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The Australian stock market closed slightly higher today, with financial sector stocks dragging it across the line in a late rally.

Mistakes were made but heads shouldn't roll over a prescribed burn that went wrong and destroyed 40 properties in the Margaret River region, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Bankwest has increased its interim profit to $268 million, up from $239 million the previous half-year.

Western Australia's 2011-12 grain harvest continues to extend its record-breaking run, with a truckload of wheat delivered to CBH Group's Pingrup receival site near Albany late yesterday afternoon

Online movie rental company Quickflix has announced a $2.5 million capital raising to supplement a recent $10 million equity deal with Time Warner subsidiary Home Box Office.

Coal miner Blackgold International has acquired a Chinese barge transport business in a deal worth approximately $23 million.

Means testing the private health insurance rebate will prompt many people to drop their private health cover and put more pressure on the public health system,  Premier Colin Barnett says.

The prime minister would do well to flush Kevin Rudd’s leadership ‘challenge’ into the open.

Why does it take a Texan to talk sense about the opportunities in the Kimberley?

Energy costs to business will cause headaches for the federal government as the carbon tax approaches.

Many people who criticise big business may not realise how much they enjoy the benefits delivered by those very same businesses.

Never one to leave his audience wondering, Mark Latham has some harsh words for Gillard-led Labor.

I am sick of people telling me I work too hard.

KULCHA Multicultural Arts of WA has been awarded more than $300,000 from Lotterywest to develop new projects and organisational capacity building.

THERE is a collective murmur of excitement from the little visitors to Scitech, the state’s science and technology learning hub for children and adolescents.

Why do so many people say they like the people they work with but not their manager?

ESSLEMONT Building and Civil is among seven different Western Australian companies to be awarded state government tenders this month.

FOR some businesses, timing really is everything.

THE challenging residential property market has been stuck at or below the long-term average turnover for the past four years, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

FTI Consulting and Professional Public Relations are the top financial PR firms in Perth, WA Business News’ annual corporate finance survey has found.

Consumer confidence has risen following two interest rate cuts in late 2011, but remains well below its level a year ago, according to a private survey.

THE relentless growth of Woolworths and Coles in the liquor sector hasn’t stopped smaller players from finding a position in the market. 

Wesfarmers has long dominated the estimated $40 billion home improvement and hardware segment with its successful brand Bunnings, so it’s no surprise rival retail giant Woolworths has packed its to

Nickel miner Mincor has capped a busy six months by nudging back into the black, reporting a $350,000 profit for the six months to December 31.

If a bit of competition is healthy, then what sort of shape is Australia’s consumable retail industry in?

EMPLOYMENT and training company Skill Hire is poised to step up its expansion, particularly through acquisitions, after securing the backing of private equity investor Banksia Capital.

St George Bank has lifted its home loan interest rates by more than the big four banks, as the number of lenders lifting rates grows.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has reported a solid rise in half-year profit today but also disclosed an expected jump in costs and delays to its ambitious expansion strategy in the Pilbara.

South African miner Exxaro Resources has taken a majority share of Perth-based iron ore explorer African Iron after last-minute acceptances of its $300 million offer.

Australian stocks opened stronger this morning, buoyed by good results from The Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation's largest lender.

Oz Minerals has suffered a dramatic fall in full-year net profit to $274.5 million, but says demand for copper remains strong.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia's (CBA) first-half cash profit has grown by seven per cent to $3.57 billion and the company has no plans for major job cuts.