Michael Ramsey

Mining services group Ausdrill has warned shareholders it is battling weaker than expected market conditions, entering a trading halt as it prepares to release an update on its outlook for the 2014 financial year.

The state government has proposed folding in the entire City of Vincent to a bigger City of Perth but Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says the move is a "cop out" driven by populist politics.

Apache Energy is set to farm-in to the Canning Basin, signing a $25 million agreement to earn a stake in oil and gas exploration permits held jointly by Buru Energy and Mitsubishi Corporation.

MZI Resources has completed a $5 million equity raising, with international private equity group Resource Capital Fund boosting its stake in MZI to just less than 15 per cent.

Westfield Group has terminated an agreement that would have allowed it to sell the Innaloo shopping centre for $255 million to Charter Hall Group.

Forge Group has placed its shares in a trading halt, flagging performance issues at two of its power station projects.

Struggling miner Mirabela Nickel says it is in discussion with financiers to come to an agreement which will allow it to avoid defaulting on its obligations.

Empire Oil & Gas says a move by its biggest shareholder ERM Power to replace Empire directors with its own representatives has compromised its relationships with contractors and caused disruption to the business.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has notched up almost $2 billion in revenue and an operating profit of $601 million in the 2013 financial year, which makes it one of Australia's most lucrative private companies despite being the group's lowest profit in four years.

Tiger Resources has bolstered its finances with a $42.5 million capital raising as it works towards commissioning its Kipoi copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Manas Resources will tap the market for around $5.5 million as it looks to progress activities at its Shambesai gold project in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Shares in West Leederville-based Glory Resources have soared on the back of the gold explorer receiving a $30.5 million friendly takeover offer from Canadian miner Eldorado Gold.

Sirius Resources has raised around $83.5 million through a share placement as it works towards the development of its Nova-Bollinger project.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA has appointed former University of Western Australia Business School dean Tracey Horton as president of its general council.

The state government will introduce legislation this week which it says will encourage greater transparency around the environmental approvals process for mining projects and cut costs for business.

Colliers International has been appointed to manage two new facilities for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research which will hold a combined value of $200 million when they open next year.

Perth's office sublease space has increased by more than 70 per cent since the start of the year but supply is likely to have reached its peak, according to the latest research from CBRE.

Subiaco-based biofuels developer Algae.Tec has signed an agreement to provide its technology for Phoenix Energy Australia's proposed waste to energy plant in Kwinana.

Swick Mining Services has forecast lower annual earnings and cut more than 100 staff in the space of 12 months amid challenging conditions in the mineral drilling sector.

Perkins Builders has bolstered its order book with $50 million worth of new contracts across Perth and Bunbury.

The Harbour Town shopping centre in West Perth has been sold for $205 million to Singapore developer Far East Organisation.

Shares in listed oil and gas explorer Jacka Resources closed the day's trade more than 14 per cent higher after the company announced it had secured a convertible facility worth up to $5.5 million.

Tiger Resources has increased its production guidance at its Kipoi copper project in West Africa by 85 per cent for the 2014 financial year on the back of a record quarter of production.

Education services provider Navitas has forecast a 10 per cent lift in its underlying profit for the 2014 financial year, warning that its costs will be higher as it carries out a broad restructure.

GR Engineering Services has been appointed the preferred contractor for engineering procurement and construction works worth $54.6 million at MZI Resources' Keysbrook mineral sands project near Serpentine.

Nomad Building Solutions has placed its Queensland operations on ice and appointed a new chief executive, having earlier moved to wind down its Western Australian-based regional housing and commercial modular building businesses.

Perth-based investment group Bentley Capital has launched a $2.3 million unconditional on-market takeover offer for South Australian minerals explorer Marathon Resources.

Mineral sands junior World Titanium Resources has raised $2.6 million and bolstered its board with two new appointments.

A council representing industry heavyweights including BHP Billiton and Alcoa has thrown its support behind the City of Kwinana's proposal to take over part of the City of Cockburn and assume responsibility for the Kwinana industrial strip.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore and its former contractor HWE Newman Services have been handed a total of $238,000 in fines in relation to the death of a worker at BHP's Yandi mine near Newman five years ago.

Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski says he remains wary about floating LNG technology but nonetheless predicts it will become more commonplace unless the costs of onshore developments are reduced.

Northern Star Resources has announced that director Michael Fotios has resigned from the company's board and will take up a position as a consultant to the gold miner.