Latest Headlines

Property developer Australand is preparing for a possible takeover from fellow developer Stockland which would propel the combined entity to second position on the list of Western Australia's biggest land developers.

Western Australian households will be slugged by next month's state budget because the government "maxed out" spending on big projects and increased public sector wages, the new treasurer warns.

Iluka Resources shares have fallen six per cent after the mineral sands miner recorded a drop in production and revenue.

Fortescue Metals Group shipped record quantities of iron ore in the first three months of 2014, despite posting softer production on the back of seasonal wet weather.

Listed transport and logistics company McAleese Group has announced plans to acquire Forrestfield-based WA Freight Group for $15.4 million.

Labor's Louise Pratt has conceded defeat in the Western Australian Senate election re-run, while blasting the party for allowing her to be dumped from the top spot on its WA senate ticket.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has resigned in the wake of controversy over his appearance at the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The Australian share market is higher as investors await Chinese growth numbers.

BHP Billiton has raised its full year guidance for iron ore and metallurgical coal production after achieving record output so far this fiscal year, but has trimmed guidance for petroleum production.

The US dollar has moved little against other major currencies ahead of China's first-quarter GDP data, expected to show further slowing in the world's second-largest economy.

Gold has locked in its largest one-day percentage drop since December as worries about weaker demand from China prompts some investors to reduce their gold holdings.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-week low after the release of some disappointing US home builder sentiment data and tensions in the Ukraine escalate.

The mining supply and services sector mostly fails to get its message to the market.

Perth-based private company QCG Resources has agreed to purchase the mothballed Avesbury nickel mine in Tasmania from Chinese-controlled miner MMG for $40 million.

Australian shares have closed higher as investors bought up resources and banking stocks after a strong performance on Wall Street.

Premier Colin Barnett says he can't see "a great deal of substance" in junior explorer Padbury Mining's claims it has secured a massive $US6.47 billion ($6.89 billion) funding deal to construct a port and rail network at Oakajee, as the company missed a self-imposed deadline to reveal its mystery backer.

A new philanthropy fund focused on improving the lives of women has garnered support from some of the state's highest-profile businesswomen.

Independent bookshops are responding to changes in demand through fewer, but better stores and smarter selling strategies.

A Perth technology entrepreneur has bowed out of a booming company in attempts to achieve his dream.

Take the time to communicate on a more direct level with the customer to win the sale.

Advocates of Australia's tech start-up sector have called on governments to do more to support the fledging industry.

Work is expected to start on a long-anticipated second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek in 2016 after federal cabinet signed off on the site.

A consortium led by international investment groups Brookfield Financial and John Laing has been named as preferred proponent to build Perth's new sporting stadium at an estimated cost of about $900 million.

Interest rates look set to stay put while the Reserve Bank of Australia waits to see what effect the stubbornly high currency will have on Australia's economic growth.

Perth-based rail services business Momentum Rail has been awarded a $4 million contract to supply rail workers and train drivers to the Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara.

OZ Minerals says its copper production in the first quarter of 2014 was in line with the previous quarter, while gold production fell.

The Australian share market has opened higher after the US market lifted on the back of a solid earnings report from Citigroup and encouraging retail sales data.

Rio Tinto produced and shipped less iron ore during the first three months of 2014 after bad weather affected its ports and mining operations in Western Australia.

Crude oil prices have marched higher as traders keep a wary eye on escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the prospects of resumed Libyan oil exports.

The Australian dollar is back above 94 US cents, helped by some slightly better-than-expected US retail spending figures.

The Australian market looks set to open higher after decisive rises on Wall Street following better-than-expected retail sales figures.

Managing community relations is proving a major challenge for oil and gas companies, and there's a lot of goodwill to claw back.