Latest Headlines

Profit has more than tripled at one of Western Australia’s most prominent family businesses, which controls the Spudshed chain of retail stores.

Macquarie Group has lifted first-half profit 11 per cent to $1.46 billion and increased its interim dividend, but maintains its full-year result will fall short of last year's record.

Oil and gas explorer Strike Energy announced today it has raised $30 million through a share placement and is seeking an additional $5 million through a share purchase plan, primarily to fund the company’s exploration and appraisal programs in the Perth Basin.

Orica has increased its shareholder payout after the explosives maker swung to a $245.1 million full-year profit despite $134 million in writedowns against IT and a WA ammonium nitrate plant.

The Australian share market has opened lower after a negative lead from Wall Street.

Delays sink Indus

Oil prices were nearly 2.0 per cent lower overnight after a leak on a key US pipeline disrupted supply flows and on data showing weak factory activity in China.

Gold prices jumped more than 1.0 per cent overnight supported by an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and as uncertainty surrounding a US-China trade deal bolstered the metal's safe-haven appeal.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has confirmed the state government will assess whether Finbar Group’s Civic Heart proposal in South Perth should have been approved, while at the same time another planning flashpoint is emerging in Melville.

The Australian share market has fallen for a second day, with ANZ Bank dragging down the heavyweight financial sector.

Shoe retailer Betts Group has returned to profitability after cutting nearly 130 stores in the past two years, and chief executive Danny Breckler is confident the business is now on the right path.

Investors across Australia have backed Primewest’s ambitions to expand its offering via an ASX listing, with the company confirming it has raised its targeted $100 million.

Victoria-based online mediation and arbitration service Immediation will officially launch in Western Australia on November 20, on the back of $1.8 million partially raised from local investors.

A recycling and waste management business led by Bob McKinnon and Tom Rudas has kicked off plans for a stock market listing, with the company hoping to “supercharge” its growth and turn recent loss

Today's decision by the state government to increase the payroll tax exemption threshold has been welcomed by industry bodies.

OPINION: Businesses that place emphasis on corporate social responsibility, or CSR, are attracting a growing share of consumer goodwill and spending.

Biotech company Phylogica has announced plans to raise $26.8 million through a rights issue, fully underwritten by chairman and major shareholder Alan Tribe, with the proceeds used primarily to fund preclinicial studies for its leading drug molecule.

Cedar Woods Properties has acquired a 43-hectare site in Melbourne’s north for $56.65 million to accommodate a master planned community of more than 500 lots.

Nickel-explorer St George Mining has completed an institutional-led placement to raise $5.8 in funding for its flagship project at Mt Alexander, in the north-eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.

Australia's peak medical group has released its latest annual scorecard on private health insurance and warned the country's private health system is on a "precipice".

Mineral sands producer Iluka Resources is reviewing what to do with a royalty it holds on BHP's iron ore operations in Western Australia.

The Australian share market has fallen after a morning of choppy trade, with ANZ bank dragging down the heavyweight financial sector.

Payroll change equals pay day

Oil prices extended losses overnight after a steep US crude inventory build added to worries about a possible delay in resolving the US-China trade conflict which has hurt global oil demand.

Gold rose overnight on expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve but bullion held a tight range as caution set in with investors awaiting clarity on the central bank's future monetary policy.

The founder of a company commercialising technology to make fabric from beer and wine has resigned from his role as chief scientific officer.

The Australian share market has snapped seven days of gains with a major sell-off that left every sector in the red.

Perth-based mining services company Mader Group has recorded annual revenue growth of 46 per cent, to $228.6 million, in its first annual report since listing on the ASX.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will receive an extra $1 billion in federal funding for a 'green bank' to invest in pumped hydro power, batteries, and gas energy projects.

Modec International has been selected to build a floating production platform for the Barossa gas project, beating a consortium of Technip and Samsung, with gas to be piped to backfill the Darwin LNG plant.

Welshpool-based company Westforce Construction has been chosen to design and build two new car parks at Meltham and Ashfield train stations.

Wesfarmers’ newly announced partnership with Rowing WA is part of a broad range of sports-related community programs gaining popularity in WA.