Latest Headlines

Oil prices have slipped but have continued to trade in a tight range, as concerns about rising US crude inventories ahead of data overshadowed OPEC production cuts.

The price of gold has turned downward as the US dollar comes off its lows and financial markets await US President Donald Trump's speech to Congress regarding his policies on tax reforms and government spending.

Crown Resorts has reportedly cut more than 200 jobs at its Crown Perth entertainment complex in the wake of a 38 per cent fall in high-roller revenue.

Kidman Resources has bought two lithium tenements from nickel miner Western Areas in a $6 million all-scrip deal, while Lithium Australia has signed a memorandum for a joint venture in Germany.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering expects to bounce back from a net loss in the first half of the 2017 financial year after announcing the “transformational” acquisition of a Sydney-based electrical contractor.

Western Australia’s peak association for lawyers has called on the state’s political parties to commit at least an additional $8 million to legal assistance services ahead of the March 11 election.

Shares in WorleyParsons have soared after the engineering group confirmed it had rejected a takeover bid from a Dubai-based professional services group, which has since emerged as a large shareholder.

Specialist medical centres are emerging as the asset type of choice for offshore buyers in Perth, according to local boutique management and consulting firm Griffin Group.

Restoration work is set to get under way on one of the Swan Valley’s oldest buildings, with plans lodged to create a grower’s market, art gallery and artist studios, grape processing facility and w

A late plunge on the share market has sent it to a fourth straight day of falls.

Shares in mining and civil contractor Brierty have tumbled 23 per cent today despite the company announcing a $3.8 million net profit for the six months to December, which the company said was above guidance.

Stronger commodity prices and government spending in the final months of 2016 are expected to have helped the economy bounce back from the preceding quarter's contraction.

Premier Colin Barnett says the final stage of the contentious Perth Freight Link will involve expanding Stirling Bridge and not digging a tunnel under the Swan River, although the federal government doesn’t expect that to be necessary until at least the mid-2020s.

Frustration is mounting among developers in South Perth as they are forced to reassess projects after the second major change to the suburb’s town planning guidelines in the past six years.

At a time when bricks and mortar retailers are facing an online onslaught, and with just about every person on the street having a camera in their pocket, Camera Electronic is fighting back, opening a new store in the CBD.

Osborne Park-based heavy equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has reduced its first-half net loss after tax by around 70 per cent, to $31.3 million for the six months to December.

ANALYSIS: Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls has attacked the debt reduction strategies of both the Liberal and Labor parties as unrealistic. However, he confirmed that, in the event of a hung parliament after the March 11 election, his party would only work with the Liberals to form a new government.

ANALYSIS: There used to be a golden rule in election campaigns that candidates should be seen but not heard. The public face of the party was the leader, whose commitments and comments were always carefully scripted.

Subiaco-based energy company Australis Oil & Gas has announced an $80 million expansion of its shale acreage in the southern US, amid plans for a $100 million raising.

Soaring energy prices, driven by growing gas exports are putting jobs at risk and "politics-driven energy policies" are making the situation worse, Australia's peak business lobby group has warned.

Australia's current account deficit was $3.85 billion in the December quarter down from a deficit of $10.2 billion the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

Livestock agribusiness Wellard has slashed its first-half loss and expects to post a profit in the 2017-18 financial year.

 The Australian share market is clinging on to the green in early trade after three days of decline, as investors take cues from overnight gains on Wall Street.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has denied media reports stating it had lodged a $1 billion-plus offer for Wesfarmers' Curragh coal mine in Queensland.

Investor windfall as business profits surgeA blockbuster $13 billion surge in business profits last quarter

US stocks have ended slightly higher and the Dow has closed at a record high for a 12th straight session after President Donald Trump said he would make a "big" infrastructure statement.

The Australian dollar is lower against its US counterpart ahead of US president Donald Trump's first address to a joint session of Congress.

Spot gold has fallen after tapping a 3-1/2-month high as US Treasury yields rose and investors waited for US President Donald Trump to outline plans for tax cuts, infrastructure spending, levies on imports and foreign policy.

There's still no plan in sight to connect the controversial Perth Freight Link project to Fremantle Port, a Senate committee has heard.

WA Labor has vowed to employ at least 50 apprentices at Western Power every year if it wins the state election.

The Australian share market has closed lower due to large falls from the heavyweight energy and banking sectors.

SPECIAL REPORT: Contractors face hurdles as they bid for work with major companies, and suggest a more open approach might bring benefits.