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AIRLINES and hotels are engaging in unprecedented discounting to keep people travelling during the economic slowdown.

Rolled by her colleagues, what now for Julie Bishop's political career?

THE state government's plans for a gas processing hub on the Kimberley coast have received a boost from the region's traditional owners, which have said they are ready to negotiate a deal for a large-scale liquefied natural gas development on Aboriginal l

New airline to offer cheaper, faster services to Cocos and Christmas islands.

WHILE Western Australia's geothermal energy industry progresses at a snail's pace, former Perth-based BHP Billiton executive Bret Mattes is enjoying rapid progress in Indonesia.

A NEW campaign has been launched to encourage Western Australians to holiday at home.

Engineering and construction company Paladio Group has booked a 7 per cent dip in net profit after tax for the first half of fiscal 2009.

Drilling contractor Ausdrill has delivered a record net profit after tax of $25 million for the first half of fiscal 2009, up 52 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

At least 10,000 jobs are forecast to go in Western Australia over the next 18 months as an economic forecaster projects a 50 per cent fall in mining investments over the next two years.

Woodside Petroleum says it will issue $US1 billion in corporate bonds in the United States in a bid to repay short term debt and for capital expenditure.

Nomad Building Solutions has revised down its full year net profit forecast for the third time after reporting a 62 per cent slump in its interim earnings.

IT services provider ASG Group has announced an interim net profit of $4.9 million, a 16 per cent increase on the previous corresponding period.

Aspen Group has reported an interim net loss of $42.8 million, taking a big hit from investment property revaluations and fair value adjustments for the reporting period.

Chevron Corporation says it is a step closer to commercialising its Wheatstone project after exploration of two natural gas fields showed there were enough resources to support a two-train development.

Mining services company Emeco Holdings has revised down its full year earnings forecast as it books a 30 per cent lift in half year net profit after tax of $39 million.

Fortescue Metals Group remains in a trading halt as it considers more capital raising after agreeing to sell a stake to a Chinese steel maker for $1.2 billion.

China's $1bn Fortescue play; Chernin's exit paves way for heir apparent; Gas find boosts Woodside train plan; State poised to approve private port; Labor under pressure on infrastructure funding

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has negotiated a $558 million capital injection at $2.48 per share with Chinese steel maker Hunan Valin Iron and Steel Group Company.

Babcock & Brown Power today announced the financial close of the sale of its interest in the Neerabup power station to the infrastructure arm of ANZ.

A company that acts as an agent for emerging Chinese steel mills has signed a deal with explorer Epsilon Energy over the Mardie iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Fortescue Metals Group has warned it could take at least a $US171 million ($A264 million) hit from suspended shipping contracts but says talks with Chinese entities for equity investment and a hybrid funding package are progressing.

Nickel miner Independence Group's net profit has slumped 99.7 per cent to $123,000 as it takes a hit from falling commodity prices and a $9.1 million write down in listed investments.

Industrial software developer ISS Group has reported a strong 52 per cent increase in half-year net profit to $1.2 million on the back of a similar 54 per cent lift in revenue.

South Perth-based Oropa is set to capitalise on the burgeoning gold market by re-focusing its activities towards the precious metal and rationalising its non-gold assets.

Perth-based Focus Minerals plans to raise up to $28 million in two separate raisings, with the majority of funds to go towards the refurbishment of a treatment facility at its Coolgardie gold project.

Subiaco-based Stirling Resources has teamed up with Indian resources company NMDC to jointly identify, acquire and develop coking coal and iron ore investments in Australia and New Zealand.

A BHP Billiton spokesperson has confirmed a worker has died at its Pilbara operations early this morning.

Crescent Gold is set to re-start operations at its Laverton gold mine after signing an offtake agreement with Barrick Gold.

Investors have swamped Subiaco-based Allied Gold's capital raising which closed oversubscribed having raised nearly $31 million.

Shares in NRW Holdings have risen sharply in early trade on the back of a 45 per cent lift in its interim net profit driven by higher revenue from its mining division.

Family power bills to rocket by $246 a year; Chinalco may bend on Rio; WA giant raises over $3.5bn as shares lift; Citi offers US government a 40pc stake; Forrest fights tax ruling on donation

Property developer Port Bouvard has described its interim results as "pleasing" despite posting a loss after tax of $1.2 million for the six months to the end of December 2008.