Fraser Beattie

US energy company Apache Corporation’s chairman, president and chief executive Steven Farris announced his immediate retirement today, leaving current chief financial John Christmann to fill the role.

Chevron has signed an agreement to sell 4.15 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas from its $US54 billion Gorgon project on Barrow Island to South Korean-based industrial conglomerate SK LNG Trading.

Subiaco-based telecommunications company ZipTel says it has received a substantial amount of global traffic on its website, following the pilot release of its new app in December.

China-based Citic Group has flagged a $US1.4 billion to $US1.8 billion impairment at its Sino Iron magnetite project in the Pilbara as a result of the falling value of iron ore.

Shares in Perth-based explorer Sirius Resources were up nearly 10 per cent today after it announced a gold discovery at its Polar Bear project near Norseman.

The ports of Dampier and Port Hedland have been reopened after the threat of a tropical cyclone developing off Western Australia’s north coast eased off.

QBE Insurance Group has entered into an agreement for the sale of its US agency businesses to California-based Alliant Insurance Services for $US300 million ($A367 million).

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has recruited the former vice-president of global procurement at oil giant ExxonMobil to its board of directors, as it seeks to lift the efficiency of its business.

Ports in Western Australia's north are being evacuated while residents prepare their homes for a possible cyclone that could bring strong winds to coastal areas.

Recent trading in the uranium market shows more buyers are expecting prices to rise.

MACA has signed a new $9 million deal to provide services to Doray Minerals at its Meekatharra gold project, as the mining and civil engineering firm winds down operations at Rosslyn Hill Mining's lead operation at Paroo Station near Wiluna, which will be put on care and maintenance next month.

Programmed Maintenance Services has formed a new partnership with Perth-grown international human services company Advanced Personnel Management.

Two more mining companies have been targeted in drug raids in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

The wave of backdoor listings on the ASX in the past year suffered a setback this week, with two deals being cancelled and a third business going into administration.

Nedlands-based TFS Corporation says a $24 million investment from a new Hong Kong institutional investor in its Beyond Carbon sandalwood plantation product has settled.

Mineral sands miner Base Resources has admitted defeat in its attempt to take over World Titanium Resources.

West Perth-based explorer South Boulder Mines has tapped a private investor for nearly $2.1 million, through a placement of 10 million shares.

Six Perth-based startups have been shortlisted of the 2014-15 OzAPP Awards, which seek the most innovative tech startup companies from the Asia Pacific region.

Gold miner Doray Minerals has declared its off-market takeover of Mutiny Gold unconditional, after increasing its stake to 75.3 per cent.

Oil and gas giant Woodside Petroleum is seeking to cut costs after lower oil prices pushed revenue down 10.1 per cent during the December quarter.

The chances of an imminent interest rate cut are diminishing after a surprise surge in full-time jobs pushed unemployment down to 6.1 per cent in December, with Western Australia being the only exception to the national fall.

A new contemporary art piece that captures more than 200,000 student signatures from schools across the state will be installed at Elizabeth Quay in early April.

Northern Star Resources says it is generating over $200 million in free cash flow per year on the back of an expansion of its asset base, lower costs and increased gold sales.

Troubled gold miner St Barbara has risked collapse but says its fortunes are improving after lifting production in the December quarter.

A gas valve at a fracking site in the Kimberley region was deliberately damaged, a preliminary investigation has found.

Kerman Contracting will begin building accommodation facilities at Sirius Resources’ Nova nickel project near Norseman, two months after being named the preferred contractor for the $23 million job.

West Perth-based junior miner African Energy Resources has farmed out a 51 per cent stake in its Sese coal and power project in Botswana to a Vancouver-based firm for $8 million.

Perth-based gold producer Norton Gold Fields says it has received a $32.7 million takeover proposal from its majority shareholder Zijin Mining Group.

Perth-based mining services group Ausdrill has become a substantial shareholder in Titan Energy Services after subscribing for nearly $1 million worth of shares in the Brisbane firm’s capital raising last week.

Property investor Aspen Group has acquired a residential village estate in south-west Sydney for $7.4 million.

The satisfaction level of Australian business banking customers has reached its highest level but, rather than the big four, it’s the smaller banks that are making them happy, according to a survey by Roy Morgan Research.

Subiaco-based gold producer Northern Star Resources says high-grade drilling results at its Paulsens gold mine near Paraburdoo point towards a significant increase in resources and mine life.