Mining

Straits Resources has bolstered its management team, appointing former Norton Gold Fields executives Andre Labuschagne and Robert Brainsbury as chief executive and chief financial officer.

MZI Resources has reached agreement with two major banks to secure a $54 million project finance facility for the Keysbrook mineral sands development south of Perth.

The frontrunner for Western Australia's first uranium mine says a delay in the federal environmental assessment process won't affect the proposed project schedule - for now.

Cortona Resources shareholders have thrown their overwhelming support behind a $25.6 million merger with Victoria's Unity Mining.

Mining services company Boart Longyear says it will continue to look for cost savings after implementing cuts that resulted in 2,500 job losses.

Billabong's chief financial officer Craig White has left the troubled surfwear retailer.

Perth-based exploration firm OreCorp has announced a backdoor listing on the ASX through fellow explorer Silver Stone Resources.

A building products manufacturer has been fined $45,000 after a supervisor had two fingers severed by a flywheel press.

Engineering services provider Plexal Group has been acquired by global firm SPIE Oil and Gas Services.

OZ Minerals says a recent fall in the company's share price can be put down to analysts' modelling of production and costs for 2012 and 2013.

There has been a small burst of activity in the flagging new floats sector, with three Western Australian firms completing initial public offers this week, raising more than $25 million collectivel

Perth Glory and a mining company chaired by the soccer club's owner, Tony Sage, say they are not at the centre of a federal police investigation following a raid on their offices.

Legal action has been launched over the environmental approval process for Woodside's controversial Browse gas hub at James Price Point in Western Australia.

Rare earths miner Lynas has won its latest court battle in Malaysia and is free to keep operating after opponents lost an appeal to take away its licence.

Andrew Caruso has been appointed as the new CEO of the aspiring coal miner and developer Ascot Resources.

The state government will get a US$22 million stamp duty windfall after Canadian company Cameco completed the purchase of the Yeelirrie uranium project for US$430 million.

Nexus Energy has exercised a put option to sell 2 per cent of its 17 per cent stake in the Crux gas field off the northwest coast to Royal Dutch Shell for $75 million.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering is looking to capitalise on unprecedented demand for its services from the liquefied natural gas sector by launching a joint venture with international electri

Retiring PwC partner Frank Cooper has been appointed to the board of Woodside Petroleum as a non-executive director.

Iron ore producer BC Iron says its $190 million deal with Fortescue Metals to boost output to six million tonnes will not be affected by any sale of Fortescue's infrastructure assets.

Shares in Cape Lambert Resources gained 10 per cent on the ASX today, after the company announced a plan to buy back 10 per cent of its shares.

Uranium explorer Toro Energy has expressed its disappointment with a federal government decision to extend the environmental approval process for the company's Wiluna uranium mine until the end of

Murchison explorer Fortunis Resources has made a successful debut on the Australian Securities Exchange after raising $2.8 million through an initial public offering last week.

Incitec Pivot has given shareholders an optimistic financial outlook for its explosives and fertilisers businesses in 2013 despite a tough year in 2012.

Sheffield Resources shares jumped 13 per cent on the ASX after it announced a maiden high grade resource for its Thunderbird prospect at the Dampier heavy mineral sands project near Derby.

Perth-based Peak Resources plans to tap the market for funding by mid-2013 amid plans to begin producing rare earths in three years.

Tungsten Mining has made its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange, after raising $5.1 million through its initial public offering last week.

Perth-based Firestone Energy has received an all-scrip takeover proposal from the Brian McMaster-chaired Range River Gold, that values it at $24.9 million.

Administrators for collapsed nickel miner Kagara have reached agreement to sell off the group's North Queensland assets for $40 million.

The price of unleaded fuel is expected to fall by up to three cents a litre in the final two weeks of 2012.

Perth-based junior Kinetiko Energy has raised $3 million to fund drilling activities at its Amersfoot coal bed methane project in South Africa.

International investment bank Goldman Sachs has released a bullish outlook for the iron ore market, predicting average spot prices to hover around $US140 per tonne in 2013.