Staff Reporters

Galaxy Resources has begun commissioning its Mt Cattlin lithium concentrate processing plant near Ravensthorpe.

Northern Star Resources says it has slashed its debt associated with the acquisition of the Paulsens gold mine by more than $4 million.

Atlas Iron has announced a pre-feasibility study has strongly supported its plan to set up a centralized processing and haulage point in the Pilbara.

Premier Colin Barnett has released a master plan for the Kimberley gas precinct, just north of Broome, on the same day he announced his government will compulsorily acquire the site for the project.

The state government has announced new nature conservation and mining arrangements for the Mt Manning area, north of Southern Cross following extensive work by the departments of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Mines and Petroleum.

PERTH company TSmarine Asia Pacific has lived up to the ‘coals to Newcastle’ adage, signing a three-year contract with international oilfield service company Expro that has a potential value of $100 million.

Seven telcos have joined forces and proposed a new national broadband plan which broadly corresponds with the Coalition's policy.

Canstar Cannex has named ANZ Bank as the financial institution offering the best value to small business in 2010.

Former Fosters Group president and chief executive officer Trevor O'Hoy has joined the board of IT services provider ASG Group.

The state government says it will be asking for expressions of interest from developers interested in partnering it to develop land at Eglinton, in Perth's northern suburbs.

Little World Beverages is looking to expand its operations in the eastern states.

Coote Industrial has posted a $124.6 million net loss after tax for the 2010 financial year, after incurring $118.9 million worth of impairments, writedowns and losses on the sale of assets.

Perth-based business publisher Aspermont has recorded a net profit after tax of $1.1 million for the 2010 financial year up from a loss of $484,000 in the previous year.

LinQ Resources has reported an improved profit result, one week after announcing the company would be taking a more activist approach to future investments.

Nomad Building Solutions has recorded a $10.7 million net loss after tax for the 2010 financial year, less than two weeks after forecasting an $8 million full-year loss.

Grange Resources has announced a slump in its 2010 full year net profit to $42.2 million down from $86 million for the previous corresponding period.

WA National Tony Crook has attended a meeting of the federal National Party in Canberra where he has outlined his goals and objectives.

Rio Tinto and its joint venture partner Hancock Prospecting will invest $US1.6 billion to develop the Hope Downs 4 iron ore project and link it with existing rail, power and port infrastructure in the Pilbara.

Perth-based Clough and Bam International have secured a $US258 million contract for the design and construction of a LNG and condensate offloading jetty for the PNG LNG project.

The state government has mandated for at least 47 per cent of new residential development to occur in established urban areas under the new planning framework, Directions 2031 and Beyond, which was released today.

West Perth-based Centrepoint Alliance has recorded a $559,000 net profit after tax for the 2010 financial year.

Campbell Brothers has increased its takeover bid for Perth-based metallurgical testing specialist Ammtec to $3.80 per share from $3.35 per share.

New home sales fell in Western Australia by two per cent during July according to the latest HIA-Jeld-Wen New Home Sales survey released today.

Resolute Mining has lifted its underlying profits by 28 per cent during the 2010 financial year to $36 million but still recorded a loss of $56.6 million.

Engineering services group Emerson Stewart has announced an unaudited net loss after tax of $1.72 million for the 2010 financial year.

Information and communication technology group, Synergy Plus has recorded a $140,000 net profit after tax for the 2010 financial year.

Neptune Marine Services has reported a sharp drop in full year net profit after a downturn in two of its key markets.

Centro Retail Group, which owns 19 shopping centres in WA, has returned to profitability due to more stable property valuations for its shopping centres in Australia and the United States.

Nickel miner Independence Group has eclipsed its annual net profit forecast, mainly due to higher prices for the metal.

Perth-based property finance group Homeloans has announced a 10 per cent jump in normalised net profit after tax to $9.2 million.

Orbital has posted a $4.5 million net profit after tax for the 2010 finanial year compared to a $2.5 million loss this time last year.

VDM Group has recorded an after tax profit for the 2010 financial year of $16.8 million, on revenue of $521.3 million.