Fraser Beattie

Craig Munro-chaired Gulf Manganese Corporation has received a $US10 million ($A13 million) equity commitment from an Indonesian investor to progress development of its Kupang smelting hub in West Timor.

The state government is hoping a two-year pay deal with 16,000 health sector workers will set a precedent for other public sector workers including prison officers and nurses as it tries to contain spending growth in the lead-up to next year's election.

Underwater services company Shelf Subsea has merged with the local subsidiary of global geotechnical, survey and geosciences company Fugro in a deal worth $40 million.

Monadelphous Group has restructured its interest in struggling waste technology company AnaeCo, with a debt for equity swap and loan sale that will see the Perth engineering firm emerge with a 30 per cent stake and a Chinese enterprise with a 55 per cent interest.

Bunnings’ property arm, BWP Trust, has posted a solid 48 per cent increase in net profit for the 2016 financial year, backed by some big revaluations and higher rental growth.

Work is officially under way on the second stage of the Australian Centre for Energy Process Training facility in Munster, with the first sod turned today.

Shares in mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings were up 50 per cent today after the company revealed an earnings uplift despite continued tough conditions.

Probuild has started construction of the Ritz-Carlton hotel and The Towers apartments project at Elizabeth Quay, with the luxury development to open in 2019.

Premier Colin Barnett has voiced his opposition to The West Australian’s proposed purchase of The Sunday Times as the competition watchdog raised concerns of its own.

Diversified miner Metals X has confirmed a $115.6 million capital raising and plans to demerge its gold assets into a new company, which will be led by existing chief executive Peter Cook.

Formal opening of the new Perth Children’s Hospital has been delayed following the discovery of asbestos in the roof of the facility, with no updated completion time disclosed.

Israeli technology company Weebit-Nano failed to excite investors on its ASX debut, with its shares lower at the close of trade.

Local explorer Primary Gold has purchased a gold mine from Adelaide-based MacPhersons for $10 million in cash and shares.

Local engineering company Lycopodium has won a $68.5 million contract to build processing facilities at a gold mine in Senegal.

Car sales in Western Australia remain stalled, according to the latest figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

The environmental watchdog has recommended rejection of a new uranium mine in the Goldfields after the proposal failed to meet one of nine strict factors.

Rio Tinto says it will spend $US338 million developing its Silvergrass iron ore mine in the Pilbara, on the same day it disclosed a slump in underlying earnings and dividend payments.

The Barnett government and the Labor opposition have put forward their competing plans to better protect subcontractors and ensure they are paid for their involvement on government contracts.

Australia’s largest airline is planning to build a new lounge at Karratha Airport that will be double the size of the present facility. 

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates to an all-time low, but already economists are wondering if more will be needed to get the country's economy moving.

Rare earths hopeful Northern Minerals has attracted another Chinese investment group for a $30 million equity injection into its Browns Range project.

Prominent businessman Ian Middlemas will now chair 11 companies concurrently after replacing Craig Burton as chairman of niobium hopeful Cradle Resources.

Seven West Media shares fell more than 15 per cent after the company forecast a big drop in earnings for the year ahead because of a still-softer advertising market and the cost of broadcasting the Olympics.

Perth-based Brierty has won a $30 million contract to provide civil works at Newmont Mining’s Boddington gold mine.

A Malaga-based window and door furnishing company and its owner has been fined nearly $16,000 by the Mandurah Magistrates Court for malpractice.

Former Perth Wildcats owner Andrew Vlahov has ended his tenure as chief executive of thermal energy company Enerji after spending just over a year in the role.

Local explorer Cassini Resources has attracted OZ Minerals as a joint venture partner for its West Musgrave nickel-copper project.

Iluka Resources has confirmed plans to wholly acquire Africa-focused miner Sierra Rutile in an all-cash deal valued at about $375 million.

Perth’s median house price has slipped to $490,000 as the Western Australian capital continues to suffer from low demand.

Northern Star Resources has cut its production guidance after agreeing to sell its Plutonic gold mine in Western Australia for an inital $37.5 million, but it plans to spend $130 million on exploration and expansion work at its other assets.

Mortgage broking pioneer Greg Pennells has launched a new venture that will partner with Choice Aggregation Services, a company he sold for $163 million in 2007.

Founding managing director of Perth-based Liquefied Natural Gas, Maurice Brand, has announced his resignation from the board of the company.