Fraser Beattie

Perth-based Matrix Composites & Engineering has won a $6 million contract for work with an unnamed Chinese manufacturer.

Vimy Resources has appointed GR Engineering Services as study manager for a definitive feasibility study on its Mulga Rock uranium project near Kalgoorlie.

Subiaco-based Triton Minerals has been placed into voluntary administration, only two days after the graphite explorer's recently appointed chief executive Garth Higgo said it was well poised to advance its projects toward production.

A component of a pre-feasibility study on Gascoyne Resources’ Dalgaranga gold project has confirmed a $75 million cost to bring it into production.

Private health insurers will increase their premiums by more than 5 per cent within weeks after winning approval from Health Minister Sussan Ley.

Aspiring mineral sands miner Sheffield Resources has appointed engineering group Hatch to undertake a bankable feasibility study on its Thunderbird project near Derby.

Five junior resources companies have completed a combined $16.4 million worth of capital raisings to fund ongoing work at their respective operations.

Western Australia’s tourism industry is falling behind the rest of the country, with figures today revealing WA experienced the lowest growth in international visitors last year.

Industrial technology company Orbital Corporation has further strengthened its balance sheet after holders of convertible notes elected to take shares in the business, rather than a cash return.

Medical marijuana company MMJ Phytotech has tapped investors for a $5 million capital raising to fund its entry into the Australian market.

Dwelling values in Perth fell 1.1 per cent last month while house price growth in other capital cities in Australia showed signs of slowing.

Perth-based engineering and construction business Valmec has won a $24 million contract to provide its services to the Australia Pacific LNG project in Queensland for Origin Energy.

Shares in gold hopeful Alicanto Minerals have surged on news the company has signed a $US10 million ($A14 million) earn-in agreement with Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold for its Arakaka project in Guyana.

After nearly eight years of inactivity on the ASX, Michael Fotios’s Eastern Goldfields could be reinstated as early as next month after announcing today its capital raising had closed oversubscribed.

Subiaco-based gold miner Perseus Mining has launched an all-scrip bid for London-listed Amara Mining in a deal worth about $85 million.

Perth-based Lucapa Diamond Company has sold a recently recovered 404-carat diamond from its Lulo mine in Angola for $22.5 million.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has bolstered its board with the appointment of a former Shell executive, while Dacian Gold has welcomed a prominent lawyer to its board.

Local IT firm ASG Group has received $112 million in contract extensions, with the majority attributed to work for the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

Mortgage broking wholesaler Australian Finance Group has continued its growth run with an increase in profit for the six months to December.

Shares in sandalwood producer TFS Corporation were up nearly 25 per cent today after the company announced an increase in profit, but declared no interim dividend.

Property developer Diploma Group has entered into a heads of terms for the sale of its Quest apartment hotel on Adelaide Terrace.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has signed a project development agreement with US-based Sempra Energy for a potential liquefied natural gas plant in Texas.

Copper and gold miner Sandfire Resources has reported a near-50 per cent fall in half-year profit, but shareholders will still receive an interim payout.

After a solid start to the financial year, mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has posted a $107.2 million half-year loss as a result of impairments to its Canadian business.

The board and management of Western Areas will take a pay cut after the nickel miner slumped into the red with a $20 million half-year net loss.

Blackham Resources hopes to begin producing at its Matilda gold project near Wiluna within six months, after a definitive feasibility study confirmed it will cost $32 million to bring the mine into production.

Local gold miners Saracen Mineral Holdings, Silver Lake Resources and St Barbara reported a profitable six months, however shareholders won’t be seeing any returns in the form of dividends.

Waste management company Tox Free Solutions has posted a slight increase in profit despite a dip in revenue, but has increased its return to shareholders.

The downturn in mining and construction activity in Western Australia has delivered a mixed bag of results for several contractors today, with the major surprise being a downgrade in MACA's revenue outlook.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group will continue slashing costs after first-half profit dropped 4 per cent to $US319 million ($A442 million), as fellow miner BC Iron reported a half-year loss of $62.9 million amid falling prices.

Shares in Atlas Iron have surged despite the iron ore miner reporting a half-year loss of $114 million.

Power generation company Pacific Energy has won a contract to supply electricity to Doray Minerals’ Deflector gold project in the Murchison region for an undisclosed sum.