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Gillard delays pain on penalties; Crown jewels turn to paste; PM revamps stimulus package; Virgin Blue posts $160m loss; Mining services groups surprise on the upside

Audax Resources has completed a capital raising worth more than $2.5 million from sophisticated and institutional investors, including a London fund and clients of another London firm for a drilling program in Tunisia.

Gold miner Resolute Mining Group has turned last year's $56 million loss into an after tax profit of $27.4 million in FY2009, including an unrealised treasury gain of $1.1 million, on the back of increased revenues, production and gold cash costs.

Automotive Technology Group has formed an agreement with Perth businessman, Michael Wilson to raise up to $6.2 million for the company in a two-part deal involving an entitlement issue and a share

Modular and transportable buildings manufacturer, Nomad Building Solutions posted an overall profit of $13.3 million following the economic downturn negatively impacting its clients' investment decisions and an impairment charge of $6.8 million.

Wesfarmers today announced two new board appointments including Perth-based Diane Smith-Gander and retail expert Archie Norman, as well as changes to its corporate affairs team.

Nickel miner and metals explorer, Independence Group has posted a profit of $16.1 million for the year to June 30, down almost 69 per cent per cent from last year's result of $51.5 million as falling production and spot nickel prices affected revenues.

After superannuation funds were hammered at the hands of the global economic downturn, it seems Western Australians are the most reluctant to believe their retirement nest eggs will ever return to their former glory, a survey has found.

Shares in engineering and construction company, Decmil Group finished stronger today after posting a record profit of $10 million, up from just $55,000 the previous corresponding period, after securing substantial contracts with global clients.

Junior gold producer, Troy Resources has made a remarkable recovery after suffering a severe loss last year, posting a $16.7 million profit amid enhanced gold production and increased revenue.

Marine engineering outfit, Neptune Marine Services has posted a profit of $21 million for the year to June 30, an increase of almost 200 per cent on the previous year's $7.4 million thanks to its diverse service offering and strong revenue gains.

Gaming group Crown posted a loss of $1.2 billion FY2009 after writing down the value of its US assets due to the downturn but says it will focus on its Australian and Macau assets following strong performances from its Burswood and Crown casinos.

Shares in diversified miner OZ Minerals have fallen almost five per cent this morning after posting a heavy first half loss, following the sale of many of its assets and a lower copper price, but says it is in a strong financial position.

Sage chases backing for $200m Lady Annie float; Australia Post in $700m shake-up; Media moguls face off; PM's cash cure fails to lure nurses; Long haul for Asciano with gloomy outlook

AT least 2,700 Australians who borrowed money to invest in Great Southern and Timbercorp schemes are refusing to make loan repayments, with their stance soon to be tested in the courts.

The owners of the Witch's Cauldron have a simple business plan ... make the customers happy. Adam Orlando reports.

A SPATE of transactions in the mortgage market has left Perth-based Australian Finance Group one of the few independent aggregators standing in what is now a big bank-dominated sector.

As a man of letters, it seems Ken Clements is pretty good at writing them, too.

PROMINENT local advisory firm Oakvale Capital has dismissed suggestions it is at fault for the multi-million losses suffered by a former client, as the Perth firm is taken to court over a claim for close to $10 million.

Australians have suddenly woken up to the big growth opportunities in WA, but are we prepared?

ICE cream maker Azzura Gelati has scooped 20 prizes at this year's WA Dairy Product Awards at the Sheraton Hotel.

Greater collaboration is the key to turning WA's bright ideas into commercial success.

Every cloud has a silver lining, so the saying goes. So which WA companies delivered the best returns to investors as the cold winds of the global financial crisis wreaked havoc?

Progressive or backward? It depends which side of the fence you sit on.

IT may come as a surprise, but judging by the results of WA Business News' latest survey of Total Shareholder Returns, the safest place for investors to put their money over the last year has been at the most speculative end of the share market.

Ordinary Australians will bear the brunt of the government's proposed ETS.

WHILE junior explorers dominated the 10 best-performing Western Australian stocks last financial year, was there a defining characteristic that bound together the worst performers for the year? A lack of scale would seem to be one possibility, with the 10

NO matter which way you cut it, the 2008-09 financial year was a shocker for investors in local companies, with only 110 of the 730 or so Western Australian-listed companies managing a positive return of any sort.

THE global financial crisis had a marked impact on Western Australia's engineering contractors during the year as the slowdown forced resources companies to scale back and defer numerous new developments and expansions.

THE global financial downturn has had a dramatic impact on the dividend yields of those Western Australian stocks that still pay regular dividends.

WITH much front page hype, the federal government last week announced what it claimed was Australia's biggest ever deal when PetroChina agreed to buy 2.25 million tonnes of LNG a year for 20 years, worth $50 billion.

The Western Australian Trade Opportunities Service is operated by the International Trade Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.