Rebecca Lawson

West Perth-based Bass Metals plans to raise $15.3 million, which in combination with its $15 million banking facility, will be used to develop the Fossey polymetallic project in Tasmania.

Perth-based Talison Lithium, which owns the Greenbushes lithium operation near Perth, plans to raise up to $196.4 million and dual list on the Australian and Canadian stock exchanges.

Premier Colin Barnett's chief-of-staff Deidre Willmott is moving to a new role with the state government due to a potential conflict of interest while the government's director of communications has been asked to 'sit' on his resignation.

Golden West Resources is at a loss to explain a share price surge of 92 per cent over the past three trading days as speculation emerges of a possible takeover.

Shares in Subiaco-based IMX Resources are higher after an unnamed party expressed interest in providing $US45 million ($A49 million) in finance for its Southern Oregon mineral sands project in the US through a mix of debt and equity.

Shares in Aviva Corporation have slumped after it decided not to extend its option over the only coal deposit for the Coolimba power project in the Mid West, part of the ramifications of the lost power supply tender contract to Verve Energy.

The new industrial relations system is set to create an uneven playing field among skilled tradespeople, which is set to threaten multi-billion dollar resource projects, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says.

Shares in West Perth-based Red 5 have surged after it received the final approval from the Philippines government for its $US73 million ($A79 million) Siana gold project.

The battle for Great Southern's plantation schemes has stepped up today with the Tony Jack-led Black Tree releasing details of its proposal while the Gordon Martin-backed Pulpwood Plantations hits out at rival bidder Gunns.

Singapore-listed Starhill Global Real Estate Investment Trust is set to make its first foray into Australia with a proposal to buy the David Jones building in Perth for $114.5 million.

Panoramic Resources has secured a 10-year extension to its offtake agreement with Jinchuan Group and Sino Nickel for all of the nickel produced at the Savannah operation in the east Kimberley.

The number of Perth-based companies with listing aspirations is growing with four more resource entities this week opening their initial public offers to raise a collective $25 million.

A bid by two Perth businessmen to land board seats at Farooq Khan's Queste Communications has failed while shareholders vote against a name change.

Australasian Resources has gained federal environmental approval for its $2.7 billion Balmoral South iron ore project as discussions continue with a number of potential financiers.

Houses in Trigg and units in Cottesloe have experienced the largest rental growth in the state during the past year, with the median weekly rent now at $505 and $488, respectively, new figures show.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has brought its Jacinth-Ambrosia project in South Australia into production and under budget by $30 million.

DIRECTORS in listed companies have become increasingly lax about notifying changes to their shareholdings.

The Foreign Investment Review Board has given the green light for a Chinese entity to take a controlling interest in Perth-based Moly Mines, in a $US200 million deal that was first unveiled a month ago.

Projects funded through the federal government's stimulus packages will be able to sidestep the state's planning approvals process so entitlements will not be lost, Planning Minister John Day says.

Embattled Babcock and Brown Power will seek shareholder approval to change its name to Alinta Energy at the company's annual general meeting next month.

Heavy equipment sales and rental company Emeco expects its 2010/11 earnings to be at the lower end of its earnings guidance of between $46 million and $53 million on the back of a stronger Australian dollar.

The state government's push for extended retail trading hours has started with the expansion of the Perth tourism precinct to include parts of Subiaco, Victoria Park and Mt Lawley, and the extension of closing times.

Canada's Mega Uranium and Perth-based Navigator Resources have started talks over the possible sharing of infrastructure for their uranium and gold operations, respectively, in the Goldfields region.

Perth businessman Rick Hart has tendered his resignation as chief executive of his namesake electrical goods stores and as director of parent company Clive Peeters.

Cape Lambert Iron Ore has officially launched its plans to spin out the Lady Annie copper mine into new company Q Copper, which will soon open its $214 million initial public offer.

Miner Perilya has launched a $55 million fully underwritten rights issue with funds to be applied towards organic growth and deliver projects that will complement its existing operations.

A state business lobby group says unions are already exploiting their new found power under the federal government's new industrial relations laws, with Maritime Union members set to walk off the job tonight, affecting some of the state's operations.

Firefighters have contained a factory blaze at O'Connor-based Western Meat Packers, with the damage bill estimated at $10 million.

Matrix Composites and Engineering made a strong debut on the local stock market today, with its shares closing at a 36 per cent premium to its issue price.

Former Environmental Protection Authority chairman Barry Carbon has today been appointed to the board of Bauxite Resources, which is currently awaiting approval for its bauxite operation from the Department of Environment.

Subiaco-based Allied Gold has revealed plans to raise up to $C155 million ($A158 million), its second major capital raising for the calendar year.

Tox Free Solutions has placed its shares in a trading halt as it organises a capital raising and tips earnings to reach $28 million for the current financial year.