Andrew Hobbs

East Perth-based company Hydrotech International Ltd has secured a sign-off on work completed at London's Walthamstow Central train station for the UK's Metronet Alliance, freeing it up to seek further opportunities.

As the APEC meeting in Sydney dominated news headlines this week, the State government had a fair bit of explaining to do, with a cost blow-out in the Perth-to-Mandurah railway and sharply pointed fingers over the Esperance lead contamination.

West Perth-based intellectual property company ipernica Ltd has had a tactical win its legal battle with international technology company Ericsson Inc, which has abandoned a series of cross claims.

Vehicle sales in Western Australia fell slightly in the month of August, but the outlook remains positive, with an 11.4 per cent increase in sales when compared to last year.

Welshpool-based mining and earthmoving contractor NRW Holdings Ltd, which recently completed a $303 million initial public offering, has debuted strongly on the Australian Securities Exchange, closing up 20.5 per cent at $2.41.

West Perth-based oil and gas explorer Odin Energy Ltd has made a lacklustre debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, closing its first day of trade at 23 cents, down 2 cents on its offer price.

Chinese steel-making group Delong Holdings Ltd will take a 13.25 per cent stake in Leederville-based iron ore explorer Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd for $14.6 million, the company has announced.

As the Federal ALP unveiled its planned IR policy this week, Jim McGinty put forward a few changes of his own. Meanwhile, no-one's made up their mind on a Tasmanian pulp mill, Laura Bush is a no-show, and a teenager cracked Canberra's $84 million internet

The State Government plans to turn Bentley's Technology Park into a specialist information and communications technology hub, as part of a wider development of the area, Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan has announced.

The state government has committed $3.5 million to clearing a mining tenement applications backlog, which it believes will encourage further exploration in the state, but industry is looking for more support.

West Perth-based Nare Diamonds Ltd has signed a joint venture deal with Government-owned Angolan diamond mining company Endiama, ahead of plans for a name change and listing on two foreign exchanges.

The federal opposition's industrial relations plans announced today are nothing more than window dressing and will severely damage the economy, according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Perth-based commercial property investor Aspen Group Ltd has announced an underlying net profit after tax of $33.5 million, up 81 per cent on the previous year's results.

East Perth-based bauxite explorer Bauxite Resources Ltd has opened its initial public offering, with the company aiming to raise $5 million to fund exploration of three bauxite projects in Western Australia.

The minute one walked in the joint, one could see that big spenders would populate Federal Parliament this week, as a budget surplus was unveiled and takeover plans were mooted for ports, housing and hospitals. Oh, and there were strippers.

Fremantle-based Little World Beverages Ltd, the owner of brewery Little Creatures, has achieved a 9.4 per cent increase in net profit to just under $3 million, after a series of write offs.

Echoes were prevalent in politics this week, with the sound of earlier comments coming back to haunt the Treasurer, while the government's "echonomics" taunt remains strong. Meanwhile, energy and housing affordability both made it onto the agenda.

Perth-based Integrated Legal Holdings Ltd has made its long-awaited debut on the Australian Stock Exchange, closing at 38 cents, down from its 50 cents offer price earlier this year.

Redcliffe-based construction services company Global Construction Services Ltd has debuted strongly on the Australian Stock Exchange, rising 20 per cent from its offer price to close at $1.20.

Nedlands-based tungsten explorer Hawk Resources Ltd, previously known as Lonhro Resources Ltd, has closed at 24 cents, up 20 per cent in its first day of trade on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Perth-based uranium company Desert Energy Ltd, a spin-off from gold explorer Aurora Minerals Ltd, has closed at 18 cents, down from its offer price in its debut on the Australian Stock Exchange in a negative market.

West Perth-based zinc and gold explorer Ampella Mining Ltd closed steady after its second day of trade, continuing to trade at its issue price of 20 cents after raising $6.5 million in its initial public offer.

Long-term Michael Kiernan business ally Allan Quadrio will join the board of Territory Resources Ltd as managing director, passing his role at Kiernan's Monarch Gold Mining Company Ltd to Matthew Gill.

Whether the lights were on or off, politicians were doing a lot of winking this week as Federal parliament resumed after the winter break.

Car sales in Western Australia are back on the up, with the industry recovering from two months of single digit growth, recording an 11.6 per cent increase for the year to date.

West Perth-based gold and base metals explorer Centaurus Resources Ltd has debuted strongly in a bad day for the ASX, closing at 89.5 cents, up 258 per cent from its offer price of 25 cents.

Perth-based Aragon Resources Ltd, a spin-off of Westgold Resources NL, was down one cent from its offer price, closing at 24 cents on its ASX debut after raising $8.7 million for work on its gold, uranium and nickel projects in its initial public offering

West Perth-based uranium and gold company GTI Resources Ltd has closed down in its ASX debut in a tough day for the market, after raising $3 million in its initial public offer for exploration and evaluation of its Western Australian projects.

West Perth-based Uranium International Ltd will open its initial public offer today, aiming to raise $6 million to develop its portfolio of uranium, gold and base metals projects and pursue further acquisitions.

West Perth-based uranium explorer BlackGrange Ltd has opened its initial public offer, aiming to raise $10 million for exploration on its Western Australian and South Australian projects.

Austereo's mix 94.5 has retained its crown as Perth's most popular radio station despite a one per cent fall in total audience share, while Southern Cross Broadcasting's 96FM looks to be catching up.

One day after acquiring the Riverina gold project, West Perth-based Monarch Gold Mining Company Ltd has committed over $11 million to drilling programs on its Goldfields tenements during the 2007-08 financial year.