Mining

Perth-headquartered Bristow Helicopters Australia has acquired an 85 per cent interest in Darwin-based Airnorth for $30.3 million.

Murphy Pipe & Civil has strongly denied allegations that it breached 457 visa sponsorship regulations, after the Department of Immigration and Border Protection yesterday carried out an inspection at the company’s offices.

Engineering firm Calibre Group has flagged an $185 million to $190 million impairment as a result of a downturn in its business outlook and forecast trading conditions, as well as the cost of property leases.

Oil prices have rallied in volatile trading, partly erasing the previous day's heavy losses in what analysts said was mostly a technical rebound.

Gold has nudged lower as a stronger US equities market and shifting expectations for US interest rates hemmed in traders' appetite for the haven asset.

Accounting firm KPMG is launching a business ‘accelerator’ that is designed to assist early-stage technology ventures and bring them together with major companies in the energy and resources sector.

A bushfire is hampering mining operations for BHP Billiton and Newmont Mining at two Western Australian sites.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has raided the office of mining sub-contractor Murphy Pipe & Civil over allegations it has been assisting foreign employees fraudulently obtain work visas.

US fund management giant The Capital Group has taken a 5 per cent stake in the world's fourth biggest iron ore miner, Fortescue Metals Group.

Perth-based Macmahon Holdings has flagged a $125 million to $135 million impairment in first-half profit on the back of challenging market conditions in the mining services sector.

The Gorgon gas project, which is due to be completed this year, is continuing to deliver work opportunities for local contractor AusGroup.

Gold prices have ended higher as investors hunker down for drawn-out debt negotiations with Greece, boosting demand for the precious metal as a haven asset.

New York-based resource investment company Sigur Minerals has taken a $1.9 million placement in Walkabout Resources, representing 19.9 per cent of the Perth-based junior exploration firm’s stock.

Development drilling has commenced at the Inpex-operated Ichthys gas-condensate field, marking another milestone in the US$34 billion project.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised new environmental assessment fees for mining proposals and program-of-work applications, to take effect from July 1.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources expects to return to profit due a higher gold price and increased production.

West Perth-based Regal Resources has entered into a $6.3 million share placement agreement with a UK-based investor to fund a bankable feasibility study for its 30 per cent owned Kalongwe copper project in Africa.

Beach Energy shares soared today after the Kerry Stokes-chaired Seven Group Holdings confirrmed it had acquired nearly 14 per cent of its stock.

World oil prices have advanced following data that showed US oil companies cut drilling activity in response to low prices.

Gold futures have closed slightly lower after a volatile session that saw investors weigh higher oil prices against signs of weakness in the US economic recovery.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Andrew Harding hit the streets this morning in a fluoro vest and holding an armful of copies of The Big Issue, joining a regular vendor to sell the magazine on St Georges Terrace as part of a week-long national event.

The number of people working on the Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island has jumped to 8,000, as project operator Chevron strives to meet its targeted start-up around the middle of this year.

Shares in Perth-based oil and gas explorer Titan Energy have surged on news it has signed a $US50 million funding deal with an undisclosed US-based investor to pursue drilling programs at its Allen Dome oil project in Texas.

The strong rise in the Australian dollar gold price has encouraged gold companies to press ahead with low-cost mine developments, despite uncertainty over royalties.

Copper futures have closed much higher on the London Metal Exchange, as end-of-month purchases to cover open positions boosts red metal prices.

Gold prices have rallied after a weaker-than-expected reading of US economic health fanned investor interest in the haven asset.

Perth company Atlantic, which is in the midst of rebuilding its Windimurra vanadium plant after a fire last year, has received a big cash boost this month in the form of further insurance payments

BHP Billiton is laying off hundreds of workers at its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.

Pilbara iron ore producer BC Iron is making deeper cost cuts as it weathers a falling iron ore price.

Mid-tier iron ore miner Mineral Resources has criticised port charges after digging into its stockpiles to export 2.8 million tonnes in the December quarter.

Black Range Minerals shares closed on a high today on news it had received a takeover proposal from Canadian-based Western Uranium Corporation for all of the company’s shares.

Oil prices have closed higher after a volatile session that saw the New York price drop below $US44 a barrel for the first time since March 2009.