Financial Services

West Perth-based Equinox Minerals Ltd expects installation and testing of new equipment at its Lumwana copper project Zambia to start in December following a fire at the project's power station a fortnight ago.

HBOS, the UK owner of Perth-based BankWest, today said shareholders agreed to take up 8.29 per cent of its $8 billion rights issue, increasing speculation that Perth-based BankWest could be up for sale.

Perth-based biotechnology company Xceed Capital Ltd will net over $6 million in scrip from selling its majority shareholding in PolyNovo Biomaterials Ltd to a Melbourne company.

Trading of shares in newly listed, West Perth-based APAC Coal Ltd has been suspended over a dispute relating to its initial public offer.

West Perth-based Key Petroleum Ltd has declared its gas discovery in Tanzania commercially viable with the Kiliwani North field to be developed for local market.

South Perth-based Finbar Group Ltd expects to quadruple its net profit for the 2008 financial year and has forecast early sales revenue for fiscal 2009 from its Domus and Ceresa apartments.

The Australian Taxation Office will investigate up to 160,000 individuals and entities that have registered a boat in Australia, according to Deloitte tax partner David Pring.

Shareholders in Gemcom Software International Inc have voted to accept a takeover offer from three equity firms worth $194 million.

PT Bumi Resources TBK has gained majority control of Herald Resources Ltd, lifting its stake to 51.34 per cent after its former rival accepted the takeover offer yesterday.

West Perth-based Automotive Holdings Group has lodged several claims with the Australian Tax Office regarding overpaid goods and services tax of up to an estimated $7 million in total.

In times of financial stress, such as those we are currently experiencing, investment patterns and behaviour should be informed and strengthened by lessons passed on from successful investors, such as Warren Buffet and the legendary Sir John Templeton.

Following Chinese steel company Sinosteel's announcement that it had secured majority control in iron ore miner Midwest Corporation last week, questions have been raised regarding the potential of future acquisitions of WA mining companies.

Bankwest has again topped the waning brands list in a survey of WA's leading marketing, advertising and PR executives.

Managed investment scheme provider Great Southern Ltd has begun cutting its workforce across Australia after producing a poor sales result for the year.

The Perth Convention Bureau has engaged advertising agency Marketforce to develop a business events brand for Western Australia to promote better the state as an international meetings, incentive and convention destination.

A wages stoush with the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union has shone the spotlight on the operations of the not-for-profit St John Ambulance Australia WA.

The image of Fortescue Metals Group executive director Andrew Forrest waving an Australian flag from the front of an iron ore train to mark his company's entry into the export market in May appeared to capture the spirit of the state's mining boom.

The Australian share market plunged two per cent today amid heavy losses from the banks on continuing uncertainty about the economic outlook after the US Treasury bailed out home mortgage lenders Fred

RAC has achieved top ranking for the second year running in the annual WA Business News branding survey.

The days of the gold rush are long gone, but it is a good time to be Dragon Mountain Gold Ltd.

New treatments for flea infestations in sheep and for whooping cough were the winners of competitions run in Perth last week by the Australian Small Scale Offerings Board and Curtin University respectively.

Microbrewers Gage Roads Brewing and Little Creatures have featured in the top five emerging brands in the WA Business News branding survey every year for the past four years.

Experienced engineer Bruce Cameron is hoping his commercial skills will help turn around the fortunes of struggling technology company Antaria Ltd, which this month adopted a new name to signify a fresh start and change of focus.

Curtin University of Technology came forward as one of the best employer brands in this year's WA Business News Branding Survey, featuring along the large corporate firms and perennial performers Wesfarmers, BankWest, Woodside and RAC.

Flicking through the professional recruitment pages, its clear to see the intense competition for candidates in the Western Australia's tight employment market.

Total capital raised in the agribusiness managed investment scheme industry over the 2008 financial year has dipped 5 per cent, with the wine grape category suffering the biggest fall.

United States investment firm Harbinger Capital has further increased its stake in Midwest Corporation Ltd, following a raid on over 5.4 million shares yesterday.

Billions lost in US fallout; Primebroker play challenges ANZ's primacy; WA, Qld need extra 127,000 workers every year; Centro exits US portfolio for $728m to cut debts; Drivers spared climate pain as excise cut offsets new tax

Macmahon Holdings Ltd will seek a court order to remedy a technicality raised by takeover target Ausdrill Ltd in its supplementary target's statement.

Golden West Resources Ltd has hit out at major shareholder Portman Ltd over its proposal to change the make-up of the board, saying if it goes ahead, the latter will have effectively taken control of the company without paying a premium.

Perth-based minerals explorer Crusader Holdings NL has formed a partnership with Canadian company G4G Resources Ltd to acquire iron ore projects in Brazil as feedstock for the production of saleable iron ore units.

Northbridge-based Impact Minerals Ltd has formed an alliance with the world's second largest platinum producer to explore and develop nickel-platinum deposits in southern Africa.