Latest Headlines

The families of some of the Sundance Resources directors who were killed in a plane crash en route to the company's West African iron ore project have launched legal proceedings against the firm.

Western Australian retailers are preparing to open their doors on Sundays, after legislation ushering in historic changes to retail trading hours passed through parliament yesterday.

The Western Australian CEO Sleepout has raised $700,000 and counting after a successful 2012 event which culminated in 106 CEOs staying at the WA Cricket Association ground last night.

Perth-based manufacturer Dura Composites Australasia has branched interstate, by purchasing Melbourne business Composite Engineering.

Woodside Petroleum has let lapse a supply agreement for its Browse project worth up to $45 billion.

Australian stocks have opened weaker amid broad-based declines as local investors took their cues from a horrid night on offshore markets.

Fortescue Metals Group says it can beat the federal government's mining tax in a legal challenge that will thrash out the century-old states versus Commonwealth rights debate.

BHP Billiton has committed $US845 million to opening a new mine at its Illawarra Coal business in NSW.

Engineering firm Downer EDI has won a $73 million contract to build locomotives for iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a one-week low after weak manufacturing data from the US and China sparked renewed concerns about global economic growth.

US stocks have slid sharply, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average sinking two per cent, as disappointing economic data from China and Europe followed the Federal Reserve's slashing its growth fore

The Australian dollar is a a third of a US cent lower after data showed China's manufacturing sector continued to contract.

The Australian share market closed sharply weaker on negative economic news.

Myer shares have slumped to a record low, but chief executive Bernie Brookes insists the troubled department store chain has a positive future.

Victoria-focused A1 Consolidated Gold has slipped on debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, the company's shares losing 6.5 cents on its first day on the local bourse.

Construction and contracting group VDM has told its shareholders to brace for a second half loss of $5 million, after the company took a $4.8 million hit on one of its projects.

Mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will not be affected by new laws in the United Kingdom requiring firms to list their greenhouse gas emissions because they say they already do so.

Aspire Mining has taken a step towards the development of its Ovoot coking coal mine in Mongolia, launching discussions with Russia's main rail operator to provide the mine access to the country's

Contractor Macmahon Holdings has won a $220 million contract to realign the Great Northern Highway at Port Hedland.

Perth-based broking firm Elliott Insurance Brokers has acquired The Accord Insurance Brokers Group for up to $2 million.

Former WA Liberal leader Matt Birney has gone back to his revhead roots, taking up a general manager position at Automotive Holdings Group.

ustralian households are paying banks an average of $470 a year in fees and charges.That might sound like a lot, but it is less than the year before.

Troubled surfwear company Billabong has launched a $225 million fund raising venture and issued another profit warning amid tough trading conditions in the retail sector.

With properties prices high and the housing market slow, Australians are holding on to their homes for longer.

Engineering contractor RCR Tomlinson has increased its profit expectations for this financial year, tipping a 15 per cent jump on previous predictions.

Australians are moving to the nation's mining states and paying handsomely to live there.

Fairfax management has agreed to halt their restructure plans and proposed job cuts while a consultation process with unions is under way, unions say.

Pacific Energy has announced it has won a deal to build a power station at the Tropicana gold project, its largest project win for several years.

Australian shares opened flat after the US Federal Reserve announced it would extend its bond-swapping program which led to falls on Wall Street.

As Prime Minister Julia Gillard struts the world stage emphasising the virtues of the Australian economy, there are signs back home not all is going well.

US stocks have closed mostly lower after the Federal Reserve extended its bond-swapping program, known as Operation Twist, for six months to help boost the flagging economy.

Perth-based car dealer network Automotive Holdings Group has moved to strengthen its Victorian presence, snapping up a Melbourne-based Ford dealer for $2 million.