Latest Headlines

The Australian dollar continues to rise - and is now above parity, as investors look to strong US data.

American Airlines' filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection tempered upward momentum in US markets on Tuesday, with the major indexes finishing above the neutral line.

Mining Minister Norman Moore has turned down the opportunity to become WA's next Agent-General in London, a likely disruption to Premier Colin Barnett's plans to bring new blood into the cabinet we

State agency LandCorp says it is expecting significant interest in its latest industrial land release in the Pilbara, stage three of the Gap Ridge industrial estate near Karratha.

The Australian dollar was more than a full US cent higher today, bouncing from its intraday lows as Asian equities and US equity futures rose.

Thousands of workers have marched through central Perth threatening to picket US oil and gas giant Chevron until it pledges to provide more local jobs and training. (Click through for video)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will chair the first meeting of a new manufacturing task force tomorrow, as new figures indicate the dire state of the sector.

Perth-based energy and utilities contractor CTEC has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract for Hamersley Iron's West Angelas power station project in the Pilbara.

Overcrowding and privatisation of Western Australian jails is costing taxpayers money and endangering prison staff, according to unions.

Australian shares rose one per cent in the second consecutive day of gains as financial and real estate companies led the market higher.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion says he would be concerned if a manager who approved a prescribed burn that became a destructive bushfire was not stood aside.

Harvey Norman isn't expecting a wonderful Christmas season after consumer electronics sales copped a hiding in 2011.

AngloGold Ashanti has reported a substantial increase in the gold resource estimate for its Tropicana project, northeast of Kalgoorlie.

Australia is regarded as one of the world's safest borrowers, after a global ratings agency upgraded the country to the highest possible rating for its overseas borrowings.

Investment in Australia's mining industry rose by 34 per cent to record levels in the six months to October, new data shows.

Perth-based oil junior Pura Vida has announced plans to raise $4 million and list on the Australian Securities Exchange to fund exploration off the coast of Morocco.

The state government has reported a $325 million operating surplus for the first quarter of the 2011-12 financial year.

Laboratory group Campbell Brothers has increased first half profit by 55 per cent and forecast a rise of up to 66 per cent in full year profit.

The federal government says it will meet its target for a budget surplus in 2012/13, after making new savings worth $11.5 billion over four years, but economists say Labor has not made large enough savings to ensure its forecasts will be met.

Engineering firm UGL has secured $200 million in contracts tapping into Australia's resources boom.The contracts are across the coal, oil and gas and iron ore industries.

To understand the frightening dimension of the financial crisis unfolding in Europe you need to do two things.

Australian shares have posted modest gains after strong rises overseas due to a positive retail performance in the United States and hopes of developments on Europe's debt crisis.

Design and construction company VDM Group has won $30.6 million worth of work with BHP Billiton.VDM has now won over $130 million worth of new work this financial year, it said.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the OECD has firmly endorsed Australia's budget strategy in its latest economic outlook.

The Australian dollar has opened higher on the possibility of developments on a eurozone debt crisis solution.

US stocks markets burst back to life on Monday, with the major indices boosted by suggestions that Europe's leaders may have a plan to get their arms round the continent's long-running debt crisis.

Gold explorer Alchemy Resources has elected a new board of directors headed by former Independence Group director Oscar Aamodt, after the previous board resigned en masse on Friday.

Qantas Airways has announced it will increase capacity on its regional network in Western Australia, adding nine additional services each week.

The Australian dollar clawed back much of the ground it lost last week to finish Monday more than a 1.5 US cents higher.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association has elected Santos' David Knox as chairman and Woodside Energy's Rob Cole as vice chairman for the coming financial year.

An Arabic-speaking career diplomat will be Australia's next ambassador to the Middle Eastern kingdom of Kuwait.

Malaga's Hertel Modern has won a three-year, $90 million contract to provide paint, insulation and fireproofing services on Chevron's Gorgon liquefied natural gas development.