Rebecca Lawson

Shares in Perth-based explorer Buru Energy have been placed in a trading halt amid speculation that a $41 million cash takeover proposal by its chairman, using the company's cash reserves, may be dropped.

Avoca Resources says takeover target Dioro Exploration needs a "reality check" over the high valuation of its shares which is around 180 per cent higher than the company's current share price.

Private equity fund Harmony Capital has moved to full ownership of the state's largest meatworks, Harvey Beef, after buying out partners Elders and Stark Investments.

Local government councils in the Wheatbelt may stop issuing permits for operators of larger grain trucks as the deadline for the state government to commit an initial $45 million to upgrade rail lines for grain transport passes.

Perth property developer Match has won a national award for its Home project, a mixed-use development that has re-invented one of the city's prominent heritage buildings.

Aurox Resources is at a loss to explain its 75 per cent share price jump after it received a speeding ticket from the Australian Securities Exchange.

Gunson Resources will build its processing plant for the Coburn zircon project in Western Australia instead of China as it selects Intermet Engineering as its preferred engineering contractor.

Empire Beer Group is taking a step away from the hospitality industry and is hunting for acquisition opportunities in the industrial and resources sector following a near $2 million raising.

Shares in Perth-based Resolute Mining have risen after the company produced first gold at its redeveloped Syama mine in Mali.

VDM Group expects to book an operating loss for the 2009 financial year as current business conditions result in a write off of goodwill by up to $85 million.

Alcoa has vowed to defend any legal action launched by residents and spearheaded by celebrity activist Erin Brockovich over the company's Wagerup refinery.

Mid West iron ore hopefuls Gindalbie Metals and Asia Iron are not concerned by a cap on export volumes through Geraldton port, saying the limit only comes into place once the nearby Oakajee port is ready.

Sinosteel Midwest Corporation will appeal the environmental watchdog's rejection of a crucial part of its iron ore mining plans, which the company says will prevent the entire project from going ahead.

Resource stocks have helped to continue the positive momentum in the Deloitte WA Index with the collective market capitalisation of WA's top 100 companies jumping 54 per cent over the past four months.

Straits Resources has taken a substantial shareholding in Adamus Resources as the latter steps up debt and equity talks for its $95 million gold project in Ghana.

West Perth-based Exco Resources has raised more than $7 million for its share of development costs for the White Dam gold project in South Australia.

Property developer Cedar Woods Properties has reaffirmed its profit guidance for the 2009 financial year which is expected to reach $7.5 million.

Shares in Fortescue Metals Group have surged 21 per cent amid speculation that Chinese interests could have the Pilbara iron ore miner in their sights.

Shares in soon-to-be transformed Croesus Mining have soared after the company completed a $7 million capital raising with shares priced at a hefty premium.

Miner Kagara has locked in $91 million of its $262 million capital raising, receiving strong support from institutional shareholders.

Engineering and infrastructure company GRD has become the latest acquisition target for UK-based AMEC, which has proposed a $106 million cash takeover offer.

PERTH'S stockbroking scene has undergone some major changes over the past year as the sector repositions itself to take advantage of growing market confidence.

JUNIOR explorer BC Iron has finalised a company-making deal after it agreed to give up half of its Pilbara iron ore project in exchange for access to Fortescue Metals Group's port and rail facilities.

THE state's iron ore juniors are predicted to reap the rewards from the collapse of the Rio Tinto and Chinalco deal, with Chinese investment likely to flow to emerging iron ore producers.

Reward Minerals has appealed to the Commonwealth Attorney General to have last month's decision by the Native Title Tribunal over the Lake Disappointment project overruled.

Retail sales in Western Australia are forecast to surge more than 4 per cent in fiscal 2012 after a slight contraction the year before as the economy feels the effects of higher unemployment as the current pipeline of projects dries up, new figures show.

One-time disgruntled Cape Lambert Iron Ore shareholder, Mick Shemesian, has sold his entire 11.5 per cent stake in the company earlier today.

Melbourne-based explorer Karoon Gas has raised $150 million that will help spur exploration of its joint venture project in the Browse Basin with ConocoPhillips.

The board of West Perth-based Adamus Resources has given the go-ahead for development of its $95 million Southern Ashanti gold project in Ghana, which will generate $124 million for the company in the first two years.

Takeover target Hannans Reward says it will refocus its funds and efforts towards exploration after suitor Fox Resources decided to withdraw its offer.

Miner Kagara has finally lifted the veil on its capital raising plans, announcing it will raise up to $262 million with a Chinese company to subscribe for a 15 per cent stake.

Chevron has reportedly secured Asian customers for the bulk of the liquefied natural gas supply from its $50 billion Gorgon project.