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All businesses have a purpose to grow and be profitable, but consumers are increasingly demanding companies commit to more than their bottom line for the benefit of society.

Watchdog eyes CBH

Oil prices fell 1.0 per cent overnight on the outlook for increased supply of Iranian crude after France's president lifted hopes for a deal between the US and Iranian governments but losses were limited by optimism surrounding a US-China trade deal.

Gold surged to a more than six-year peak overnight, surpassing $US1,550 in early trade as investors sought safety from a host of uncertainties including heightened US-China trade tensions and a fragile global economy.

Business people could face up to 20 years in prison and their company fined up to $10 million under industrial manslaughter laws to be introduced by the state government.

The Australian share market has fallen sharply again as traders worry US-China trade tensions could worsen further, but gold miners were broadly up as the gold price surged again.

Mining services firms GR Engineering Services and MACA have both recorded weaker profits for the full-year, with GR’s bottom line slumping 45.7 per cent and MACA’s by 12.7 per cent.

The WA government has turned the clock back by returning maintenance and operations work across Water Corporation’s Perth and Mandurah networks to state control.

Curtin’s new blockchain lab will serve at the axis between education, industry and tech research.

Woodside Petroleum and Mitsui & Co have started producing oil from the $US1.9 billion Greater Enfield project off Western Australia.

Buildings are still not coming out of the ground at one of Perth’s premium pieces of riverside real estate, despite $83 million of investment by the state government in the nearly eight years after a developer was appointed.

The number of solicitors in Western Australia has fallen by 10 per cent over the past four years compared with growth of 15 per cent across the country as a whole, a survey has found.

The franchise sector is regularly under review, yet it has been a successful pathway for many small business owners.

OPINION: Low interest rates create winners and losers, but ultimately are a sign all’s not well with the world.

Regis Resources has acquired 35 gold tenements from Duketon Mining for $25 million, as it seeks to extend the life of its flagship Duketon operations.

Damian Stone is joined by leading Perth office leasing agent Greg McAlpine to discuss recent office vacancy figures, market trends, expectations on market rents and incentives and the timeline for future supply.

Fortescue Metals Group's full-year profit has nearly tripled to $US3.2 billion on the back of a period of soaring iron ore prices in the 2019 financial year.

A summary of last week's smaller deals that did not get included in our daily news coverage.

The Australian share market has opened sharply lower amid a new flare-up of US-Chinese trade tensions.

Treasurer’s plea to business

Oil prices fell on Friday after the Chinese government unveiled retaliatory tariffs against about $US75 billion worth of US goods including crude oil, another escalation of a protracted trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.

Gold surged 2.0 per cent on Friday as investors interpreted US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech as leaning toward a dovish monetary policy stance and US President Donald Trump's latest comments exacerbated trade tensions with China.

PODCAST: Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss EC&M collapse, Midland Brick sale, BGC results, Metronet developments, CEO changes, Waterbank, Great for the State values and purpose, and our special report on small businesses covers the struggling hospitality sector and rise of coworking spaces.

Shares in digital health company ResApp Health have closed up 33 per cent today to 20 cents, after it received European regulatory approval for its first commercial product – the ResAppDx-EU.

Shares in Gold Road Resources have closed trade down 17.1 per cent, after its joint venture partner in the Gruyere gold project sold its 9.9 per cent stake in the company.

The Australian share market has surprised with a modest move higher despite a negative lead from Wall Street.

Downer and Burgess Rawson have recently secured state government contracts totalling around $14 million.

OPINION: Are we better off under the relentless drive to lift productivity?

Apartment building defects have been thrust into the national spotlight via a series of major problems at east coast developments.

The number of long-serving chief executives at WA listed companies is shrinking rapidly. We look at recent retirements by several 'veteran' CEOs and a small group of individuals who have lasted more than 10 years.

Woodside Petroleum, Save the Children Foundation and Sandfire Resources were among those recognised for their renewable projects and community partnerships at last night’s resources sector awards for excellence.

Prodigy Gold has raised $12 million via a share placement as the company seeks to advance its exploration projects.