Financial Services

Cooper Energy Ltd has hit back at share price valuations for its takeover target Incremental Petroleum Ltd, claiming it is not "realistic".

Less than a week after placing its shares in a trading halt pending a financial review, West Perth-based Matilda Minerals Ltd has called in administrators from Ferrier Hodgson.

RBA warns on bank guarantee; Mortgage fund freezes withdrawals; Grylls, Barnett up ante in royalties stalemate; Atlas reviews iron ore plans; Profits in reverse for car retailer AHG

Wesfarmers Limited has approved a major project to expand the reserves of its Curragh mine in Queensland.

Shares in Leederville-based Blackham Resources Ltd have jumped 46 per cent after a resource boost in the Scaddan coal-to-liquids joint venture with Wesfarmers Premier Coal Ltd that is projected to have mine life of over 45 years.

CBH Resources Ltd has hit back at claims that its proposed merger with Perth-based Perilya will expose the latter's shareholders to additional risks in relation to CBH's Endeavour mine and debt position.

Nationals leader Brendon Grylls said only half of the $675 million of the royalties for regions will be budgeted this year in order to maintain the state's AAA credit rating.

Shares in Perth-based Resolute Mining Ltd have been placed in a trading halt as the company assesses its ambitious $51 million capital raising.

Rift in Lib-Nats power alliance; Juniors have missed funding boat: Forrest; PM's latest crisis cure: go local; Tax breaks to spur state spending; Government sympathetic to car industry's woes

Despite the uncertain economic climate, Arafura Resources Ltd has unveiled ambitious plans to raise some $26 million through a rights issue.

West Perth-based Altera Resources Ltd has walked away from a proposed $13 million acquisition of an underground coal gasification company.

Partnerships between Western Australian businesses and arts organisations have won four out of 13 awards at this year's Australia Business Arts Foundation Awards.

North Perth-based metals explorer Aura Energy Ltd has entered into a deal, potentially valued at $460 million, with Chinese company Sino King Investment Ltd.

The global financial meltdown has prompted the University of Western Australia, along with tertiary institutions across the country, to tighten the financial belt after falls in investments.

A subsidiary of VDM Group Ltd has secured a near $6 million contract from Cemex for works in the Pilbara.

WA rips $1.8bn off regional deal; RBA plans drastic rates cut; Chinese Rio play embroiled in Lehman collapse; Mills push FMG for freight cuts; NAB to be first cab off the rank

The corporate watchdog has banned Dalkeith man Pierre Schinazi from providing financial services for five years over his role in the collapse of Westpoint.

Western Australia miners have been hit hard in trade today with the metals and mining index plummeting over 12 per cent on fears that the meltdown will spark a global slump and reduce demand for commodities.

The collapse of Lehman Brothers has put the spotlight on BHP Billiton's takeover of Rio Tinto, with Chinalco in urgent talks with Lehman Brothers' liquidators to retrieve a 12 per cent stake it holds in Rio.

Mining services company Imdex Ltd is set to acquire Western Australian manufacturer Australian Drilling Specialities for $12 million in cash and scrip.

The state government will take a maximum stake of 25 per cent in homes under the revamped First Start shared equity scheme which this week received a $70 million lifeline.

Markets fret over Fed recession fears; WA growth to shrink: Buswell; Hundreds left angry as Opes Prime is wound up; No riding China's back: Rio; Banks urged to pass on cheaper borrowing costs

THE country's banking sector has been the focus of intense scrutiny over the past few months as the global financial turmoil casts light on potential targets.

A REVIEW of the export market development grant scheme highlights the difficulties exporters in Western Australia face when seeking funds from this primary source of assistance.

THE global financial crisis has had a big impact on two energy projects off Western Australia's northern coast, with Coogee Resources and Nexus Energy both putting out 'for sale' signs this month.

THE Royal Automobile Club of WA has revealed it paid $104.

INVESTMENT banker Aaron Constantine said he laughed with a colleague when he saw two boats moored out at Marjorie Bay on Rottnest Island last week.

GLOBAL share markets have entered a netherworld that no-one working in the finance industry has ever experienced before, unless they were alive in the 1930s.

AUSTRALIA is safeguarded from the worst of the global financial markets because of the strength of the nation's big four banks, according to KPMG partner Kevin Smout.

WESTERN Australia's seemingly unstoppable supremacy on top of the stock exchange leader board has taken a battering over the past year, with a significant percentage of the state's mining and resources groups finding themselves in the crosshairs of worrie

PLUNGING international stock markets have been the most visible manifestation of the global financial crisis of the past month, but an equally worrying trend has occurred in debt markets.

Western Australia has been allocated $21 million for research as part of the federal government's $363 million national funding package.