Latest Headlines

Shares in Fortescue Metals Group jumped more than 15 per cent at market open after the burgeoning iron ore miner announced an increase in exports.

Phosphate Resources will shutdown its Christmas Island operations for more than six weeks over the the New Year due to a lack of demand from its Malaysian and Indonesia markets.

Share prices off 50pc in a year; We can avoid deficit - Swan; Banks seek guarantee overhaul; iiNet faces action over piracy; Housing finance skids

Perth-based sandalwood products company, TFS Corporation is expecting to deliver a profit increase of at least 15 per cent for the year ending 30 June 2009.

Minimum wage earners have far higher life satisfaction than the unemployed and they are also just as happy with their lives as medium wage workers, a study from Curtin University's Business School has found.

Speaking at Fortescue Metals Group's AGM this afternoon, the Perth-based mining company's chief executive, Andrew Forrest announced his company has enhanced long term contracts with its Chinese customers.

Apex Minerals has commenced commissioning of the plant and increased gold ore reserves at its cornerstone Wiluna mine, extending the projected life of the mine to four years.

West Perth-based Equinox Minerals has accepted handover of the process plant and related infrastructure at its Lumwana copper project in Zambia.

Macmahon Holdings has been awarded an $89 million dollar road contract for the Tiger Brennan Drive Extension Project in Darwin.

Eastern states-based law firm, Middletons is merging with two of Perth's boutique corporate law firms, Salter Power and Franklyn Legal.

Straits Resources is reviewing the viability of two if its copper mines, including the Whim Creek copper mine in WA, after a dramatic drop in the world copper price.

Range Resources will be pursuing legal action following an article in published by The Age newspaper in Melbourne under the heading "Mining Firm tied to Somali Oil Pirates."

Despite all the doom and gloom, including today's turmoil on the Australian stockmarket, consumers are still spending up big, particularly on their credit cards.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and the Consolidated Pastoral Company have reached an agreement to upgrade a road, triggering the conversion of 16,000 hectares of pastoral land to freehold in the next step to expand the Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

South Perth-based uranium company Extract Resources' proposed merger agreement with London-listed Kalahari Minerals has been terminated.

Uranio has acquired a thermal coal project in the Sakoa Basin of Madagascar called Imaloto, plus an associated cash injection worth more than $2 million in a deal with Coal of Africa and Oak Nominees for 50 million shares.

It's OK to go into red - RBA; Babcock to cut itself in two; BHP softens plans to increase production; Reynolds re-election renews ABCC push; Razor gang with sharp eye for WA cuts

An electric car that costs just $1.40 every 100 kilometres will be launched at the University of Western Australia in Perth today.

KEVIN Reynolds' 34-year reign as Western Australian representative to the federally registered Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union could end this week when the results of the union's election are released.

MINES and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore has announced the formation of a 12-member industry working group, chaired by former resources minister Peter Jones, to advise on ways to improve the state

CURTIN University of Technology has opened its second overseas campus in nine years, with the launch of its Singapore site last week.

SOUTH Perth-based property developer Finbar has put its majority owned Gateway office development, currently being built on the former Nutrimetics site on Albany Highway, on the market.

CALLING the bottom in any bust cycle is always highly contentious, even more so in the context of the current global economic crisis.

Aquarius Platinum Ltd Zwelakhe Mankazana has been appointed as a non-executive director. Atom Energy Ltd Director Ross Louthean has resigned.

There has been a significant decline in student enrolment and completion of institutional-based training courses, with only 16 per cent of IBT students completing their courses in 2007, according to an auditor general report.

THE Links Kennedy Bay golf course has been re-opened under new management with developer Mirvac taking over the role after the former manager was placed into administration.

THE corporate watchdog has charged Perth company director Malcolm MacCormick with insider trading in relation to last year's sale of his family business to ASX-listed company Walter Diversified Servic

THE state government has lifted the moratorium on the commercial production of genetically modified cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area, renewing calls for it to move on the Ord Stage Two project.

BRIEFCASE is amazed at the poor understanding of market dynamics shown by many commentators and self-appointed analysts.

WELL It's time to face it. You take the most pessimistic analysis of the global economic situation and we're in for tough times.

ONCE the most energetic and successful married couple in global mining, Phil and Viv Snowden have re-emerged after 18 months with plans to take on a new industry - wine.

THE growing number of mass participation events in Perth has provided fertile ground for benevolent institutions looking for more creative means to raise funds and deliver their message of goodwill.