Latest Headlines

Oil have risen, overcoming declines early in the session, after a North Sea pipeline shut for repairs and investors focused on commodities following an explosion in New York.

Gold has steadied below $US1,250 an ounce after its biggest weekly drop in more than six months as markets anticipated an interest rate risee from the US Federal Reserve this week.

SPECIAL REPORT: The new boss at the state’s biggest private sector employer wants to get more women into senior management.

SPECIAL REPORT: Data from the annual BNiQ Search Engine biggest employers list suggests an economic recovery is under way as mining and civil contractors boost their workforce numbers.

Western Australia’s economy is one year away from a return to normality, according to consultancy firm Deloitte Access Economics, with consumer confidence, exports and dwelling approvals data all pointing towards an upswing.

ICON Engineering has secured a subsea rig interface contract with Woodside for the Greater Enfield oil development off Exmouth.

Mineral Resources has launched a $484 million takeover bid for oil and gas group AWE amid the ongoing battle for control of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth.

The Australian share market ended the first trading day of the week slightly higher amid lower volumes ahead of this week's key data releases.

Three engineering alliances have been shortlisted for a $47 million 'smart freeways' project that will use technology to convert the emergency lane on part of Kwinana Freeway into a full-time traffic lane.

Curtin University’s West Tech Fest attracted tech innovators, investors and entrepreneurs from across the country to Perth last week, including Adelaide-based visitor management system Sine, which won the West Tech Startup Challenge.

A joint venture between engineering groups Downer and Ausenco has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for OZ Minerals' Carrapateena copper gold project in South Australia.

Three senior government ministers faced the cameras this morning to promote plans for a new high school in Subiaco, which will link with shared public open space at the neighbouring football oval.

Perth-based shipbuilder Austal has signed a memorandum of understanding with JR Kyushu Jet Ferry to develop a new high-speed trimaran passenger ferry for the company’s Japan-to-South Korea route.

Optus will compensate almost 9,000 customers after failing to provide them with the fast national broadband network speeds it promised.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended conditional approval for Tellus Holdings to develop a clay mine and waste storage facility at its proposed Sandy Ridge project in the Goldfields.

The directors of Osborne Park-based Tox Free Solutions have decided to cash-in on 17 years of successful national growth by accepting a friendly $671 million takeover offer from waste management competitor Cleanaway.

The Australian share market has started higher as local investors build on the positive momentum from Wall Street on Friday.

Winter harvest gloom lifts for grain farmers

The Australian dollar is a little lower against its US counterpart which has strengthened following strong US jobs data.

Oil prices have risen almost two per cent on Friday, helped by rising Chinese crude demand and threats of a strike in Africa's largest oil exporter.

Gold prices prices hovered above a four-month low on Friday and were on track for their biggest weekly fall since May after progress on US tax reform fuelled optimism about the US economy and boosted the dollar.

PODCAST: Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss WA’s economic growth, land development softens, Scarborough development knocked back, architecture firm collapse, Mark Povey fined, EPA approves Southbank, gas project bid, company directors cash in and WA’s biggest employers

RugbyWA is out of voluntary administration after Rugby Australia waived a legal debt of more than $1 million.

The Australian maker of a sonar-based shark detection system, which was recently adopted for trial in southern California, has dropped its toothy name as it chases bigger fish.

The Australian share market has ended the day comfortably higher with an end-of-week rally across most sectors, led by a jump in energy stocks.

EY’s Perth managing partner, Mike Anghie, is planning to join APM as its chief executive, four months after advising Quadrant Private Equity on the purchase of a 60 per cent stake in what is Australia’s largest privately owned human services company.

The environmental watchdog has given the green light for BHP Billiton’s planned 80 million tonnes per annum South Flank iron ore development, with first ore targeted in 2021.

BGC Contracting announced today that it has been awarded two contracts with mining giant BHP Billiton at its Pilbara iron ore facilities.

Nedlands-based Linear Clinical Research has won the national Business Services Award at the Australian Export Awards this week, with the judges noting its impressive growth in US projects and ability to leverages advantages in the domestic market to underpin its export success.

Belmont-based Zenith Energy has signed a power purchase agreement to build a 15-megawatt power station at Gascoyne Resources’ Dalgaranga gold project.

A Chinese state-owned energy company has stepped up its efforts to gain control of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth, launching a hostile bid today for oil and gas group AWE after withdrawing its proposal for a friendly takeover earlier this week.

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority has rejected a $450 million proposal for two towers near Scarborough beach with the developer behind the project, 3 Oceans Property, saying the decision was a missed opportunity to show courage and vision.