Matt Mckenzie

Western Australia’s agribusiness industry will score a win with a contract to supply pork to Coles stores nationwide to be signed on Tuesday morning.

A University of Western Australia doctoral student has found major banks were exploiting price sensitive information through the London Gold Fix and has predicted the demise of the system before the end of the year.

Private operator White Rivers Exploration, majority owned by Mark Creasy, has joined Harmony Gold Mining Company in an exploration and development joint venture for its Beisa project in South Africa.

Perth-based Resource Development Group has completed its acquisition of Central Systems today, as the new group looks towards growth and diversification.

Western Australian utilities are boosting the state government’s budget bottom line, partially offsetting falling GST and royalty revenue, according to the latest round of annual reports submitted to state parliament.

Agricultural producers might need to think about the structure of the industry in order to take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity in the global food trade, Premier Colin Barnett has said while giving the 2014 Muresk lecture.

Consumer confidence in Western Australia is well below levels in the European Union, despite leading indicators suggesting there is a positive story in the state’s economy, according to Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist John Nicolaou.

August saw mixed performance in retail, with turnover up 0.1 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest monthly report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Surveying and infrastructure company Otoc has completed its acquisition of Victorian urban design and town planning business Bosco Jonson.

Mining contractor Barminco has been affected by a weaker resources sector but has cut costs to grow its margin on a weaker revenue base.

Lower operating costs and an efficiency drive have helped Western Power record an improved net profit result, in a year where strong capital investment continued.

Leading non-executive director Diane Smith-Gander has said a shake-out of the iron ore sector is almost unavoidable, while speaking at today’s Business News Success & Leadership Series breakfast.

HSBC’s China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index is at a two month high on the back of improved export and domestic orders, according to the flash summary released today.

Drought-plagued farmers will be the beneficiaries of a new concessional loans scheme announced by the state and federal governments today.

US-based executive search firm CTPartners has launched its new operation in Perth after buying local firm Park Brown for an undisclosed sum in July.

The federal government’s competition review advisory panel has released its draft report, with recommendations including the abolition of the National Competition Council and Australian Energy Regulator, deregulation of taxis, pharmacies and trading hours, removal of restrictions on parallel imports, and promotion of user choice in health, education and community services.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced Australia will implement a new tax reporting standard from 2017, as part of a global initiative to tackle tax avoidance led by the G20.

Producer owned lamb exporter WAMMCO has seen a record four nominations for a vacancy on the cooperative’s board.

Grain grower lobbyist WAFarmers has had a win for its members, convincing the federal government to waive port regulations for grower co-operatives, on the same day CBH announced its estimated freight fees for next season.

International agribusiness giant Bunge has officially opened its new grain export terminal in Bunbury.

The University of Western Australia Student Guild has dismissed a staff member over financial irregularities after bringing in forensic accountants from BDO to undertake a special analysis of its 2013 accounts.

New woodchip player Southern Pacific Fibre has struck a marketing and sales deal with Australia’s largest producer and exporter of high-quality hardwood chips, Australian Bluegum Plantations, despite a weak woodchip market.

Australian businesses expect subdued trade activity over the next six months as concerns around the global outlook increase, according to HSBC’s latest Trade Confidence Index, but long-term demand from growing Asia will provide opportunities.

High tuition fees and living expenses could place Australia’s reputation as an education destination for international students in jeopardy, according to global research from HSBC.

The transition of the Western Australian economy is under way amid strong population growth, according to recent research from the Committee for Perth.

Disputes over public sector pay rises have contributed to a significant increase in the number of working days lost to industrial action in WA.

BCP Energy International has successfully reached its revised target of 50.1 per cent relevant interest in its takeover of Nido Petroleum, and has made the offer unconditional.

The Australian agribusiness industry received a boost today with a major deal signed with China for the establishment of a multi-billion dollar investment fund.

The size of state and territory subsidies to the mining and resources sector has been dramatically overstated, according to a report released today prepared by Michael Schur of global firm Castalia Strategic Advisors.

With up to $17 trillion of resources investment likely to be needed by 2030, Western Australia has an opportunity to capitalise on its strengths as a resources sector hub, according to a report from the International Mining for Development Centre.

The Water Corporation has announced a net dividend of $245 million to the state government, in a year when the corporation completed work on the state’s first joint public private partnership water facility.

Design work is nearly complete for the world’s largest trimaran yacht, to be built at the Australian Marine Complex in Perth’s southern suburb of Henderson.