The underserviced and ageing rail infrastructure in the eastern states has created an attractive market opportunity for niche wagon and rail maintenance player Gemco Rail Pty Ltd, based in Forrestfield.
A number of mining services companies have posted record profits for 2007-08, reinforcing the state's position as an emerging global centre for high-calibre mining services companies.
The past year has provided a bumpy ride for players in the base metals field, as sharp falls in commodity prices, a stronger Australian dollar and rising cost pressures bite into the bottom line.
Rio Tinto Ltd, the world's third largest mining company, has forecast higher prices for the company's core commodities of iron, alumina and copper after delivering a record first half profit.
He's worked as a lawyer, played Australian rules football at the highest level, and has spent the past 20 years as a trade commissioner and private consultant helping Western companies do business in China.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been forced to take a tougher stance on accepting undertakings during mergers following examples of businesses acting in bad faith, commission chairman Graeme Samuel said last week.
For most manufacturers, a $5 billion order book represents a pretty ambitious target - even more so when the company is a shipbuilder from the small suburb of Henderson, Western Australia.
When Suzannah Vaughan was appointed to run the first floating production storage and offloading vessel to work offshore India, she believed it was another significant step in her family's connection with the subcontinent and oil.
Western Australia's labour shortage may be top of the election agenda for the state's peak business lobby group, but the recruitment of blue-collar overseas workers is set to become more difficult, according to the migration industry.
Uranium miner Paladin Energy and iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have for the third year running maintained their status as the top performing Western Australian stocks, based on rolling five-year returns.
Like many Perth restaurateurs, Maurizio Restaurant proprietor Maurizio Di Ciano believes the hospitality industry has a perception problem with regard to the career options available.
The state government has committed $20 million to upgrading the rail link between Greenbushes and Bunbury port in an effort to move the transportation of timber logs from road onto rail.
A national think tank has called for tax cuts, better urban planning and the privatisation of the state's rail network and electricity generation ahead of the state election next month.
Macmahon Holdings Ltd has further strengthened its takeover bid for Ausdrill Ltd, waiving several conditions and allowing shareholders to keep the final six cents dividend.
The downturn in the financial sector has hit West Perth-based financial services company Centrepoint Alliance Ltd, which today reported an $11.8 million goodwill writedown and a full year net loss of $9.5 million.
Despite forecasting a profit growth in excess of $40 million for the 2008 financial year, Western Australian property developer Port Bouvard Ltd has reported an 88 per cent slump in net profit to $3.2 million.
The future of Troy Buswell is in doubt after Liberal leader Colin Barnett refused to say if the former opposition leader will be included in the cabinet if the party is elected.
A number of acquisitions over the 2008 financial year have driven Cash Converters International Ltd's net profit up 31 per cent to a record of over $15 million.
Premier Alan Carpenter's pledge to impose a legislative ban on uranium mining has prompted an outcry from mining lobby groups and the traditional owners who hold land rights over the major Kintyre uranium deposit.
Fremantle-based oil and gas services company Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd has reported a net profit of $17.9 million for the 2008 financial year, up 43 per cent on the previous corresponding period.
Gage Roads has posted a net loss after tax of $3.62 million for fiscal 2008 compared to $3.07 million in 2007, reflecting increased marketing and personnel expenditure against a background of flat sales growth.
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