Dan Wilkie

Stock index provider S&P Indices has announced Atlas Iron and Equinox Minerals have joined the ranks of the top 100 Australian companies, while five other Western Australia-based firms have been elevated to the S&P/ASX 300.

Sandfire Resources has announced it will go ahead with a $400 million development of its DeGrussa copper-gold project, on the strength of a "robust" pre-feasibility study.

Ken Perry has stepped down as chief executive of VDM Group, to pursue non-executive opportunities, after just more than a year in charge of the construction, contracting and consulting company.

The train line linking Western Australia to the eastern states has been reopened, after floodwaters forced its closure on February 26.

Shares in Mundo Minerals have slipped after it said it secured the support of several substantial US-based investment funds as part of its bid to raise between $10 million and $15 million.

Focus Minerals says it will purchase the remaining stake it does not already own of the Treasure Island gold project in the eastern Goldfields in a scrip and cash offer worth around $2.4 million, on today's share price.

Ian Trahar has confirmed he will not increase his takeover offer for window coverings manufacturer Kresta Holdings, even though independent analysis of the bid last week found it neither fair nor reasonable.

Perth-based Alexium International has entered an agreement to become the sole manufacturing and distribution partner in Australia and New Zealand for workwear and defence industry uniform supplier Bruck Textiles.

The DomGas Alliance and APPEA, who are normally at odds with each other on energy policy, have backed Energy Minister Peter Collier's discussion paper to shape the next 20 years of energy regulation.

Advanced materials company Quickstep has signed an agreement that will pave the way for it to become a recognised supplier to global helicopter company Sikorski International Operations.

Perth-based Aquila Resources says its interim loss of $15.8 million was primarily due to an increase in spending on exploring and evaluating its tenements.

WESTERN Australian Rugby League chairman David Hobbs says everything is in place for a WA team to return to the national competition in 2013 – including a major sponsorship deal worth up to $2 million – and all that’s needed is the go-ahead from the NRL.

THE state government has announced it is moving most of its offices out of the CBD, while accounting firm PwC will also shift its base; but the moves are not expected to make a dent in Perth’s shrinking office vacancy rate.

Perth is the 19th most expensive city in the world for office accommodation, trailing only Sydney for Australian capital cities, new research has found.

Perth-based goldminer Northern Star Resources says it is debt free and ready for growth after paying off the final $2.5 million production royalty relating to its $40 million acquisition of the Paulsens gold mine in the Pilbara.

West Perth-based base metals explorer Overland Resources says it has successfully raised $11.9 million through a share placement to institutional investors.

The state government says it will assume the risk of voiding building warranties and allow all school facilities built under the Building the Education Revolution program to have air conditioning installed.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has announced it has won a contract for the first concentrator area electrical installation at CITIC Pacific's Sino Iron project at Cape Preston near Karratha.

Premier Colin Barnett has thrown the door open for a change in the ownership structure of the Oakajee Port & Rail development, after granting its proponents an extension until the end of the year to finalise their plans.

National gases and engineering company BOC has won a long-term contract to supply Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers' $US2.5 billion urea plant to be developed near Collie.

Poseidon Nickel has begun an $8 million refurbishment of its Mt Windarra nickel mine, in preparation for an underground mining restart in 10 months.

Northern Minerals has announced it has gained a 60 per cent stake in its Gardner Range uranium joint venture with Manhattan Corporation.

Territory Resources says its $9.9 million interim net profit was slashed by the impact of a particularly severe wet season in northern Australia.

Western Australia's Chamber of Minerals and Energy says it is crucial for the Federal Government to expand its skilled migration program to ensure labour demand from the resources industry is met.

Blackgold Resources, the Chinese-owned coalminer that listed on the ASX in Perth last week, has purchased a Chinese coal mine for around $12 million.

Nomad Building Solutions says losses associated with the completion of its Gorgon contract were the main contributing factors to its $18.7 million first half loss.

Drilling contractor Swick Mining Services has lodged a five per cent increase in interim net profit, driven by a 38 per cent jump in revenue.

Perth-based developer Aspen Group has reported a drop in interim net profit after tax to $7.7 million, down from $13 million the previous half year on the back of asset revaluations.

Junior explorer TNG has signed off on a partnership with a major Chinese state-owned engineering and development company, to finance and develop the Mount Peake iron and vanadium project in the Northern Territory.

Shares in Fortescue Metals Group have risen after it announced a 1 billion tonne discovery of iron ore in the Pilbara.

Compass Hotel Group says it will refurbish its 12 Perth hotels to gain back market share after lodging an interim loss of $3.4 million.

Automotive and industrial parts distributor Coventry Group increased its revenue by 3 per cent over the half year to December 31, but it was not enough to stop the company lodging a $19.6 million loss.