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The ongoing battle over high-density development in South Perth has stepped up a notch in recent weeks.

Land developer Peet has sharpened its focus on markets in the eastern states, forecasting subdued conditions in Western Australia for the rest of 2016 after lodging a net profit of $18.5 million fo

ANALYSIS: Rubbery figures and projections aside, WA’s iron ore miners are breathing a little easier thanks to improving prices and a favourable exchange rate.

Australian stocks have closed virtually flat after the market staged a turnaround during afternoon trade.

Shares in Decmil Group tumbled 18 per cent today after the contractor posted a big half-year loss, cut its dividend, and indicated more restructuring was needed.

Copper and gold miner Sandfire Resources has reported a near-50 per cent fall in half-year profit, but shareholders will still receive an interim payout.

reiwa.com property sales data for the overall market for the week ending 23 February 2016 totalled 678 which represents a 6 per cent increase in total sales over the week.

After a solid start to the financial year, mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has posted a $107.2 million half-year loss as a result of impairments to its Canadian business.

Three months after announcing an option to purchase Western Australia’s eighth-biggest homebuilder, ASX-listed Simonds Group said today it would not proceed with the acquisition of Gemmill Homes.

Two business units of technology retailer Dick Smith could live to see another day, as receivers today announced that the majority of the empire will be shut down after a number of proposals to acquire the company were all deemed unacceptable.

The board and management of Western Areas will take a pay cut after the nickel miner slumped into the red with a $20 million half-year net loss.

Today at AOG: US petroleum company Hess is pursuing development of its Equus gas field off the Pilbara coast, with senior manager Andrew Drayton telling the Australasian Oil & Gas conference today it would proceed with a variety of tendering opportunities this year, including for subsea work.

Former treasurer Peter Costello will lead Nine Entertainment Co through what the group hopes will be sweeping changes to media regulation in Australia.

Crown Resorts has reported a slump in normalised first-half profit, with Perth and Melbourne maintaining their contribution but weak market conditions in Macau affecting its joint-venture casino resorts there.

Mining group South32 plans to cut 390 jobs at its Worlsey Alumina operation in Western Australia’s South West, as part of a global cost-cutting drive following its $US1.7 billion ($A2.4 billion) loss for the half year to December.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher after Wall Street performed better overnight amid increased oil prices.

Wesfarmers regroups for customer focus

Gold has risen above $US1,250 an ounce and has neared a one-year high, acting as counter against risk alongside top-rated government bonds as oil's earlier weakness rippled into global equity markets.

The Australian dollar has softened, following the fortunes of global shares.

US stocks have mounted a late-session rally to close higher after an increase in oil prices helped reduce investors' fears about banks' vulnerability to energy companies struggling to pay their debts.

Grain handler CBH Group has called for more information on the $1 billion-plus offer from Graincorp-backed Australian Grains Champion to corporatise and list the cooperative, highlighting concerns around long term cost increases, the proportion of grower ownership and board representation.

Perth-based law firm AdventBalance, which pioneered a new approach to flexible delivery of legal services, has announced plans to merge with London counterpart LOD, formerly Lawyers On Demand.

Blackham Resources hopes to begin producing at its Matilda gold project near Wiluna within six months, after a definitive feasibility study confirmed it will cost $32 million to bring the mine into production.

Local gold miners Saracen Mineral Holdings, Silver Lake Resources and St Barbara reported a profitable six months, however shareholders won’t be seeing any returns in the form of dividends.

The Australian share market has finished 2 per cent lower, driven down by heavy selling of the big banks and miners.

Software product management is not the same as software project management, and the sooner startup founders understand this, the better.

Waste management company Tox Free Solutions has posted a slight increase in profit despite a dip in revenue, but has increased its return to shareholders.

River cruise operator Captain Cook Cruises has been sold to national operator SeaLink Travel Group, in a deal worth around $12 million.

The downturn in mining and construction activity in Western Australia has delivered a mixed bag of results for several contractors today, with the major surprise being a downgrade in MACA's revenue outlook.

Today at AOG: Former APPEA environmental director Miranda Taylor has been appointed as chief executive of the federal government’s newly established energy resources growth centre, which will be known as National Energy Resources Australia.

Takeover target Asciano has lifted its first-half profit on the back of strong coal haulage volumes but warns its earnings for the full-year could still be flat.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group will continue slashing costs after first-half profit dropped 4 per cent to $US319 million ($A442 million), as fellow miner BC Iron reported a half-year loss of $62.9 million amid falling prices.