Latest Headlines

In this week's Podcast, Mark Pownall and Shanna Crispin join James Lush to discuss the increasingly prominent apartment development sector, news in the project contracting scene, takeover manoeuvers around Perth telco Amcom, carbon sequestration at Harvey and a new medical research institute.

Cattle and lamb slaughters have continued on a strong upwards trend in September 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Gold miner Resolute Mining has announced plans raise $25 million through a convertible note issue to fund projects in West Africa and near Peel.

Perth based civil and concrete construction company Whittens has been awarded a certificate of excellence for construction of ROM walls at the Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Sellers in Perth's prestige property market could be forced to drop their prices next year as commodity prices continue to weaken.

Western Australians are more likely to go online to find the best deal and be influenced by user reviews when shopping online than any other state, according to new research by Bankwest.

Perth land developer Peet says it will seek to raise $47 million to help fund $95 million worth of acquisition interests in six residential development projects across Australia.

Westfield's shopping centres owner Scentre Group has sold Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC a 49 per cent stake in five New Zealand centres worth a total $NZ2.1 billion ($A1.96 billion).

Jobseekers looking for encouraging news in the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest assessment of the economy will be disappointed.

Construction workers plan to protest outside the Federal Court in Perth today as dozens of their colleagues face big fines for downing tools to attend a rally.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher on positive leads from Wall Street but it's under pressure as two major banks go ex-dividend.

The Dow and S&P 500 has closed at new record highs for the second day in a row as US investors look ahead to Friday's jobs report.

The Australian dollar is lower amid further worries about weak economic growth in Europe.

Oil prices have fallen after OPEC, supplier of a third of the world's crude, cut its longer-term production forecasts in the face of rising North American shale output.

Gold has sunk to a fresh four-and-a-half-year low as brighter US economic data bolsters the US dollar and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi hinted at a more aggressive stimulus program.

The Health Insurance Fund of Australia has broken through the $100 million revenue mark for the first time, reporting income of $106 million from premiums.

The third instalment from Peter Kennedy’s new book on WA’s recent political past examines the pressure on Carmen Lawrence to set up a royal commission into what became known as WA Inc.

Interest in a takeover of Perth-based Amcom Telecommunications is heating up with telecommunications heavyweight TPG Telecom emerging as a potential suitor.

Watpac Civil & Mining says it will resume limited works at Pluton Resources' Cockatoo Island iron ore project following discussions with the troubled miner's receivers, KordaMentha.

A new courthouse for Fitzroy Crossing is a step closer to reality with the construction tender being awarded to building firm Pindan Contracting.

Australia's junior iron ore producers are under renewed pressure as the price of the steel-making commodity fell to a fresh five-year low.

Psst … looking for a bargain? Here’s a way to buy $1 for less than $1 by acquiring a fistful of shares in Mt Gibson Iron.

The Australian share market has closed lower after weaker than expected unemployment figures wiped out earlier gains.

Engineering and construction contractor Decmil Group is expanding its service offering with the acquisition of SAS Telecom for about $1 million, providing it with access to the telecommunication installation market.

Wesfarmers has appointed Maya vanden Driesen to the position of group general counsel, putting her in charge of a national team of 42 in-house lawyers.

Tugboat operator Teekay Shipping and the world's fourth largest iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have condemned the decision of 56 tugboat workers to bring Port Hedland to a halt for four hours next Wednesday .

Education provider Navitas says it has become joint naming rights sponsor of the Navitas Satalyst Racing team, a Western Australian registered cycling team competing in the National Road Series.

Australia's unemployment rate was at a near 12-year high in October but, on the plus side, economists are rebuilding their faith in the accuracy of the figures.

The Australian share market has opened higher after US markets hit new highs.

The Dow and S&P 500 have both closed at fresh records after the Republicans took power in both US Houses of Congress and lifted hopes for pro-business policies.

US oil futures have sharply rebounded from the prior day's dive after the US petroleum inventories report showed a smaller-than-expected increase in crude oil supplies.

The Australian dollar has fallen to a four-year low after the Republican win in the US midterm elections and as metal prices continue to slide.