Financial Services

Mirabela Nickel plans to raise some $38 million more than the required amount of its debt facility condition in a bid to complete development of its Santa Rita nickel project in Brazil.

Wesfarmers' coal division, Premier Coal, has bought a further 30 per cent interest in Blackham Resources' tenements that surround the existing Scadden Energy joint venture near Esperance.

State to shed 500 public servants; Rio Tinto deal faces extra scrutiny; Jobs plan to save lost generation; House sales crash as spooked owners stay put; G20 baulks at US push for spending

Independence Group executive director Kelly Ross has sold $771,757 worth of shares, with funds from the sale to go to the tax man after the conversion of some options.

The friendly merger between Scimitar Resources and Jackson Minerals has been deemed to be in the best interest of the latter's shareholders following an independent valuation.

Job losses worst for 18 years; NAB boss initiates an evolution; Former mining boom states bereft as GST goes south; Contractor Nash set to buy Minjar gold for $13.6m; Financial wizards feel the heat

A federal goods and services advisory body has recommended a $311 million cut in Western Australia's shares of GST revenue for the 2010 financial year.

Rio Tinto has pulled out of a uranium joint venture with West Perth-based Zambezi Resources, in what is the minnow's second blow this week.

Chinese company, East China Exploration, is set to take a 25 per cent in Perth-based Arafura Resources after subscribing to $24 million worth of shares at a significant premium.

Belmont-based property developer Diploma Group has booked an interim net profit of $941,000, a dramatic fall from the previous corresponding period's profit of $4.8 million.

Nickel producer Western Areas has signed an offtake and $45 million financing agreement with BHP Billiton, with the funds earmarked for mine development and plant expansion.

Western Australia's spike in unemployment to a two-year high has one business lobby group urging federal MPs to carefully consider the government's proposed Fair Work Bill ahead of next week's vote.

Shadow Treasurer Ben Wyatt has warned that record growth in public spending is likely to continue after Treasurer Troy Buswell sought a 143 per cent increase in on last year's advance.

Greens and Chevron set to face off over Gorgon vision; Unions opt for jobs over pay; Sacked workers rejected pay cuts; Coal price cut hits export earnings; China hit raises fear of great recession

The financial crisis is a major challenge for governments as well as business.

WITH the sixth anniversary of his chairmanship at Paladin Energy quickly approaching, Rick Crabb says it's a "good business to be in at the moment".

WESTERN Australian exporters have received encouraging news about the economies of some of the state's key trading partners, in particular India and China, with strong signs of growth for the future.

THE Fremantle Football Club is confident of securing another three-year licensing agreement with the AFL to operate in South Africa after launching the league's most successful overseas football project.

IT has been heralded as some sort of magic number - the 47 per cent debt-to-revenue ratio that is somehow tied to the state's financial future.

A failure to invest in the good times may come back to bite ... again.

There’s unlikely to be a return to record low CBD vacancy rates any time soon.

DURING the past few months, gold has been about the only game in town where investors have been able to make money as stocks rise.

REBOUNDS in the retail and mining sectors have lead a 13 per cent increase in the Deloitte Western Australian Index for the month of February, rising $73 billion to $82.

BRENDON Grylls has had a dilemma before.Back in September last year, he was sitting pretty, holding the balance of power and able to decide who formed a government.

US oil giant Chevron says it expects to "sanction" the Gorgon liquefied natural gas project during the second half of this year.

Aspiring gold miner Catalpa Resources has reserved Perth-based GR Engineering Services for the refurbishment and construction of a processing facility at its $92 million Edna May gold project near Westonia.

A business advisory firm has urged small businesses to quickly take advantage of a federal government tax break before the window of opportunity closes.

Australian stocks opened stronger after gains of almost six per cent on Wall Street overnight, leading to advances in the financial and resources sectors locally.

Westpac's plan to top SME lending; China slides into deflation; Labor braces for emissions fight; UBS tips $US2,500 an ounce for bullion; Turnbull, Costello face off on IR

Perth-based junior Iron Mountain Mining has proposed an off-market takeover for Terrain Minerals in a deal valued at nearly $2 million.

Principles designed to encourage greater consistency and transparency in non-statutory profit reporting have been released by the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors today.

Shares in Quickstep Holdings have jumped as it secures an agency deal to promote sales in the Middle East and a $10 million convertible loan agreement.