THE Australian share market closed around 2.5 per cent weaker despite gains in resource giant BHP Billiton and a positive lead overnight from Wall Street.
The decision by three non-executive directors – chairman Peter Mansell, Jenny Seabrook and Mel Ward – to quit the board of WA’s biggest publisher en masse should not be a surprise.
Receiver Ferrier Hodgson says it has started an urgent assessment into miner CopperCo, which stunned the market last week after appointing administrators.
The state government has lived up to an election promise to boost funding for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, announcing today that it would provide an extra $29.9 million from its Royalties for Regions scheme.
The National Australia Bank is urging Western Australian business owners to not become complacent about the future after a survey found 87 per cent of owners did not have a business plan.
Paladin Energy has proposed an $18 million all-scrip takeover for Perth-based Fusion Resources, in a move that will expand the uranium miner's land holding in Queensland.
The central bank's rate cuts may be welcome news for first home buyers but more needs to be done to entice other buyers into the market, a Western Australian builders group says.
Swiss trading giant Glencore International will increase its stake in Minara Resources to over 70 per cent after subscribing to a shortfall of shares in the Perth firm's $210 million capital raising.
Investors have reacted negatively to the Reserve Bank's 100 basis point rate cut, with a benchmark index taking a hit shortly after the rate reduction was announced.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the National Australia Bank have been swift in their response to the central bank's 100 basis point cut, passing on the full reduction to their customers.
Wesfarmers finance director Gene Tilbrook has decided to step down from the company after 23 years of service, with Terry Bowen appointed as his replacement.
Housing starts in Western Australia are forecast to be weaker for a third straight year in fiscal 2009, with numbers to drop by 16 per cent, the Housing Industry Association WA Outlook says.
Billionaire Clive Palmer is set to take control of Toronto-listed Waratah Coal, after the company accepted a revised offer by his private company Mineralogy.
Perth-based CityView Corporation has terminated an underwriting deal for a $6 million capital raising after learning its underwriter was not appropriately licenced.
Atlas Iron has appointed independent non-executive director Geoff Clifford as chairman of the company, taking over from David Nixon who was ousted at the company's annual general meeting.
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O'Connor-based Brainytoys has announced that Robert Finn has resigned as a director of the company, despite being re-elected at last week's annual general meeting.
It has been a dismal 2008 for company floats with initial public offer activity of non-resource stocks in Western Australia raising only 20 per cent of that achieved last year, a study has found.
Privately-held IMC Resources has broken its silence on events surrounding Atlas Iron's shareholder meeting, disputing claims that it swayed stakeholders to vote against the re-election of chairman David Nixon.
The home building sector will not gain the full benefit of falling interest rates and a tripling of grants for first home buyers unless more land is released, a new report says.
BHP Billiton's approval to proceed with further expansion works at its Pilbara iron ore operations has proved to be a boon for Macmahon Holdings, which today secured a $50 million contract with the miner.
Waste recycling company AnaeCo has entered into a partnership with a UK-based firm to expand its DiCOM waste processing system through India, China and South East Asia.
Agribusiness Great Southern has signed a conditional agreement to sell its Queensland asset for a discounted $23 million as it posts an annual loss of over $64 million.
Growing stamp duty bills on residential properties are impeding Australian home buyers' ability to enter the housing market, according to a new report.
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The state government says it will wait for an indication of federal funding for the $1.5 billion development of the Oakajee port and rail project before finalising an agreement with the proponent.
BHP Billiton has emerged from its decision to dump a $100 billion-plus takeover for rival Rio Tinto Ltd with 'buy'recommendations from analysts, while Standard & Poor's has maintained its rating for Rio but warns of a downgrade.
The logistics division of Automotive Holdings Group has buffered the company from further losses as its core retail division suffers a 24 per cent fall in earnings over the past four months.
