Mining

A substantial drop in Atlas Iron's interim net profit was due largely to project value write-downs, but the miner remains on target to meet its full year production forecast.

Equatorial Resources has accepted South African miner Exxaro's $65 million offer to purchase its 20.5 per cent stake in takeover target African Iron.

Shares in Newcrest Mining fell after Australia's largest gold producer flagged a fall in March quarter output but tentatively maintained its full year guidance.

Matrix Composites and Engineering has reported a $2.4 million loss for the six months ended December 31, after moving its headquarters from Malaga to Henderson.

Perth-based exploration juniors Jacka Resources, Excelsior Gold and MOD Resources have launched capital raising initiatives worth approximately $24 million collectively.

Ampella Mining has raised $47 million to continue exploration and complete feasibility studies at its Burkina Faso gold projects.

South America-focused gold and silver producer Troy Resources has posted a jump in first half net profit after a production ramp up at its new Casposo operation in Argentina and strong performance

NRW Holdings will pay its shareholders an interim dividend of 8 cents per share after reporting a record earnings result for the half year ended December 31.

GE Oil and Gas has won a contract worth more than $150 million to supply subsea equipment for Apache Energy's Julimar gas project offshore from Dampier.

Australia is set to become the world's largest exporter of natural gas by 2030, according to delegates at the Australian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Perth.

Drilling and mining services firm Ausdrill has delivered another record profit for the half year ended December 31, lodging a 50.4 per cent spike to $54.6 million.

Iluka Resources has pledged to use surplus funds for increased dividend payments and organic growth after delivering a record profit on the back of higher sales volumes and prices.

Mining services company Ausenco says its outlook remains positive after it returned to profitability driven by an uptrend across all its divisions.

Six of the founding shareholders of mining services group Maca have sold down $40 million in shares in the company, reducing their combined stake by nearly 25 per cent.

Atlas Iron has announced a shuffle of chairs in its boardroom, with David Flanagan set to become non-executive chairman by August, while Ken Brinsden has been appointed to take over Mr Flanaga

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says he will continue to press the federal government to include gold and other minerals in its proposed mining tax.

Transfield Services has more than doubled its first half profit and says it expects its full year profit will be between $130 million and $135 million.

Woodside Petroleum plans to look internatonally for new growth opportunities, after reporting a solid rise in underlying profit but little progress on its major growth projects in Australia.

The biggest pink diamond ever found by mining giant Rio Tinto is being cut and polished in a painstaking 10-day process.

Fleetwood Corporation has posted a record first half profit thanks to a rising demand for miners' homes.

The federal government's proposed mining tax does not take into account the impact it will have on the next generation of miners, a prominent economist has told an inquiry into the legislation.

The national body representing Australia's minerals industry believes the federal government's planned mining tax is workable and should be made law.

Earthmoving equipment provider Emeco says it's making the most of the resources boom, after posting a 20 per cent rise in first half profits.

Australia's second-biggest steelmaker, OneSteel, has posted a $74 million first half net loss but is bullish about its growth through its mining interests.

Strength in Western Australia's resources sector has boosted the bottom lines of local engineering and construction contractors Monadelphous, Macmahon and LogiCamms, with Monadelphous being the pic

Geraldton company Bhagwan Marine is planning to expand its oil & gas services business after gaining financial backing from private equity group Catalyst Investment Managers.

Contractor Macmahon Holdings has won a $100 million contract to design and construct the Darwin Marine Supply Base.

Developers of Western Australia's troubled $6 billion Oakajee port and rail project are hopeful it will go ahead after Japan's Mitsubishi took full control of the company today.

Imdex has lodged a record-half year result, raking in $22.7 million in net profit, up from $12.1 million the previous corresponding half year.

Gindalbie Metals has awarded Downer EDI a $64 million contract for electrical and instrumentation works at its Karara iron ore project in the Mid West.

A joint venture including Leighton subsidiary Thiess has won a $500 million contract to build storage tanks at the Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia.

Engineering firm UGL has reported a 15 per cent fall in first-half profit due to acquisition costs but it says it is on track to deliver a five per cent rise in full-year underlying profit.