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Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose has offered a bleak assessment of the level of diversity in the business sector, despite decades of effort to get more women to the top of industry.

The recent publication of two listings of influential business leaders provided food for thought about the growing international influence on Western Australia.

Oil and gas explorer Buru Energy has engaged international water consulting and engineering firm MWH Global as it looks for gas resources in north Western Australia.

The Australian sharemarket has finished higher, bringing three days of losses to an end as the big miners fired on all cylinders.

Having studied investment cycles over seven decades, Peter Kennedy has identified some extraordinary patterns, and they give him great confidence about the stockmarket outlook.

Western Australia's domestic gas production has recorded its first significant quarterly growth since 2008, helped by the opening of BHP Billiton's $1.5 billion Macedon project.

South Perth company Brighton Mining Group has announced plans to acquire Indonesian manganese miner Asia Minerals Corporation, which is led by Perth mining entrepreneur Michael Kiernan and counts another South Perth company, Gulf Mines, as a substantial shareholder.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has been appointed to two key parliamentary committees dealing with economic matters.

A lacklustre stockmarket debut by Dick Smith Holdings has drawn unfavourable comparisons with fellow retailer Myer's poor listing four years ago.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says the latest economic growth figures point to another deterioration in the federal budget.

Shares in Atlas Iron have gained after the miner reported strong demand for its direct shipping ore sales contracts in 2014.

The federal Labor party says it will back a cash bidding system for offshore oil and gas exploration permits.

Australian stocks have started the week on a flat note, despite mining stocks receiving a boost from positive Chinese economic data.

Shopping centre giant Westfield Group will split its Australian and New Zealand assets from its international business as it continues to pursue growth overseas.

US stocks have fallen for a second day in a row as speculation increased that the US Federal Reserve will soon scale back its bond-buying program.

Gold prices have slipped, while silver notched a new four-and-a-half-month low, as the potential boost from a weaker US dollar struggled with pressure from worries about when the Federal Reserve wi

The Australian dollar has moved above 91 US cents as traders take profits on the greenback and prepare for key American employment data.

Despite the old enemy’s comprehensive recent loss in the first Ashes cricket test, England’s rise as a sporting powerhouse has been rather annoying for Australians.

Case studies from WA businesses show the power of social commerce.

The state's peak hospitality lobby has welcomed a commitment by the competition watchdog to enforce penalties against businesses that post fake online reviews.

Women dominate the ranks of newly appointed senior counsel, with three of this year’s five fresh faces significantly boosting the small female membership of the bar.

The slowing of Western Australia’s population growth as forecast in this year’s state budget appears to be well under way, particularly in response to the tapering off of resources construction activity.

The Australian share market closed lower for the third straight day, led down by the major miners and banks.

GDI Property Group and Charter Hall have formally launched investment offers this week, giving wholesale investors an opportunity to buy a stake in two major Perth office buildings.

Retail spending rose for the fourth month in a row as consumer confidence and recent interest rate cuts encourage Australians to spend.

A leading business group is hopeful that tax benefits aimed at small firms and tied to Labor's mining tax will be retained in the May budget.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 2.5 per cent, saying the global and local economic outlook is improving.

The IronClad Mining and Trafford Resources' Wilcherry Hill iron ore joint venture project is progressing, with a modified development plan sent to the South Australian government receiving a tick of approval.

Contractor Brierty has secured a new residential land development contract in the Northern Territory worth up to $100 million.

Rio Tinto has announced plans to cut capital expenditure by more than 20 per cent per year out to 2015, but beyond then will need to consider major new projects to support its growth objectives.

The Australian stockmarket is flat following a weak lead from Wall Street and ahead of the Reserve Bank's monthly interest rate decision.

Fortescue Metals Group says it's in a position to comfortably repay debt without having to do joint ventures or sell assets as the price of iron ore remains strong.