Latest Headlines

Australia's highest-selling car manufacturer has predicted improving market conditions in 2010 after the latest vehicle industry figures indicated new motor vehicle sales were 15.9 per cent higher in December 2009 than a year earlier.

The body responsible for securing business events for Perth and Western Australia since 1972 has delivered $55 million to the state economy in the first six months of the financial year.

Mamba Minerals plans to raise more than $1 million via a placement and non renounceable rights issue for on-going project cost and evaluation, new project acquisition and to provide further working capital.

The stock price of civil engineering and construction company Decmil Australia has climbed this morning after news it won a $48 million contract variation for additional work on the Pluto LNG Project with Woodside Energy.

Woodside Petroleum and its joint venture partners in the Browse Basin project have accepted renewal offers for the project's retention leases offered by the state and federal governments.

Shares in wave energy and clean technology developer Carnegie Wave Energy have moved up this morning after announcing it had signed a formal licensing and joint venture agreement with northern hemisphere development partner EDF EN.

The state government has awarded Southern Roads Services a $2.8 million contract to improve a 2.5 kilometre section of South Western Highway between Burekup and Picton.

West Perth-based resources development company Atlantic Limited has entered into a heads of agreement with Mineral Resources to re-launch the Windimurra Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

Denmark-based businessman Steve Birkbeck is the new chairman of pearl farmer Atlas South Sea Pearl taking over from the listed entity's long standing director, George Snow after the latter sold almost 10 per cent of the company to the incoming chairman.

Perth-based engineering and construction company Decmil Australia has been awarded a $74 million sub-contract by Thiess for the design and construction of temporary construction facilities on the Gorgon Project.

Out-of-pocket Great Southern investors are on the verge of installing Gunns to take over the defunct timber projects, after a lengthy meeting in Sydney today.

Shares in Australasian Resources have moved up this morning following the announcement of environmental approval from the state government for its $2.7 billion Balmoral South iron ore project.

Shares in Subiaco-based explorer Uramet Minerals have gained more than 5 per cent in morning trade after announcing it had executed a binding heads of agreement to enter into a joint venture to explore for gold in Guyana.

Port Bouvard has refinanced its existing bank facilities with St George Bank to the tune of $167.6 million, renewed until the end of 2011, allowing the property developer to focus on progressing the development of its flagship assets in Western Australia.

The state government has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling's overturning legal action by Apache Northwest to block the release of a restricted report into the Varanus gas pipeline explosion more than 18 months ago.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has nearly resolved the year-long dispute with its shipping charter contractors afte agreeing to pay more than $US20 million to one of the counterparties involved.

Balcatta-based mineral testing company Ammtec has suffered a slide in share value today after announcing a first half profit warning due to tough working conditions for its engineering subsidiary Marc Technologies.

Resources veteran Miles Kennedy has tendered his resignation as non-executive chairman at Sandfire Resources which the company said is part of a planned restructure of its Board.

Gold explorer Laguna Resources' share value remains unchanged after announcing it had acquired the Cachitos Gold Project in northern Chile.

Shares in engineering outfit VDM moved up slightly after announcing it had won a $79 million contract with a Rio Tinto subsidiary to refurbish the Pannawonica township in the Pilbara.

The stock price of Murchison Metals climbed this morning after announcing an upgrade for its 50 per cent-owned Jack Hills project to three billion tonnes with work underway exploring further potential at the site.

Mine sites ceased production and ports closed as heavy rains and strong winds battered the iron ore-rich Pilbara region overnight while other operations were left unscathed by Tropical Cyclone Laurence despite causing widespread damage as it moved inland.

Shares in iron ore explorer Aurox Resources closed slightly higher today after the company announced a 15 per cent upgrade at its Balla Balla project in the Pilbara to 238 million tonnes.

West Perth-based resources development outfit Atlantic Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a state-owned corporation to develop a new bauxite project in Vietnam.

Western Australia has joined the rest of the nation, excluding Tasmania, in posting a significant jump in new motor vehicle sales in November compared to the previous month, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data has showed.

Shares in Perth-based gold explorer Adamus Resources dropped today after announcing it had secured a credit facility for the development of its Southern Ashanti Gold Project in Ghana, enabling it to become a mid-tier gold producer by early 2011.

Shares in mining contractor NRW Holdings were up slightly following the announcement of a $200 million contract for the design, development and operation of an iron ore mine at Rio Tinto's Western Turner Syncline Section 10 deposit in the Pilbara.

Perth-based construction and engineering outfit Doric has secured a $3 million contract with the Water Corporation to increase pump performance at the Tamworth Hill Pump Station in Baldivis.

Developing and commercialising innovative technologies of 35 start-ups across the nation is the aim of the federal government's $64 million in funding, to be distributed by 11 fund managers.

A survey commissioned by the Australian Medical Association has found that doctors and nurses are rated as the country's most trusted professions respectively, with Western Australians also having a soft spot for teachers, engineers, accountants and trade

Great Southern receiver McGrathNicol has opted to wind up the olive schemes operated by the fallen agribusiness company after failing to overcome a stalemate with two of the biggest names in Western Australian horticulture.

Perth-based uranium explorer Energia Minerals is poised to list on the Australian Securities Exchange later this month after an initial public offer raised $7.5 million.