News

Woodside revs up China gas push

The Australian dollar is fractionally shy of 80 US cents, with the US dollar weakening ovenight amid fears of a possible federal government shutdown.

Western Australia's unemployment rate has fallen by a surprising 0.9 per cent in the month of December, while job numbers were up for a record-equalling 15th consecutive month nationwide, with economists giving positive assessments of the labour market.

Perth-based Battery Minerals has signed an offtake deal for the supply of graphite concentrate at its Montepuez project in Mozambique to a private Chinese company.

Australian shares have closed barely lower, with banks and consumer stocks among the few sectors to record gains as energy and mining stock weakness weighed on the market.

Melbourne-based Nacap Australia has won the contract to build a 200-kilometre gas pipeline to Gold Road Resources' Gruyere project near Laverton, and is pursuing other significant projects in Western Australia.

A company selling car repair warranties will refund $4.9 million to thousands of customers who were sold high-priced cover by sales staff chasing bigger commissions.

Perth-based gold explorer Tietto Minerals got off to a solid start in trading today after raising $6 million in its initial public offering.

The state's domestic gas market will soon receive a small supply boost, with Woodside Petroleum's Pluto project expected to begin pumping up to 25 terajoules a day into the network from the second half of this year.

Junior explorer Spitfire Materials has tapped investors for $5.3 million via a strongly supported share placement as the company ramps-up exploration work at its Western Australian gold project.

BHP Billiton has lifted production of copper, nickel and energy coal for the first half of fiscal 2018, but volumes were flat in its iron ore business while petroleum and metallurgical coal volumes were down.

Australian shares have opened comfortably higher after a strong positive lead from Wall Street with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 26,000 points for the first time.

Wesfarmers closes in on US chemical firm Cyanco

Critics of sandalwood company Quintis, who are already calling for a spill of current directors, are now pushing to replace the responsible entity overseeing its 2002 project.

Local contractor EC&M has announced it has been awarded a series of contracts with a combined value of approximately $130 million, including a joint venture project in New South Wales with West Perth-based CPC Engineering.

The Australian share market has closed lower, with the materials sector heavily sold down on shifting commodity prices and expectations of a correction.

How well you know your customers’ needs will go a long way to determining whether they remain your customers.

Curtin University has attracted one of the world’s leading radio astronomers to help drive WA’s involvement in the SKA project.

Insurers Suncorp and Allianz will be forced to repay almost $63 million to thousands of customers who were sold worthless or near-worthless insurance add-ons when buying cars at dealerships.

Saracen Mineral Holdings says it is on track for its 2018 financial year production target after announcing solid gold output for the December quarter, while also signing a deal to sell its Wallbrook project near Kalgoorlie.

Diversified miner South32 has boosted its expectations for South Africa manganese production and maintained full-year guidance for all other products after a solid first-half performance.

Confidence is building among the state’s industrial property players, despite persistent market challenges.

ASX-listed tech business Dreamscape Networks has entered into an agreement to acquire Gold Coast-based web hosting company Quadra Hosting for $2.5 million in cash.

The Australian share market is firmly in the red in early trade, following a negative lead from Wall Street.

Super union ‘too big’ for the courts

The Australian share market has closed weaker, led into the red by retreating financial and energy stocks, while the Australian dollar continued its upward run towards US 80 cents.

The state government will determine the extent of a cap on crowd attendance at Optus Stadium for a potential Big Bash League semi-final after this weekend’s community day, which will help it determine the capacity of public transport to move big crowds to and from the 60,000-seat stadium.

Osborne Park-based Universal Constructions has been awarded a $13.8 million contract by the state government for work at a new primary school in Perth’s northern suburbs.

The political fallout from China’s increasing assertiveness in the region, and the Communist government’s role in business, will pose threats and challenges for WA.

Regional air service providers and sister companies Aviair and HeliSpirit are benefiting from a decision to increase the size of their fleets in recent years, flying more than 36,000 people across the Kimberley, Pilbara and Northern Territory during 2017.

Growing numbers of remote communities are seeking Eon Foundation’s help to improve their education around food and hygiene.

Financial services company Euroz says it expects a small dip in half-year profits, with a strong contribution from its funds management operation offset by a significant reduction in corporate finance deals.