Mark Beyer

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott and FMG founder Andrew Forrest are likely to be the only Perth-based business leaders at next week’s jobs summit in Canberra, with Meg O'Neill a conspicuous absentee.

Perth investment bank and stockbroker Argonaut has disclosed a big lift in annual profit to $16.7 million following its merger with advisory firm PCF Capital Group.

The number of international drug companies undertaking clinical trials in Perth is set to expand after local success story Linear Clinical Research opened a $6 million facility.

Austin Engineering has struck a deal to buy Queensland-based mining equipment manufacturer Mainetec, with an initial payment of $19.6 million.

OreCorp has talked up the prospects for its Nyanzaga gold project in Tanzania despite revealing a big increase in expected pre-production capital costs.

Senior editor Mark Beyer explains why cost blowouts for Adbri and Ore Corp are emblematic of broader pressures weighing on businesses in WA.

Shares in Adbri fell sharply today after the ASX company reported a fall in net profit and provided updates on major projects at Kwinana and Kalgoorlie.

Mining industry veteran Ian Burston, who held numerous executive and board roles in Western Australia across five decades and received multiple awards, has died aged 87.

Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss Gloucester Park, DAP rulings, building costs, Palmer vs McGowan, Premier’s adviser, mining harassment, indigenous business and BHP’s bid for Oz Minerals.

Acute shortages of labour and accommodation are crimping growth in the Goldfields more than most parts of WA.

ANALYSIS: Another day, another front-page headline about sexual harassment in mining. It’s clearly a major issue but where is the balance? What about industries with a bigger problem?

BHP's $8 billion OZ Minerals bid highlights the company's ongoing change in focus. Mark Beyer explains.

BHP has stepped up its pursuit of future-facing metals by launching a takeover proposal for Adelaide-based copper and nickel miner OZ Minerals.

Ten years after opening its doors, Spacecubed has increased capacity to support WA innovators.

Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss interest rates, house prices, office vacancies, McGowan and Palmer's spat, Diggers & Dealers, Lynas expansion, Stirling mandate, local government reform, apartment developments and tourism.

Lynas Rare Earths plans to substantially expand production capacity at its Mt Weld mine, adding to a big investment it is already making in downstream processing in the Goldfields.

Mining sector leaders Jake Klein and Sharon Warburton said today the sector as a whole needed to recognise more action was needed to achieve respectful workplaces.

One of Western Australia’s largest indigenous contractors and a major privately-owned engineering firm have established a joint venture targeting work with tier-one miners.

Mark Pownall and Mark Beyer discuss mining cost pressures, house prices, Auditor General, Micromine, Thiess and MACA and Bourby Webster.

Pilbara Minerals has reported strong growth in production as it invests in new capacity while diversified miner Mineral Resources has received a boost from its lithium operations.

A mining software company established 36 years ago by Perth geologist Graeme Tuder has been sold to a US company for $900 million, setting a new record for WA's tech sector.

Rio Tinto has reported a fall in interim earnings from last year’s record levels after being hit by the decline in iron ore prices and rising costs.

Simone Grogan and Mark Beyer go over the highlights of their goldminers feature, including how price fluctuations are affecting local players and Northern Star Resources' dominance in the market.

Business News has tracked dramatic changes in the ranking of WA’s largest goldminers over more than a decade.

A private equity-backed software group has bought Osborne Park company Omnitronics, marking its second WA acquisition this year and its fifth deal nationally.

Gold miner Ten Sixty Four is embroiled in more controversy than most companies see in a lifetime, with a boardroom battle underway, a Supreme Court dispute and another mine site death.

Spacecubed is aiming to expand WA’s innovation sector through new research, collaboration and grants program after signing a three-year funding agreement with Lotterywest.

Western Australia’s largest gold miner expects modest growth in production volumes and a further increase in costs in the current financial year

Shares in ClearVue Technologies enjoyed a spike today after it announced a manufacturing and distribution agreement for its solar PV glazing products in the United States.

The West Australian government has added four companies to its list of preferred suppliers for computing and mobile devices.

Senior editor Mark Beyer talks about his feature on corporate finance, delving into why the market is slowing down and what opportunities lay ahead as access to capital recedes.

Corporate advisers expect a more difficult market after a very buoyant period, but also see a silver lining.