High-speed swimmers at the Olympics are not the only Chinese-surprise confronting Australians. Western Australia's all-important mining industry is being hit by another Chinese event -- reinvention of the oddly-named economic phenomenon, "social-metal".

Quickstep has signed an agreement to allow US-based Vector Resources to use the company's patented Quickstep Process for advanced composites manufacturing.

Nickel miner Independence Group has eclipsed its annual net profit forecast, mainly due to higher prices for the metal.

Speeding fines all part of the business for Sandfire Resources.

ENTITIES controlled by the Chinese government are now taking major stakes in primary industries on a global scale that makes Enron's involvement in the US power industry look like child's play.