Fraser Beattie

Global Construction Services has continued to withhold declaring a dividend despite reporting a 7.1 per cent rise in net profit to $8.7 million for the 2015 financial year, but says it hopes to deliver a payout next year.

Watpac Civil & Mining has been awarded $89.3 million in contracts in the gold mining and road infrastructure sectors, with the largest being with Chinese-owned company Hanking Gold Mining.

Local IT firm Empired has decided against declaring a dividend payout to its shareholders, despite reporting a 135 per cent surge in net profit for the 2015 financial year.

Northern Star Resources, Saracen Mineral Holdings and Evolution Mining have highlighted a profitable year for the gold mining sector.

Local mining services companies Ausdrill, Emeco Holdings and Lycopodium have posted net losses for the financial year, with lower activity in the resources sector weighing on their pipelines of available work.

Perth-based contractor Decmil Group has outperformed most of its peers, reporting a relatively small dip in profit after lifting revenue to record levels, while Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has slumped to a loss after restructurng the business on the back of challenging conditions in the resources sector.

Iron ore miner BC Iron has fallen into the red with a net loss of $158.5 million for the financial year, on the back of impairments and falling commodity prices, and has declared no dividend payout.

Orbital Corporation has received its first order for a batch of engines and propulsion systems for Boeing’s ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle project, in a deal worth $12 million.

Engineering construction giant WorleyParsons has swung into the red with a $54.9 million full-year loss.

Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings fears its earnings could fall 10 per cent in the year ahead, with trading conditions in the resources sector still challenging.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has posted a dramatic slide in annual profit on the back of plunging commodity prices, with chief executive Andrew Mackenzie flagging further cost cuts.

Local miner Metals X has announced a 9 per cent increase in net profit to $40.9 million for the 2015 financial year, on the back of higher revenue from gold sales.

Just one day after making a desperate plea for funding, Minera Gold has entered voluntary administration with the appointment of Ferrier Hodgson.

Power generation company Pacific Energy has posted a 19 per cent fall in net profit for the 2015 financial year, but was upbeat on its outlook for the year ahead.

Kibaran Resources has signed an agreement with German diversified group ThyssenKrupp for the sale of half of the graphite produced at its Epanko project in Tanzania.

Welshpool-based Maca has posted a slight fall in profit for the financial year but increased revenue by 1 per cent, despite it being a tough time for contractors and mining services companies in the current market.

South American-focused miner Minera Gold says it desperately needs a capital injection so it can remain a viable company.

Higher gold sales and lower exploration spending have boosted diversified miner Independence Group’s full-year net profit by 58 per cent to $77 million.

Paladin Energy has announced more cuts to its board and head office staffing, with long-serving executive Gillian Swaby following managing director John Borshoff out of the business as it works to stay afloat in the weak uranium market.

Tempo Australia has received a request for about 280 more workers to carry out its contract at the Chevron-operated Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island.

Last year’s Business News Rising Stars winner, emergency response and security services provider Executive Risk Solutions, has taken the top prize as the 2015 Telstra Australian business of the year.

Nedlands-based waste management company Tox Free Solutions has delivered a flat profit result, with revenue up 10 per cent and a 42 per cent rise in its final dividend payout.

Local miner Sandfire Resources has delivered its first-ever fully franked dividend to shareholders, despite an 11.7 per cent slide in net profit to $69 million for the financial year.

Nickel miner Western Areas has reported a 37.5 per cent rise in net profit despite a small drop in revenue, with the company focusing on reducing costs in the year ahead.

RCR Tomlinson has lifted its annual dividend after delivering solid results in a weak market, with the engineering and construction contractor posting a net profit of $39.1 million for the financial year.

The corporate watchdog has warned that a future merger between any two of the remaining fixed broadband suppliers would raise serious concerns, while also giving the go-ahead for TPG Telecom’s $1.6 billion takeover of iiNet.

Industrial group Schaffer Corporation has nearly halved its net profit to $3.5 million for the financial year, on the back of higher costs.

Balcatta-based drilling services company Imdex has confirmed reports it is seeking to undertake a $35 million capital raising to pay off debt, while also announcing a net loss of $22.5 million for the 2015 financial year.

IT firm ASG Group has secured a $22 million contract to provide its services to United Energy and Multinet Gas over a five-year term.

Perth-based Stonehenge Metals has attracted a new partner for its Daejon joint venture uranium joint project in South Korea.

Property giant Stockland is betting on Brisbane being the place to be for the next few years, as Sydney and Melbourne's booming markets finally come off the boil and the Perth market continues to slow.

Iron ore miner Mount Gibson Iron has fallen into the red with a $911.4 million full-year loss after being hit by huge impairment charges.