Fraser Beattie

Kalgoorlie-based Goldfields Money has named former broker Simon Lyons as its new chief executive, concluding a lengthy board renewal process, which began three years ago when the company listed on the ASX.

Perth residential property prices fell 2.4 per cent in the September quarter, as the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia tipped eight suburbs to watch next year.

The consumer watchdog has found retail margins in the petrol industry are at their highest level since monitoring began 13 years ago.

Education provider Navitas will end its affiliation with Western Kentucky University and has flagged the closure of several of its underperforming SAE colleges, in an effort to cut back on costs.

Eden Energy, which is seeking to commericalise its innovative concrete product, is looking to wipe out its debt by completing a $6.1 million capital raising, with its major shareholder committing to over a third of the offer.

VDM Group is expected to seek debt funding from its largest shareholder after a planned $18 million equity capital raising with an unnamed investor fell through.

Former resources minister Ian Macfarlane, who has served in federal parliament since 1998, says he'll use the Christmas break to contemplate his future, after Queensland's Liberal National Party said today it wound not support his switch to the National Party in Canberra.

The environmental impact of what could be one of Western Australia's first uranium mines outweighs its "scant" economic benefit, conservationists say.

Doubleview-based Ausnet Real Estate Services, which is backed by mortgage aggregator Finsure and led by chief executive Paul Niardone, is seeking an ASX listing through a reverse takeover of Namibian Copper, which saw its share price crash by more than 50 per cent after the deal was announced.

Austal has won a $63 million contract to build two patrol boats for the Australian Department of Defence, with the terms of the deal signed with National Australia Bank including a buy-back clause.

Window blinds manufacturer and retailer Kresta Holdings has been provided with a CNY50 million ($A10.6 million) loan by its Chinese parent company to pay off an existing facility and expand its east coast manufacturing operations.

BC Iron shares plummeted today after the company announced production at the Nullagine joint venture would be suspended as a result of the weak iron ore price, with more than 200 jobs at risk.

Billionaire Gina Rinehart has seen off the first shipment of iron ore from her $10 billion Roy Hill project, on the same day BC Iron entered a trading halt ahead of a review of its Nullagine joint venture project.

Perth company directors Ian Middlemas and Domenic Martino have joined a flurry of pre-Christmas M&A deals that are valued at nearly $300 million, and designed to revive moribund resources companies.

Wellard chief executive Mauro Balzarini rung the bell at the ASX’s Perth office this morning as the company’s shares began trading for the first time.

Property Council of Australia’s long-serving Western Australian executive director Joe Lenzo has announced he will retire next March, with the search for a successor to begin immediately.

Gold miner Northern Star Resources says its recently acquired Hermes deposit in the Bryah Basin could make a ‘significant’ contribution to its annual production.

Carbon Conscious plans to expand its business into the dairy sector, announcing plans to purchase a South West dairy property and link up with a Chinese trading group.

The corporate watchdog has banned a third former Get Approved Finance broker from providing credit and financial services, after she was found to have engaged in misconduct.

Engineering contractors Monadelphous Group and Wood Group have secured new contracts with Woodside Petroleum and ConocoPhillips to service existing oil & gas facilities.

Gleneagle Gold will make a second attempt at a reverse takeover with plans to buy a local unlisted medical cannabis company in a deal worth about $8 million.

Rio Tinto expects to cut its capital expenditure from a previously forecast $US6 billion to around $US5 billion next year, but it’s unclear if the new figure includes the expected cost of its proposed Silvergrass iron ore mine.

Parmelia Resources has announced plans for a reverse takeover of a NSW-based software company, while one of the first local companies to complete a backdoor listing has flagged a new acquisition.

Seafood producer and one of Western Australia’s largest private companies, Kailis Bros, has been fined $10,800 by the consumer watchdog for misleading conduct.

Southern Gold has cancelled plans to conduct a capital raising to offshore investors, while Norwest Energy amended the terms of its own raising just hours after it was announced to the market.

Perth-based explorer Goldphyre Resources has entered into an agreement to purchase a large area of potash-prospective land near Kalgoorlie, which is owned by prominent prospector Mark Creasy.

Perth technology company Hazer Group wrapped up its first day of trading on the ASX, after completing a $5 million initial public offering.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has recruited NRW Holdings chief operating officer, Graeme Dunn, to lead the company as its new managing director.

Osborne Park-based Universal Constructions has won an $8 million contract to build a new police station in Mundijong.

Murdoch University has appointed Eeva Leinonen as its first female vice-chancellor, replacing Richard Higgott who resigned last year after being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission.

A former gold mining company led by Peter Gunzburg has announced plans for a reverse takeover and backdoor listing of a Swiss biotech firm.

Commercial fishing company Austral Fisheries has taken the top prize in the agribusiness category at this year’s Australian Export Awards.