The funeral industry in WA is increasingly dominated by a handful of big players, including two listed companies that hold more than 50 per cent of the market after buying some of the state’s oldest operators.
Widespread selling has sent the share market to a second consecutive fall, while stronger than expected retail sales growth lifted the Australian dollar.
Alan Thomas faced a binary choice in 2015 to either wind down his business following the slowdown of activity in the company’s prime north-west market, or reinvent his building enterprise.
Queensland-based mineral sands explorer Diatreme Resources has signed contracts with a Chinese mining services company to conduct a definitive feasibility study and help source funding for its Cyclone zircon project in Western Australia's Eucla Basin.
The education, arts, accommodation and agriculture sectors were the state’s biggest job creators in the five years to November 2017, according to data recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The International Cricket Council has given a glowing report on the soon-to-be-opened Optus Stadium, while approving all international fixtures to be played at the venue.
The board of Finders Resources remains firm on its rejection of a hostile takeover bid from Indonesian group Eastern Field Developments, after the major shareholder questioned the company’s supplementary target’s statement.
Retail sales rose 1.2 per cent nationally to $26.4 billion in November, in seasonally adjusted terms, beating market expectations of an increase of 0.4 per cent, while Western Australian retail spending was up 1.4 per cent for the month.
Australian shares have opened lower after Wall Street slid early in its session following a report that China could be set to stop or slow its US Treasuries purchases.
Crude oil prices have jumped, settling near three-year highs after US government data show a drop in crude inventories and production, even as fuel inventories rose.
Gold has risen, hitting its highest in nearly four months as the US dollar swoons after a report that Chinese officials had recommended slowing or halting purchases of US Treasury securities.
Melbourne-based Crocmedia, which is merging with a listed company backed by Perth investment group Viburnum Funds, has been announced as the radio partner of Optus Stadium for the next five years.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt has warned businesses using labour hire companies to confirm they have met their payroll tax obligations, after a number of local operators fell victim to a scam.
Melbourne-based shell company Public Holdings (Australia) is set to move into gold exploration after striking a deal to acquire a group of Western Australian gold tenements from prospector Denis O’Meara, while also announcing plans for a $7.5 million capital raising.
Indonesian group Eastern Field Developments has extended the offer period for its hostile 23-cents-a-share bid for Finders Resources, while also raising a number of concerns with the copper miner’s supplementary target statement.
Perth-based BCI Minerals has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Chinese steel producer Sinosteel to assess potential development of BCI’s Buckland project in the Pilbara.
The Australian share market looks set to follow its international peers and open in the green, while the local dollar has fallen nearly a third of a cent against the US dollar.
Oil prices have edged higher, with US crude touching its highest since December 2014, supported by OPEC-led production cuts and expectations that US crude inventories have dropped for an eighth week in a row.
Gold has edged lower, weighed down by a stronger US dollar on the back of concerns about political uncertainty in Europe, while a buoyant stock market also drained enthusiasm for bullion.
James Cullen has emerged as the major shareholder at new listing Babylon Pump & Power, which is led by Michael Shelby, formerly general manager at Mr Cullen’s former company Resource Equipment.
Perth-based Eden Innovations’ concrete admixture has been approved by the Oregon Department of Transportation, with EdenCrete now permitted for use in 11 US states.
Approvals for the construction of new homes have jumped by 11.7 per cent in November, boosted by a spike in apartment and townhouse construction activity in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.
