Mining

Mid-tier iron ore miner Mineral Resources' $70 million investment in six new trains has kicked off its stated 20-year commitment to the Yilgarn region.

Phoenix Gold has awarded a number of mining contracts for its Kintore West open cut mine for undisclosed amounts, as part of the company's staged development plan.

Balcatta-based Sirius Resources has announced a $189 million capital raising to help develop its Nova nickel project near Norseman.

Resources giant BHP has produced record volumes of iron ore and coal after lifting its output of both commodities 20 per cent.

Gold futures have retreated, as investors eye the situation in Ukraine and as US economic data point to continued recovery.

Oil prices have fallen modestly despite geopolitical tensions over war-torn Ukraine and a raging battle in the Gaza Strip.

Antares Energy shareholders have fought off a board challenge from activist US fund Lone Star.

The chief of resources giant BHP Billiton has urged Labor and the minor parties to help the Abbott government repeal the mining tax, saying investment is being destroyed by "a lot of antics" in the Senate.

Perth-based mineral explorer GBM Resources has announced plans to raise $1.14 million through the placement of 57 million shares to investors valued at 2 cents per share.

Australia's largest gold miner Newcrest is preparing to fight a class action by shareholders hurt by a massive financial writedown in 2013.

Nickel producer Western Areas has performed strongly in the June quarter, finishing the year in a net cash position of $10.3 million.

Shares in OTOC have jumped by 20 per cent after the company released a promising earnings guidance and gave a positive insight into future operations.

Tight petroleum supplies in the US and anxiety about fighting in Ukraine and Gaza have pushed oil prices higher.

Blackham Resources has appointed Paul Murphy as the company's new independent non-executive chairman, following the removal of Joseph Gutnick from the position last week.

AngloGold Ashanti Australia has signed a $140 million agreement with natural gas infrastructure company APA Group for the transportation of natural gas to the Sunrise Dam and Tropicana gold mines in Western Australia.

Steel and mining group Arrium has accepted discounted prices on its iron ore shipments due to additional supply and tightening credit growth in China.

Kin Mining has struck a $3 million funding deal with Geolord Resources to complete its acquisition of the Leonora gold project.

Shares in Kibaran Resources have continued their stellar run in July, jumping by nearly 20 per cent this morning after the company announced more spectacular drilling results at its Mehange graphite project in Tanzania.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded mining company Boart Longyear's credit rating, citing ongoing poor performance.

Gold futures have retreated as some investors pared their holdings of the haven asset as they reassessed the geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe.

Sedgman's joint venture operation with Thiess has won a $64 million contract for the design and construction of a modular iron processing plant at Fortescue Metal Group's Solomon iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Uranium Equities has announced a one for three rights issue and placement to raise up to $1.5 million for its Alligator Rivers uranium field and general working capital.

Rail freight and ports operator Asciano has confirmed that it is in talks over a possible sale of a non-controlling interest in its terminal and logistics business.

Global oil prices have pushed higher after a Malaysian jetliner crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine, sparking concerns of an escalation in the crisis in the former Soviet state.

Perth-based Swan Gold Mining has completed a one-for-10 share consolidation as part of a restructuring of the company that it proposes including a capital raising of up to $20 million and debt to equity conversion of more than $29 million.

Potash explorer Elemental Minerals has appointed John Sanders as managing director, replacing Iain Macpherson who will continue as a non-executive director.

Shares in Perth gold miner Minera Gold rose by over 33 per cent after it announced it had signed an agreement to buy the San Santiago gold and copper processing plant in Peru for $US5.5million.

Woodside Petroleum has lifted its annual production target after enjoying a double-digit rise in second quarter production levels and sales.

Fortescue Metals Group said it planned to buy eight iron ore carrier ships from China for $550 million.

Perth-based Papillon Resources has agreed to amend the terms of its merger agreement with B2Gold to provide a new incentive for some of its shareholders.

Shares in Sirius Resources have shot up by more than 13 per cent after its latest nickel discovery in Western Australia's south-east.

Two months after acquiring fraccing technology developer Ecopropp, energy company Coretrack has completed a successful raising of $2 million to advance the new business.