The release of encouraging quarterly reports by Western Australian gold miners has failed to provide direction for the stocks' share price, as a stronger market was offset by a fall in the precious metal's price.
Gold hopeful CGA Mining plans to raise nearly $31 million from Canadian investors as Platinum Australia becomes the latest miner to enter a trading halt pending the release of capital raising details.
Newmont Mining Corp is set to take full ownership of the Boddington gold mine following AngloGold Ashanti's decision to sell its one-third interest for $1.6 billion.
Gold miner Apex Minerals has raised a total of $24.6 million in new capital, via a $19.6 million share placement and a $5 million credit facility from major shareholder Mark Creasy.
The state government says it will seal the road from Hopetoun to Bremer Bay, and provide financial assistance of $5 million, to lessen the financial impact of the closure of BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe nickel operations.
Shares in Ammtec have risen despite the company again lowering its profit guidance for the 2009 financial year as the mining downturn starts to flow through to the metallurgical testing company.
One month after announcing it will merge with Perth firm Montagu Stockbrokers, Patersons Securities has reached agreement to buy the stockbroking business of listed company Tolhurst Group for some $7 million.
Aquila Resources and its joint venture partner AMCI have ended up in a legal dispute after failing to reach agreement on plans for a new port in the Pilbara for their proposed iron ore project.
The Australian share market slumped to a five-year low as bank and resource stocks were weighed down by continuing concern about the health of the global economy following the release of economic figures from Asia.
Western Australian companies ranging from conglomerate Wesfarmers to juniors Ironbark Gold and AnaeCo have returned to the markets with a vengeance in a bid to tap fresh capital.
As companies take stock of the global financial crisis, the securities watchdog has reminded listed entities of their obligations to announce any material difference to financial results.
Gold miner Resolute Mining has raised a further $6 million through the placement of shares not taken up in the previous rights issue, as total gold production fell 10 per cent in the December quarter.
Conglomerate Wesfarmers says it expects a lower dividend for the third consecutive year as it launches a heavily discounted rights issue to raise nearly $3 billion to help pay down debt from its $20 billion Coles acquisition.
Perth-based leisure technology firm V3 has been awarded a state government tender to provide online booking technology for Tourism Western Australia's website.
Cooper Energy says it is well placed to achieve record production for the 2009 financial year as it reports a 17 per cent lift in oil production for the December quarter.
Paladin Energy has exceeded production capacity at its Langer Heinrich uranium mine for a second consecutive quarter as it extends its takeover bid for Fusion Resources.
Great Southern says it will pursue other interested parties for the sale of a Queensland forestry estate after a private international timber fund pulled out of a $23 million deal.
Newcrest Mining, Australia's biggest gold company, has delivered a drop in gold production during the second quarter and cut full year production forecasts for its Telfer mine in Western Australia.
Wesfarmers has launched an equity raising to raise a minimum of $2.8 billion, comprising a three for seven accelerated pro-rata non-renounceable offer, at $13.50 per share.
PHILANTHROPISTS fear proposed legislative changes to guidelines governing prescribed private funds could close down the majority of the charitable foundations within the next 15 years.
Kenneth Ambrecht bought 3,070 shares in Fortescue Metals Group at $2.281 per share at share market price, bringing the total value of his shares to $14,362369.
THE volume of mergers and acquisitions in the stockbroking sector is expected to pick up in 2009 as firms prepare for a new watchdog rule that will come into force later this year.
Banaszak Legal has been acquired by Leaker Partners after Damira Banaszak accepted a position of senior legal counsel with the National Australia Bank.
AGRIBUSINESS Great Southern Ltd is pursuing alternative options, including the sale of assets, as received proxy votes indicate investors may not be willing to exchange their interest in plantation
IN a bid to bring extra hotel rooms onto the market, a new study has highlighted investment opportunities in Perth's CBD by compiling a short list of commercial buildings suitable for conversion.
WESTERN Australia has suffered the biggest fall in job advertisements in December as ads across the country slump to recession-like levels, a key employment measure has found.
