banks over rates; Hogan stockbroker shuts the door; Pan pharma class action seeks $120m compo; Banks fees yield extra $2bn; Aussie hedge fund freezes payouts
Perth-based biotechnology company Stirling Products is teetering on the brink of administration as it cans a $960,000 capital raising and enters talks for the possible disposal of its assets.
Fortescue Metals Group expects to hold a steady production rate of 55 million tonnes per annum over the course of 2009, setting aside earlier plans to hit that rate by the end of the March next year.
The merger between collapsed miner CopperCo and Mineral Securities has not been fully completed, with some MinSec shareholders missing out on shares owed to them.
Perth-based Aspen Group says its revenue stream will be boosted by some $58 million over the next five years following the completion of the Karratha Accommodation Village for Woodside Petroleum.
The downturn in commodity markets has prompted Nomad Buildings Solutions to cut its earnings forecast for the 2009 financial year as its modular division comes under pressure.
ATO gives Wickenby target $1m; Multiplex poised to build Fiona Stanley; Regulator ready to curb ATO aggression; CCC fails to censor McCusker report; Arrow takes aim at Pure
New BankWest managing director Jon Sutton committed his new charge to acting independently of its parent Commonwealth Bank as the major moves to take control of its new WA asset.
The traditionally quiet time for businesses in the days before Christmas has been set aside as six Western Australian companies today unveiled merger and acquisitions plans valued at over $506 million.
Booragoon-based Total Staffing Solutions has entered an agreement to acquire recruiter Ultimate Skills in a $5 million scrip deal as it offloads its majority interest in Mining People International.
South Perth-based Advanced Ocular Systems will transform into a scaffolding business after it agreed to merge with International Formwork & Scaffolding, valued at $22.5 million.
Manganese miner OM Holdings says it will incur a loss of over $13 million after it closes another hedging position as Consolidated Minerals beefs up its interest in the miner.
Shake-up for ASX capital raising rules; ASX 100 face losses of $50bn; Metal meltdown to persist; Super funds seek tax relief; Razor gang to fund rescue
Perth-based Incremental Petroleum has recommended shareholders reject an $84 million takeover bid by Texan firm TransAtlantic, citing the current low oil price as one reason to rebuff the offer.
Perth-based Condor Nickel has agreed to merge with its shareholder, Chinese controlled Chihong International Mining, with the merged entity to have a host of projects across Western Australia.
