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Palladium futures have closed at their highest level in two-and-a-half years, while platinum has neared a four-week high as escalating tensions between Russia and the West and continued mine-worker

The Kuwait National Petroleum Company has signed contracts worth $US12 billion ($A12.79 billion) with three international consortia to upgrade two refineries and invited bids to build a new multi-b

The Australian dollar is higher, supported by optimism about the local economy and the possibility of the euro zone getting more economic stimulus.

The state government will take on the management of Western Australia’s performing arts venues, including His Majesty’s Theatre, the State Theatre Centre of WA and Perth Concert Hall, squeezing out

Buru Energy has announced a major change in its Canning Basin exploration program after disappointing early results, saying today it was looking to release the specially-built rig it had contracted to use this year.

The owners of the Karara iron ore project have transfered Gindalbie Metals boss Dale Harris to a chief executive role at Karara Mining, in an apparent bid to bring the trouble-plagued project back on track.

Dio Wang will resign as managing director of mining explorer Australasian Resources before taking up his Western Australian Senate seat for the Palmer United Party.

Cassini Resources has raised $10 million via a share placement with the proceeds earmarked for exploration activities its recently acquired West Musgrave nickel project.

Under-fire Western Australian senator-elect Joe Bullock says he was surprised when a key union affiliated with Labor said he should step down over controversial comments, labelling the attack "wrong" and "silly".

A shake-up in Western Australia’s dairy industry may be set to deliver for local stakeholders, but the broader sector is unimpressed with free trade commitments made with South Korea and Japan.

The Australian share market has closed sharply lower after a fall in technology stocks on United States markets caused a wider sell-off on Wall Street.

Perth-based financial services group Pioneer Credit has outlined plans for a $40.2 million IPO, the largest by a Perth company in 20 months.

The state’s public universities are bracing for a likely fall in revenue next year, with the number of eligible domestic school leavers set to fall as a result of a change to the school starting age a decade ago.

In this week’s edition of Business News Background, news editor Mark Beyer and journalist Dan Wilkie discuss the business news with James Lush: the wash up from last Saturday’s Senate election re-run, latest lower unemployment figures and the effect on the exchange rate, plus the APPEA conference, Fiona Stanley hospital, and focus on the construction industry.

The Economic Regulation Authority has called for an end to the Royalties for Regions program and the abolishment of domestic gas reservation and the Keystart housing scheme, while also pushing for major payroll tax, land tax and stamp duty reforms.

Online education provider iCollege expects to begin trading within days on the Australian Securities Exchange as the company wraps up a reverse takeover of DGI Holdings.

This week’s APPEA conference highlighted the key issues facing one of the state’s fastest growing industries; the solutions are less clear.

National waste recovery firm SITA Australia has acquired Kalgoorlie-based industrial and waste services business MAILS for an undisclosed sum.

Hours after announcing it had secured $US6.47 billion ($6.89 billion) in equity funding to construct a long-heralded port and rail network at Oakajee, junior explorer Padbury Mining has put its shares in a second trading halt in anticipation of revealing the identity of the investors.

The stock market has opened lower after a sharp slide on Wall Street overnight.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index has led US stocks sharply lower as anxiety about pricey technology equities returned with a vengeance and dragged down the broader market.

The Australian dollar remains above 94 US cents following stronger-than-expected jobs figures.

If it wasn’t clear already, last week’s Senate poll delivered a stark warning to the Labor Party.

Perseus Mining has launched an investigation into the cause of a fire in the processing plant at its Edikan gold mine in Ghana yesterday.

The Australian dollar has pushed past 94 US cents after a surprise fall in the unemployment rate.

Ten Network boss Hamish McLennan still believes he can turn the struggling broadcaster around, but says he needs more time.

National Australia Bank is severing ties to digital currency providers, saying they pose an unacceptable level of risk to the bank's business and reputation.

The share market has been driven higher by financial stocks after the release of better than expected jobs figures.

Minrex Resources has agreed to a reverse takeover by private firm Skin Elements, a sunscreen and cosmetics company steered by former New Tel head Peter Malone and corporate advisor Luke Martino.

Resonance Health intends to raise up to $5.1 million with a placement and entitlement offer, pitched at 5 cents per share.

MZI Resources will start construction within months on its Keysbrook mineral sands project in Western Australia after securing a US$64 million debt facility to help fund the development.

The Department of Health failed to properly assess its ability to commission Fiona Stanley Hospital on time prior to signing a $4.3 billion facilities management contract with Serco, according to a report by a parliamentary committee.