Latest Headlines

The booming advisory market in Perth is creating some musical chairs among the key players, with corporate lawyer Justin Mannolini heading to Gresham Advisory Partners Ltd, prompting Freehills to fill the vacancy by appointing a new partner, Simon Reed.

Subaico-based Salinas Energy Ltd has raised $6.3 million through a share issue, allowing it to pursue further growth in its Southern California oil fields.

West Perth-based energy exploration company Blue Energy Ltd has completed its acquisition of the Cobalt Seismic Survey within its Queensland petroleum exploration tenure ATP 854, the company has announced.

The State Government has named Mirvac as the preferred proponent for the $100 million landmark hotel and residential development in Port Hedland on a 2.87 hectare site with ocean frontage, provided by the State Government.

West Perth-based Heron Resources Ltd will raise $17.2 million through the placement of 15 million shares to CVRD Inco Ltd, just days after raising the same amount in a two-tranche placement of the same number of shares to BHP Billiton.

Nickel miner Sally Malay Mining Ltd announced today that it has withdrawn from Platinum Australia Ltd's Panton PGM Project in the Kimberley.

Leederville-based mineral explorer SmartTrans Holdings Ltd has raised $3.1 million through the placement of 83 million of shares to Chinese company China Alarm Holdings Ltd.

The State Government is calling for applications to the 2008 Western Australian Consumer Protection Awards, in particular a new category recognising product safety for children, Consumer Protection Minister Sheila McHale has announced.

Perth-based Eastland Medical Systems Ltd has acquired New South Wales-based Phoenix Medical Equipment Services Pty Ltd in a cash andscrip deal valued at $90,000, the company has announced.

Claremont-based magnetic resonance imaging technology developer Resonance Health Ltd has extended the distribution deal for its liver iron monitoring device FerriScan with Switzerland-based Novartis AG, the company has announced.

Subiaco-based Gondwana Resources Ltd will acquire the Wallal Downs prospect, located 180km east of Port Hedland, for the issue of shares worth around $57,000 to vendor Ausprey Resources Pty Ltd.

West Perth-based metals explorer Azure Minerals Ltd has applied for a mining concession covering an extensive area of surface mineralisation in Sonora, Mexico.

Doubts Mid-West ore miners can deliver; Taiwan giant locks into gas deal; Stokes lifts stake in WANH to 19.4%; Shareholders seek end to BHP-Rio stand-off; Kiernan draws Olympia into grand plan.

The commanding lead held last week by Prime Minister John Howard and the Liberal Party was not all froth and bubble, according to the latest results from the Miss Maud's Coffee Bean poll.

Nedlands-based investment company Oceanic Uranium Fund Ltd will raise $50 million in its initial public offer, raising funds to pursue investments in the uranium and broader energy sectors, the company has announced.

Mineral Resources Ltd directors led by Chris Ellison have sold $36.5 million worth of shares after the scrip came out of escrow, following the release of the company's full year results.

Shares in Belmont-based Ferrowest Ltd were up 14 per cent today after the company agreed to consider a supply deal to South Korean steel manufacturer Dongbu Steel, in exchange for its consideration of investment and other forms of support for the project.

Michael Kiernan-chaired Territory Resources Ltd has acquired about 14 per cent of Herdsman-based mineral sands miner Olympia Resources Ltd, causing Olympia's share price to rise sharply for the second day running.

The 40 employees of KFC Rockingham will be relocated throughout the remaining 49 stores owned by Competitive Foods Australia Pty Ltd, as the store closes tomorrow due to a licencing dispute.

Stockbroking firm Goldman Sachs JB Were has started the process of rebuilding its Perth office by making four appointments, including the recruitment of Tait Farrow Azure co-founder Jason Farrow.

South Perth-based gold explorer Oropa Ltd will secure a 90 per cent stakes in two uranium exploration projects in Malawi through the establishment of two independent joint venture companies with the current holders, the company has announced.

A subsidiary of Subiaco-based Vital Metals Ltd, North Queensland Tungsten Pty Ltd, has received a summons alleging breaches of workplace safety laws following a fatality last year at its Watershed Tungsten project.

West Perth-based Antares Energy Ltd's planned acquisition of a 55 per cent stake in the Group A acreage of its Kenedy Ranch properties will not proceed after the project vendor terminated its offer.

Perth-based Alkane Exploration Ltd aims to raise $12.8 million through the underwritten issue of 40.1 million shares to existing shareholders on the basis of one new share for every five shares held.

Scrap metal group CMA Corporation Ltd will acquire the Chicago-based Meretec Steel Recycling Plant from metals recycler Meretec Corporation in a scrip deal worth around $7.7 million, the company has announced.

Spending on mineral and petroleum exploration in Western Australia rose by 39 per cent to $839.2 million in the 2006-2007 financial year, accounting for nearly half of the nation's total, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Carbon Neutral program run by community organisation Men of the Trees has won the 2007 WA Environment award at a showcase honouring individuals, community groups and businesses who have shown outstanding achievement in protecting the environment.

West Perth-based Atlas Iron Ltd will sell the non-iron mineral rights of its Abydos and Goldsworthy tenements to West Perth gold explorer Shaw River Resources Ltd for $1.5 million in scrip and the issue of 2.5 million options, the company has announced.

BHP threatens tougher tactics; Ausdrill pitches for a slice of WA action; Call to jail share rigging pair; Arc directors given cautious backing; Rudd flags fast paced reform push.

WA politics reclaimed the spotlight this week as Upper House MP Shelley Archer quit the ALP. Meanwhile both federal parties launched their campaigns, Foreign Affairs spokesmen were in furious agreement and our expats started voting.

Subiaco-based Natural Fuel Ltd has appointed three new directors and implemented an asset optimisation strategy over its Singapore plant, seeking to secure interim revenues while unfavourable market conditions remain, the company has announced.

If ever there was a single indicator of the strength of Western Australia's economic good fortune, tycoon Stan Perron's private investment empire would be it - basically trebling its profits in just four years.