Latest Headlines

Shorten declares he’ll be a pro-WA PM as the big-dollar promises roll in

Oil fell nearly one per cent overnight but held near 2019 highs, supported by a tightening of global stocks, OPEC production cuts and US sanctions on key producers Iran and Venezuela.

Gold prices dipped overnight in volatile trade after hitting three-week highs earlier in the session as a set of better than expected US data lifted the US dollar, while palladium notched a record peak on supply concerns.

An Apple-led tech rally has pushed Wall Street higher as jitters over the Federal Reserve's forecast of an economic slowdown were calmed by upbeat economic data.

Australian shares closed up a whisker following a late afternoon rally after spending most of the day in the red during a busy day for economic indicators.

Appointing a senior minister to manage reform of business licensing and sunset clauses would assist the state government control the proliferation of permits that tie-up enterprises, according to a review released today.

Three Perth tech firms are creating their own deep tech to attract investors and create world-first innovations.

ASX-listed Stealth Global Holdings has entered into a joint venture agreement with Bisley Workwear to launch its products into the UK, West African and European markets.

Supreme Court justice Kenneth Martin has slammed the long-running legal battle between Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy and CITIC Pacific Mining as a massive, unnecessary waste of judicial resources, with both parties bearing responsibility.

Fortescue Metals Group will establish a research and development centre in Karratha to develop autonomous transport for urban areas.

The unemployment rate in Western Australia fell by 1 per cent in February, as 11,000 people stopped looking for work.

Western Australia has recorded the largest percentage increase in net overseas migration in Australia, but its population growth was the third lowest in the country.

Blackham Resources has announced a fully underwritten renounceable entitlements issue to raise $25.8 million, of which $10 million will be used to pay debts owing to contractor MACA and The Lind Partners.

Northern Star Resources executive chairman Bill Beament has sold about $22 million worth of shares in the gold miner, as part of a Family Court settlement.

A consortium comprised of private equity firm BGH, AustralianSuper and former Navitas chief executive Rod Jones have agreed to buy the global education provider for $2.3 billion.

Australian shares have opened flat following a mixed session on Wall Street, despite a strong showing from the mining sector.

China ‘will slash ore imports’    

The S&P 500 and the Dow have ended lower as interest rate-sensitive financial stocks dragged down the indexes after the US Federal Reserve affirmed a dovish monetary policy stance.

US crude prices rose overnight to a four-month high above $US60 a barrel after US government data showed tightening domestic oil supplies, but gains were capped by concerns over global economic growth due to the ongoing US-China trade war.

Palladium hit an all-time high overnight on concerns over tight supplies of the autocatalyst metal, while gold reversed course to rise after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.

Australian shares have closed in negative territory for a second day after a drop in the price of iron ore put pressure on mining shares.

Small to medium enterprises have joined the unrelenting migration of firms moving from the suburbs to Perth’s CBD, with affordability in the central city office market described as unprecedented.

A federal Labor government will make Perth the home base for an Australian Future Mines centre, and has also pledged to provide 50 mining engineering scholarships at WA universities.

Meteoric Resources has struck a deal to pay up to $3 million in cash and scrip for Crusader’s Resources Juruena and Novo Astro gold projects, and Crusader has increased the underwriting of its $4.2 million rights issue by $1 million.

Constructive Software is a digital user interface between builder and client that makes the process of selecting fixtures and finishings like an online shopping experience.

OPINION: Emissions concerns are one factor driving change in the car industry, but the transport habits of a changing demographic are also in play.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has dismissed a critique of Labor’s wages policy, describing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA as a trade union for employers and insisting wage increases were sensible.

Residents will start moving into Far East Consortium’s premium apartments project The Towers at Elizabeth Quay before the end of the month, with the Hong Kong-headquartered developer shifting focus to its Perth Hub at Perth City Link as its Ritz-Carlton Hotel also nears completion.

DTI Group has won a contract to supply and install its CCTV recording system in Volgren’s 900 new buses in Western Australia.

Private equity investors have bought the assets and business of Welshpool-based coatings distributor Robayne, two months after the company was placed into voluntary administration.

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) has awarded Delron Cleaning and Westland Works contracts valued at about $12.44 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

RCR Tomlinson’s secured creditors may only receive around $70.6 million of the $230 million they are owed, and its unsecured trade creditors are likely to receive none of the $170.6 million they are owed, as administrators McGrathNicol recommended the failed engineering firm be liquidated.