Fraser Beattie

Alcoa of Australia and Alumina have settled a dispute over their Western Australia-focused joint venture, which will pave the way for Alcoa to proceed with a split of its global operations.

Biotechnology entrepreneur William Ardrey faces a retrial on fraud charges after Western Australia’s Court of Appeal found the jury had been misdirected in the original court case.

Gold and lithium players were the biggest winners in the quarterly S&P/ASX indices rebalance, with Perth-based companies Galaxy Resources and Resolute Mining leading the shift, while contractors and tech firms lost ground.

Nedlands-based TFS Corporation has signed a $50 million supply deal for its Indian sandalwood oil with US-based Young Living under a five-year agreement.

Elemental Minerals has finalised a $US50 million ($A66.4 million) equity injection with three investment groups to fund development of its Kola Sylvinite potash project in the Republic of Congo.

Perth house prices showed signs of improvement last month, with the median price now sitting at $480,000.

KIN Mining has poured first gold at its Leonora project in the Goldfields, as part of a trial program.

Northern Star Resources has announced a major board restructure that includes the recruitment of two new directors and, in an unusual move that is at odds with corporate governance guidelines, the promotion of managing director Bill Beament to executive chairman.

Serco will likely lose its contract to provide security and custodial services to courts in Western Australia, after Broadspectrum was named preferred proponent for the tendered contract today.

Diversified miner Independence Group has booked a $58.8 million net loss for the 2016 financial year, on the back of acquisition costs and lower commodity prices.

Shares in civil and construction contractor Brierty tumbled after the company revealed a $50.4 million net loss.

Perth Markets will begin a fresh search for a chief executive to replace David Timmel, who has stepped down after just six months in the role.

Local businesswoman Sharon Warburton has resigned from the board of live cattle exporter Wellard, which has missed its prospectus forecasts on revenue, profit and margins to book a $23.3 million net loss.

Construction company Pindan has won a $27.7 million contract to build a new hospital in Manjimup.

Local gold and lithium explorer Berkut Minerals has enjoyed steady gains on its first day of trading on the ASX after completing a $3.5 million initial public offering.

Building products maker Brickworks has confirmed it will close its Malaga manufacturing facility and showroom in the face of the decline in residential building activity in Western Australia.

Copper and gold miner Sandfire Resources has posted a softer profit result for the 2016 financial year on the back of lower copper prices, but was upbeat on the year ahead.

Programmed Maintenance Services has scrapped its maintenance labour agreements with Carlton & United Breweries in Victoria to avoid clashing with unions.

Technology company Family Zone Cyber Safety has wrapped up its first day of trading on the ASX, after completing an oversubscribed initial public offering to raise $6 million.

Pilbara Minerals has shortlisted three engineering consortia for construction of the processing infrastructure at its Pilgangoora lithium development, while also appointing Engenium to assist in delivery of the project.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has suffered a loss for the 2016 financial year on the back of cost blowouts on its $US4 billion US Navy contract.

Nedlands-based sandalwood producer TFS Corporation has pointed to solid growth in cash revenue and underying earnings to support a positive outlook for the business, despite reporting a fall in net profit after tax. 

Decmil Group and Global Construction Services have swung into the red on the back of large write-downs and restructuring costs, but both are upbeat on the year ahead.

Perth-based Ausdrill has been named preferred proponent for a $300 million mining services contract at Toro Gold’s Mako project in West Africa.

Power generation company Pacific Energy has posted solid results for the 2016 financial year, with further growth expected in the year to come.

Subiaco-based software company K2fly has kicked off its national roadshow in the hopes of raising up to $5 million before a backdoor listing on the ASX, despite a recent shift in market sentiment.

Perth-based Western Areas has dipped into the red with a full-year loss on the back of depressed nickel prices and write-downs.

Marine services company MMA Offshore’s net loss has widened to $144 million on the back of a previously flagged impairment and reduced activity in the oil and gas sector.

Shares in mining services business Ausdrill surged on the company’s return to profitability and a bullish outlook on the year ahead.

Evolution Mining will pay Glencore $880 million in a deal to take an interest in the Ernest Henry copper and gold mine in Queensland.

Former iiNet executive Greg Bader has been officially installed as chief executive of online property portal rent.com.au, following founder Mark Woschnak’s retirement last month.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has made a net profit for the 2016 financial year, turning itself around from last year's loss.