Mining

US oil prices have shot up to a 2015 peak after a slight dip in US oil production sparked talk that the glutted petroleum market could be turning.

Stratum Metals has become the sixth Western Australian company to cancel a backdoor listing deal in the past year, with the Nedlands-based business reviewing its future options, including plans for the East Menzies gold project, after walking away from a planned reverse takeover of a US technology venture.

The corporate watchdog has banned stockbroker Anton Kerstens from providing financial services for five years, following an investigation that found he had manipulated the share price of Perth-based uranium explorer Cauldron Energy.

IMX Resources has signed an offtake deal with a Chinese enterprise for graphite concentrate from its Chilalo project in Tanzania.

Gold and copper miner PanAust has rejected a state owned Chinese company's $1.1 billion takeover bid, describing the offer as inadequate.

Lower oil prices and sales coupled with a natural disaster contributed to a 20.1 per cent slide in Woodside Petroleum’s revenue for the March quarter, but wrapping up its Apache Corporation asset purchase lifted contingent reserves by 151 per cent.

Gold cut losses on Tuesday, as the dollar turned lower after US retail sales and producer prices data came in weaker than expected, but prices remained below $US1,200 an ounce on higher equities.

Global oil prices have risen for the fourth straight day, with US prices jumping after a government report predicted a drop in US shale-oil production.

The national interest comes a distant second to self-preservation when states’ economies take a turn for the worse.

The Water Corporation is cutting 10 per cent of its workforce, with about 300 full-time jobs to go, as it reduces the amount of capital investment.in new infrastructure.

Mining contractor Maca has suffered another blow to its order book, with Sinosteel Midwest Corporation announcing plans to halt operations at its Blue Hills hematite project in the Mid West after failing to gain environmental approval for an expansion.

Perth-based gold producer Troy Resources has announced its intention to delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange due to a lack of demand for its shares in the Canadian market.

Phoenix Gold will wrap up mining at its Kintore West project this month and suspend upcoming small mining projects to save money, as it shifts focus to developing its Castle Hill project near Kalgoorlie with joint venture partner Norton Gold Fields.

Perth-based oil explorer Red Emperor Resources says delays at its Georgian project have been caused by joint venture partner Range Resources, which has failed to carry out a planned drilling program.

Fortescue Metals Group has restructured rosters for mine workers at its operations in the Pilbara, in its latest move to cope with plunging iron ore prices.

Gold dropped for a fourth session in five as the US dollar firmed, backed by expectations the Federal Reserve may be on course to raise US interest rates soon.

World oil prices have modestly extended last week's gains in cautious trade as investors digest news of another rise in US crude oil inventories in an abundantly supplied global market.

Shareholders in Tanami Gold have overwhelmingly supported a tie-up with Northern Star Resources, despite the threat of legal action from rival miner and would-be partner Metals X.

The University of Western Australia has launched a new attempt to capitalise of the fruits of the fast-fading resources boom by highlighting the value of human capital that has created in fields such as engineering.

Former mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has secured a job as an adviser to nickel explorer Rumble Resources as he steps up his return to the resources sector.

Oz Minerals plans to release the outcome of a company-wide review later in April as it looks to cut costs following a downturn in commodity prices.

Nedlands-based gold explorer Promesa has announced plans to shift its focus to technology by acquiring social media platform and app developer Thredit.

Price and production uncertainty over a range of commodities is flowing through to port investments, with enthusiasm for development taking a back seat to pragmatism.

The state government is hoping its significant infrastructure spend will arrest the slowdown in business investment as the resources boom wanes.

Contractors Maca, Mineral Resources and Qube Holdings have downplayed the impact of Atlas Iron's decision to halt iron ore production over the coming month, while transport contractor McAleese Group is still evaluating the likely impact.

Gold has risen as chart levels were broken, but was still heading for its first weekly fall in four weeks, pressured by a stronger greenback and renewed expectations for a US rate rise this year.

Atlas Iron has announced it will halt all production at its three Pilbara iron ore mines over the next month, a move that is likely to result in the loss of more than 500 jobs.

Woodside Petroleum has closed its $US854 million ($A1.1 billion) purchase of Apache Corporation’s interests in the Kitimat LNG project in Canada, a week after finalising the WA component of the sale.

A new supply deal struck this week by Western Australia’s largest buyer of domestic gas, Alcoa of Australia, has confirmed the availability of gas for customers prepared to pay the going price.

Oil and gas company Zeta Petroleum has launched a proposal to acquire full ownership of Sydney-based Pan Pacific Petroleum by buying all the shares it doesn’t already own in the company, in a deal worth $29.4 million.

Pioneer Credit has taken a 14.1 per cent stake in Kalgoorlie-based financial institution Goldfields Money for $2.3 million as the two companies make plans for a joint working relationship.

Gold retreated for a third straight session on Thursday on a stronger dollar after comments from US Federal Reserve officials kept alive expectations for an interest rate rise some time this year d