TWO national property developers with significant interests in Western Australia have announced strong year-end results despite difficult market conditions.
GROWING numbers of Australian organisations are offering paid maternity leave according to recent research by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency and Alcoa of Australia.
SMALL business operators have been urged to remain vigilant for scammers during the global economic crisis, with a spate of postal scams hitting Western Australia in the past few months.
The state government will provide nearly $8 million of additional funds and employ a further 72 people to boost WA's Resources Safety Division as the state's mining death toll creeps up.
Herald Resources has reiterated its rejection of a takeover bid by Jakarta-based PT Bumi Resources despite another major shareholder advising it will accept the offer.
Western Australia is set to receive first funds from the Rudd government's $650 million Jobs Fund, with the bulk of the funds to go to projects in the south west of Perth.
Nexus Energy has raised $31 million from an instiutional placement with funds to be used for ongoing development of its 85 per cent owned Crux liquids project off WA and Longtom gas operation in Victoria.
Delays have prompted Stirling-based ComputerCORP to terminate its acquisition of private east coast outfit S Central while it seals the deal on another purchase.
Perth will be home to the country's fastest wireless broadband service early next year as the Seven Network commits $50 million towards the rollout of the 4G network.
Panoramic Resources' net profit has slumped 89 per cent to $5.6 million for the year to June 30, down from $53.3 million the previous year after the company's revenues receded on the back of lower nickel prices.
West Perth-based Marengo Mining has welcomed several global investment funds, including Soros Funds Management, onto its register after it raised more than $16 million through a share placement in North America.
Moly Mines has jumped the final logistical hurdle for its $9.4 million Spinifex Ridge iron ore project in the Pilbara after securing port space at the new Utah Point facility in Port Hedland.
Uranium producer Paladin Energy has posted a $US480 million loss for the year to June 30 on the back of large impairment expenses but remains positive about its current operations and growth opportunities.
The state's largest health insurer HBF is forecasting a loss of $115 million for the 2009 financial year but says it has strong financial reserves, accumulated during recent years, to weather the financial downturn.
Perth-based business publisher Aspermont has posted a solid increase in revenue and underlying earnings but one-off restructuring costs have pushed its net result to a loss of $484,000.
With poor health practices costing business more than $7 billion, Western Australian employers are being urged to consider the health of employees, with the launch of the Healthy Active Workplace policy today.
West Perth-based Barra Resources has raised $3.5 million through an oversubscribed placement to advance drilling on its key Mt Thirsty nickel and Phillips Find gold projects in Western Australia.
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has suggested that state-owned energy retailer Synergy 's credit rating is likely to come under pressure when the government proceeds with changes to its power purchase contracts.
The federal government has established an employment taskforce to help staff future resource projects, including the upcoming Gorgon gas venture in Western Australia.
