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The Western Australian government is set to gain full ownership of Australia's only gold refinery after the three partners in AGR Matthey decided to dissolve their partnership.

Western Australian livestock made up almost 50 per cent of the country's export earnings in 2009 which reached a total of $996.5 million, the strongest returns in seven years according to national livestock industry groups.

Two Tony Sage-led companies plan to raise up to $260 million as a condition of deals to acquire businesses associated with controversial businessman Frank Timis.

Disgruntled workers at the Pluto gas project will be offered a deal later this week after Woodside Petroleum, project manager Foster Wheeler Worley and unions came to a compromise over motelling plans.

Saracen Properties says its $550 million Raine Square project will resume construction within a fortnight, after Salta Constructions told 250 workers to walk off the Murray Street site yesterday over a pay dispute.

More than $2 billion is expected to be generated for the state economy over the next 25 years from a new floating dock launched today at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson.

Woodside Petroleum CEO Don Voelte this afternoon said he is 95 per cent confident Woodside's Browse project will go ahead after the project's joint venture partners agreed on James Price Point as the location to process the gas from the Browse Basin field

Sandfire Resources gained more than five per cent today after reporting positive results from last year's diamond drilling programme at the DeGrussa Copper-Gold Project, part of its wholly-owned Doolgunna Project in WA.

Tusker Gold has recommended to shareholders to accept a takeover offer from mining giant Barrick Gold which will see Barrick acquire all of the issued shares in Tusker for 80 cents per share.

London law firm Allen & Overy is making an aggressive entry into the Australian market by recruiting 17 partners from Clayton Utz, including three from that firm's Perth office.

Pilbara iron ore developer Aurox Resources has secured an agreement with China's leading mining engineering services provider for the provision of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services and assistance in financing its Balla Balla projec

Gold explorer Mundo Minerals' share value has slid almost 20 per cent in trading today after announcing it will raise more than $15 million in a placement and rights issue to repay loans and further develop its Peruvian and Brazilian gold projects.

The share price of copper explorer Alchemy Resources climbed more than seven per cent today after announcing an aggressive exploration drilling campaign at its Magnus project adjacent to Sandfire Resource's Doolgunna discovery in WA's Gascoyne region.

Shares in listed property developer Finbar have fallen slightly after announcing it had purchased a 1.58 hectare site in East Victoria Park for almost $10 million which the company plans to develop into 95 apartments.

Telco networks provider Amcom has signed a $20 million deal with the Northern Territory state government to provide high-speed fibre based telecommunications services.

BHP Billiton has appointed company insider Chris Campbell to head its lucrative iron ore division.

The Master Builders Association has warned the state's largest home indemnity insurance provider's decision to withdraw from the market could bring the residential building sector to a halt without urgent action from the state government.

Global education services provider Navitas has announced yet another agreement with a college in the United States for a pathways program, its fourth in as many weeks, this time with the Univeristy of Massachusetts Boston.

Shares in mineral exploration outfit Legend Mining have climbed more than 10 per cent in morning trade after announcing it would exercise its right to acquire a 90 per cent interest in a Cameroon iron ore project following a positive aeromagnetic survey.

Shares in exploration minnow Kings Minerals fell today after announcing plans to complete a business combination with its 71.3 per cent controlled subsidiary, San Anton Resource Corporation before listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Engineering and construction services company Forge Group says it has started the year with a strong order book as it upgrades its interim earnings forecast by 21 per cent against its previous projections.

Shares in Aurora Minerals have climbed slightly after announcing it is in discussions with its 53 per cent-owned subsidiary Desert Energy to enter into a joint venture on its wholly-owned Camel Hills Project in central Western Australia.

The state government has signed a $42 million deal with a property development consortium to develop a 10-hectare site in Newman for urgently needed residential and short-term tourism accommodation in the Pilbara.

Perth's office vacancy rate has increased slightly to 8.2 per cent and will continue to rise this year as further supply is added to the market, new figures show.

Shares in Cape Lambert Resources have dropped after it today withdrew the initial public offer of spin-off Q Copper Australia due to "recent adverse market conditions".

Fortescue Metals Group says it will vigorously defend an appeal the corporate watchdog has lodged regarding a ruling that found in favour of the miner and its chief, Andrew Forrest.

Shares in internet provider iiNet surged after it today won a drawn-out legal battle against Hollywood movie studios over illegal downloads.

WHAT do Rick Stowe, Clive Palmer, Richard Goyder and Kerry Stokes have in common?

Australia’s corporate governence framework rates highly, a new report has found.

The Reserve Bank’s latest interest rate decision caught markets by surprise but should not change any business or investment decisions.

The after-shocks of the GFC could be extremely painful.

An upswing in M&A activity is on the cards.