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Sinosteel is a step closer to full control of Midwest Corporation Ltd after Midwest shareholder Murchison Metals Ltd reversed its previous opposition to the Chinese company's takeover offer.

Unites States company Cleveland-Cliffs is looking to spend nearly $600 million on acquisitions in Western Australia as it moves to fully own iron ore miner Portman Ltd and acquire a 30 per cent slice in explorer AusQuest Ltd.

Some 50 per cent of shareholders have passed up Perth-based Axiom Properties Ltd's rights issue, with the company managing to raise $5.7 million from a targeted $11 million.

Shares in Perilya Ltd have dropped by over 40 per cent on news it will sell its Mount Oxide copper and cobalt project to West Perth-based Chalice Gold Mines Ltd in a scrip deal worth $25 million.

AusQuest Ltd director John Ashley said he is not concerned of a takeover by acquisitive US company Cleveland-Cliffs, which will take a 30 per cent stake in the Ardross-based minerals explorer.

Western Australia's Nationals party has been handed more power in the outcome of the state election, with independent member for Kalgoorlie John Bowler announcing he will side with the party, potentially strengthening the Liberal claim to government.

The Federal Court of Australia has ordered a meeting of Aquila Resources Ltd's shareholders in October to consider the 'scheme' for the demerger of certain of the company's exploration interests in new company Aquila Exploration Limited.

The schedule for Australia's largest gold mine could be extended as manager Newmont Mining Corporation said work on the Boddington operation is now 83 per cent complete.

The Western Australian Electoral Commission is aiming to have an election result by the end of this weekend as postal votes make their way to the counting room.

Ausdrill Ltd joint venture vehicle, African Underground Mining Services, has won a four-year $90 million production mining contract with the West African Red Back Mining.

Air passengers travelling with Skywest will be able to save a few dollars with the recent decline in oil prices prompting the airline to decrease it fuel surcharges, however Qantas and Virgin Blue have indicated they won't be moving any time soon to cut t

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said the introduction of an emissions trading scheme could potentially present the biggest challenge to business and industry over the last 50 years, as it lodged its submission with the federal government today.

Western Australia has recorded the country's lowest jobless rate for August with the latest national figures surprising economist who say the overall fall lessens the chance of an October interest rate cut.

Rio Tinto has emerged as the mystery buyer behind an 11 per cent parcel of shares in uranium explorer Extract Resources Ltd, which could be a hurdle in the company's planned merger with West Perth-based Kalahari Minerals Ltd.

The Kimberley Land Council has released its shortlist of potential site suitable for the development of a liquified natural gas hub with the government's Northern Development Taskforce to release its shortlist after the election result is known.

Western Australia's Treasury has thrown an obstacle in the path of negotiations on the formation of a state government.

US stocks wobbled higher today as investors mulled troubled investment giant Lehman Brothers' news of hefty losses and plans to sell assets to shore up its finances.

Nats demand 'risks rating'; Seven's $320m buyback will hand Stokes majority control; Lehman woes rattle global markets; Sinosteel talks Midwest chief into leaving, eyes 13.2pc stake; Dollar sinks below 80 US cents

Saville Australia and Babcock & Brown, the beleaguered joint venture partners behind the redevelopment of the former Emu Brewery site, may have secured a lifeline in the form of Leighton Properties.

FOR much of 2007, iron was the mineral of choice for speculators.Companies like Midwest, Atlas, and Sundance Resources all rose like phoenixes out of the ashes, with paper fortunes made and more recently lost, as share prices tumbled. During this time, ma

HISMELT, Minara Resources and Rocla Quarry have been recognised for their excellence and leadership in environmental responsibility at this year's Golden Gecko awards.

WESTERN Australian resource stocks have made a strong showing in the latest changes to index provider Standard & Poor's ASX indices, as companies dabbling in financial services are shown the door.

THE state's geothermal industry has been given a kick-start with the government awarding a private Guildford-based company the first exploration permits in Western Australia.

THE Nationals WA's surprise result in last weekend's election is likely to provide a boost for business in regional Western Australia, with the next state government forced to deliver improved infrastructure and services outside the Perth metropolitan are

Continued strong growth in iron ore and gas projects in the Pilbara has underpinned WA's economic growth.

A SHORTAGE of qualified tradespeople is one of the downsides of Western Australia's mining boom for many small businesses, which struggle to compete with the mining sector in attracting and retaining staff.

Antaria Ltd Thibaut Mortier has resigned as director. APA Financial Services Ltd Mark Perry has resigned from the board of directors.

FORMER executive chairman of the failed winemaker Evans & Tate, Franklin Tate, questioned continuing his career in the wine business when he stopped running the company in 2005.

The nickel industry in Western Australia, like the nickel price, has experienced highs and lows over the years.

WABN: Describe a day at work.WABN: Describe a day at work. SB: "My day starts at 8.30 with clearing the email trail, continues with writing reports, budgets or funding applications, meeting with young artists, arts workers or government/corporate heads a

THE resources sector has not been reassured by Ross Garnaut's latest report on a national emissions trading scheme, despite the 10 per cent reduction target by 2020 being labelled too low by environmental groups.

The growth of state's iron ore province in the Mid West has been a lot slower than many companies had predicted, with some of the massive projects set to change the face of the region yet to get under way.