Mining

Oil prices moved modestly higher as the market found support from US gasoline demand hopes ahead of the looming summer-holiday driving season and the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

The construction of Gina Rinehart’s $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project is almost 40 per cent completed, with first exports due to occur next year.

Karoon Gas has farmed out a 50 per cent stake in an oil and gas exploration permit in the Carnarvon Basin to Apache Corporation for an initial cost of $US9 million.

The Environmental Protection Authority has commenced a new assessment of the proposed LNG gas hub near Broome, as speculation over development of the offshore Browse Basin gas fields increases.

Alliance Aviation Services has won a contract to supply charter flights for BHP Billiton Iron Ore's fly-in fly-out workers, bumping rival operator Cobham Aviation.

The Clough AMEC joint venture has been awarded a $20 million engineering, procurement and construction contract at Arrow Energy's Daandine coal seam gas expansion project in Queensland's Surat basin.

Global oil and gas services company ASCO Group has added another string to its bow with the $28 million purchase of a majority stake in logistics provider Bonnie Rock Transport.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary John Holland has been awarded a $100 million contract to deliver mine infrastructure for Rio Tinto in the Pilbara.

Gold futures fell as investors reduced holdings of the precious metal amid signs that the US labor market continues to recover.

Ratings agency Moody's expects the Australian mining sector to continue to benefit from strong Chinese demand, despite slowing growth in the world's second largest economy.

St George Mining has completed an oversubscribed capital raising of $1.2 million.

Oil prices have moved higher, lifted by a new decline in US oil inventories at the key Cushing storage hub and falling petrol stockpiles.

Mining giant Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations are producing ore more quickly than previously anticipated.

Oil prices have risen after the top US energy official suggested the United States could possibly move to ease its ban on crude exports.

An unscheduled shutdown by one of its key mining clients has forced Swick Mining Services to again lower its revenue guidance, despite a rebound in fleet utilisation.

Shares in Perth-based oil and gas explorer Tangiers Petroleum have closed lower after the company announced plans to launch a heavily discounted $5 million share placement.

Shares in US-focused Aurora Oil & Gas have closed higher after Canadian oil company Baytex Energy increased its takeover offer for the company.

Explosives and chemicals maker and supplier Orica's half-year profit has slumped, with strong demand from miners in the Pilbara region largely offset by flat sentiment on the east coast.

Northern Star Resources has continued its aggressive expansion strategy, announcing it will buy the Jundee gold mine in Western Australia from Newmont Mining for $82.5 million.

Gold prices have risen, a day after pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine declared victory in a succession referendum, raising chances that rival factions will split the country in two.

Tugboat workers at Port Hedland are threatening to strike for up to a week, bringing iron ore exports at Australia's largest shipping hub to a standstill.

The future of BP's Kwinana refinery lies in improving productivity as the Australian fuel market undergoes significant disruptions.

Perth-based private company QCG Resources has announced plans to raise up to $60 million in an initial public offering to fund its purchase of the mothballed Avebury nickel mine in Tasmania.

Perth-based oil and gas services company Coretrack has signed a deal to acquire unlisted fraccing technology developer Ecopropp in an all-scrip transaction worth about $17 million.

Gold prices have closed nearly unchanged as investors weigh Russia's mixed messages on Ukraine and brighter economic data from the US.

Red Mountain Mining expects to complete by the end of the year a definitive feasibility study at its Batangas gold project in the Philippines after appointing Como Engineers to undertake the initiative.

World oil prices have fallen as traders booked profits from the previous day's rally on signs of strengthening crude demand in the United States.

The state's gold sector fears it will be tapped for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional royalty revenue banked by the Barnett government in its latest budget.

Decmil Group has won a $35 million contract at Rio Tinto’s West Angelas iron ore project to build infrastructure related to developing the Deposit B ore body.

World oil prices have surged higher after crude inventories unexpectedly fell from a record high in the United States, suggesting better demand in the world's largest crude consumer.

As Business News' Rising Stars search draws to a close, the founder of a contracting company that expanded through the GFC, but had a “disastrous” last financial year and more recently lost $1 million through its dealings with Forge Group, is pursuing growth again with a new strategy.

Copper and gold explorer Stavely Minerals debuted on the ASX today in what was the first float by a Western Australia-based minerals play in more than a year.