Financial Services

Chinalco: one bite's enough; Surging inflation set to push up rates; Fortescue share surge on talk of stake sale; Mitsubishi weighs up plant closure; Tricom eyes closure of troubled $900m margoin loan book

The state's peak business lobby group has called for more than $500 million in tax cuts as part of reforms it says are needed after releasing research showing Western Australia has the highest per capita tax take.

A five-point plan to battle inflation and a "very big" budget surplus will help ease the stress of struggling home-loan borrowers, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

Chinalco races to secure Rio stake; Martino brothers link up on corporate advice; $400m to come off loan book; Homebuyers wait on RBA rate decision; Jittery investors await half-year reports

Property developer Ascot Capital, Clive Palmer's mining group Mineralogy and conglomerate Wesfarmers were the biggest donors to political parties in Western Australia in 2006-07, data released by the Australian Electoral Commission has shown.

Perth-based engineering company, Neptune Marine Services Ltd, has completed the second tranche of a share placement launched in December to raise a total of $60.8 million.

ASIC under pressure to wade into Mt Gibson deal; Banks warn Tricom on asset sales; Business borrowing hits 20-year high; China not a shield from US impact; Second former promoter downgrades Emeco stock

Perth-based labour hire firm, InterStaff Recruitment Ltd, has made a successful debut on the Australian Securities Exchange today, after launching a $5 million initial public offer in Novermber last year.

Wedgetail Mining Ltd is aiming to become a diversified molybdenum and gold company, by focusing its exploration efforts on the delineation of a molybdenum deposit in the East Pilbara region and changing its name to Millennium Minerals Ltd.

Bentley-based alternative waste technology company AnaeCo has closed its initial public offer after raising $5 million.

Russian stake sale pressures Mt Gibson; Woolies outpoints Coles but investors watchful; Float backer sees red on Emeco profit shock; Banks put the squeeze on broker; Samuel takes tough line on mergers

Almost 10 years have passed since the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research was founded with just a handful of staff and some foundation funding.

Heron Resources Ltd’s decision to place its Jump-Up Dam nickel heap leach operation on care and maintenance has not deterred similar trial programs from going ahead, despite calling into question the viability of the technology as a low-cost method of nic

The Australian share market closed in the red on Tuesday, defying firmer commodity prices and a positive lead from the US overnight amid expectations that interest rates will be cut for the second tim

Trade workers in Western Australia’s housing industry remained in short supply during the final quarter of 2007, placing more upward pressure on house prices, according to the latest HIA-Austral Bricks Trades Report.

I have spent the past fortnight immersing myself in issues relating to women in business.

BHP Billiton’s informal takeover offer for mining rival Rio Tinto may be the biggest takeover deal on the cards, but locally there is plenty of action among small and mid-cap mining companies.

EnviroGold Ltd has mandated Standard Bank Plc to provide a US$23 million ($25.8 million) term loan facility and a US$2 million ($2.2 million) cost overrun facility for the company's 70 per cent owned Las Lagunas Gold Project in the Dominican Republic.

An expected widening of the gap between official interest rates in Australia and the US could herald a period of instability for the Australian dollar.

Newly listed diversified Australian resources company Apollo Minerals Ltd has confirmed that Chinese Iron and Steel Grouphave taken a 3.9 per cent stake in the company and is looking to increase its stake to 19.9 per cent.

IMF head fuels fears of share turmoil; ERG seeks financiers' aid; Coal and iron soar as disruptions highlight fragile market; Ailing MFS calls in the survival experts; Premier tackles 'poison' of Burke

$8bn fraud on French bank; ERG waive options in Sydney debacle; Newcrest warns of costs blowouts at Telfer mine; Sinosteel ups ante with 10 % of Midwest; Centro new boss rules out assets fire sale

Perth-based tungsten explorer Hazelwood Resources Ltd says it has scapped the planned February 6 float of wholly owned subsidiary BigHill Resources Ltd, due to continued stock market volatility.

Golden State Resources Ltd has successfully raised $2.03 million via a share placement to mainly fund vendor payments for the Golden Eagle Oil & Gas Prospect in the United States.

Despite their confidence in the strength of the Western Australian economy, WA chief executives are seriously concerned about the impact of the current regulatory environment, bureaucracy and poor planning on the state's future economic growth.

Housing and Works minister Michelle Roberts has announced the release of two significant new affordable house and land packages for people who qualify for the Government's First Start shared equity loan scheme.

Inflation rise to force RBA's hand; Margin calls triggers Allco sell-off; ERG on ropes as NSW kills ticket deal, to sue for $95m; Nexus-Anzon deal spoils Streiberg merger plan; Murchison extends Midwest bid

The price of an overnight stay in Perth’s hotels has been on the rise during the past 12 months, and it’s likely to continue rising on the back of growing demand and a lack of new hotel developments.

The Western Australian Local Government Association has criticised the state government’s decision to retain the amnesty on council rates for independent living units in retirement villages owned by not-for-profit organisations.

Western Australia’s third largest fertiliser supplier, United Farmers Cooperative Company, is being sold for an upfront payment of $6 million after tumbling to an $8 million trading loss last financial year, an offer document released by its purchaser has

Four months after completing its purchase of Alinta, investment group Babcock & Brown has commenced expansion of its infrastructure business in Western Australia under a new brand.

Supply in Perth’s industrial market is expected to more than double this year, yet pre-commitments are high and take-up is expected to be restricted, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s market report for the fourth quarter of 2007.