Brisbane-based Intrepid Mines is set to benefit from a full exposure to the gold price as it closes its hedge book for its Paulsens gold mine in Western Australia.
Subiaco-based Red Emperor Resources plans to raise $25 million early next year as it enters into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in a Russian project for nearly $14 million.
The state government will inject an extra $400 million over the next four years into the royalties for regions scheme as the policy that tipped Premier Colin Barnett into power is officially launched today.
Fortescue Metals Group says it is reviewing the legal status of its shipping contracts as it reveals today that disputes have arisen from a decision to suspend two-thirds of its long-term ship charter contracts.
The federal government's white paper on emissions targets has received mixed responses from lobby groups and companies across the country, while one of the loudest critics of the scheme keeps relatively quiet.
West Perth-based Red Hill Iron says it will review its legal options over its participation rights to share in port and rail infrastructure of the West Pilbara iron ore project, spearheaded by Aquila Resources.
Western Australia's economy is expected to slow by almost 40 per cent in 2008/09 and nearly 50 per cent the following financial year as the fallout from the global financial crisis impacts the state and demand for resources commodities wanes.
The weaker Australian dollar is expected to provide a buffer for Australia's commodity export earnings, which is forecast to drop by over 10 per cent for the 2009 financial year.
Manganese miner OM Holdings has revealed it has suspended shipments at a loss of over $12 million in response to weaker market conditions, which has also prompted a 30 per cent cut to annual production next year.
Nickel miner Albidon says it will slash its mining workforce in Zambia by half and downsize its Perth office as part of cost cutting measures following an operational review.
Regional energy supplier Horizon Power has teamed up with PowerCorp and SunPower Australia to build two solar power stations in the Pilbara, valued at $25 million.
Clean energy technology group Orbital Corp says it expects to post a loss of up to $2.7 million for the first half 2008/09 as it reviews its option to maintain its interest in a manufacturing joint venture.
While the string of rate cuts has improved the prospects for home buyers, affordability issues remain for renters as the weekly fee in Perth jumps over 60 per cent during the past three years.
Shares in West Perth-based Bass Metals have jumped as high as 40 per cent today after it reached agreement to buy the Hellyer processing plant from Intec for $4 million.
Western Australia has led the national job decline in November with the unemployment rate jumping up to 3 per cent seasonally adjusted, while economists are tipping the national jobless rate to rise to 5.5 per cent within a year.
Burrup Fertiliser chief Pankaj Oswal has emerged as a substantial holder in West Perth-based Phosphate Australia, spending over $2 million for a near 6 per cent slice.
Further charges are likely to be made against two senior public officers, charged with stealing up to $1.2 million from the Department of Industry and Resources.
Rio Tinto's shares surged over 10 per cent at the start of trade in response to its plans to slash 14,000 jobs, cut spending and costs and sell assets due to the global economic crisis.
AT a time when most directors are shoring up their interest in their own companies, Western Areas chairman Terrence Streeter has sold nearly $2 million worth of shares for the December month so far.
THE recent encroachment of Chinese producers into the state's resource sector has brought into question the value of shareholder returns, with cost plus off-take deals playing into Chinese hands.
Embattled technology developer Structural Monitoring has raised over $1 million through a rights issue, enough to keep the company going on a reduced cost basis.
Construction of a new $420 million NewGen Neerabup gas-fired power station has begun, with the 330 megawatt plant to provide additional capacity to the South West Interconnected System starting from next summer.
The global economic crisis has prompted the competition watchdog to give approval to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's $2.1 billion acquisition of BankWest and St Andrew's Australia from troubled UK-based parent HBOS plc.
Nickel miner Mincor Resources says it will suspend operations at its Miitel mine after Christmas as it details cost cutting measures to carry it through the mining downturn.
Bulk commodities iron ore and coal have largely driven Australia's export earnings to a record $42.6 billion for the September quarter, just before prices took a dive.
