Isabel Vieira

Australian-listed explorers raised a bolstered $3.02 billion during the December quarter after lithium and gold topped the charts for the most funds secured.

Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad has bought national equipment hire agency Onsite Rental for $635 million to diversify its presence in the Australian market.

Matrix Composites and Engineering is set to raise $20 million to execute its pipeline of contracts and secure future opportunities.

Exploration company Valor Resources is one step closer to beginning maiden drilling at its copper and silver project in Peru after securing environmental approval.

Mineral sands junior Sheffield Resources is set to raise $30 million to potentially expand its nearly constructed Kimberly project and to assess a business opportunity in Brazil.

APM Human Services has returned to the black after recording a $50.1 million profit and declaring dividends in its first-half report.

Perth-based NRW Holdings has secured a $24 million contract from aspiring miner Bellevue Gold for work at its nameplate project in the northern Goldfields.

Gina Rinehart-backed Catalyst Metals has inked a $C55 million merger with Toronto-based Superior Gold, just a month after securing control of Vango Mining.

Western Australia has the largest gender pay gap in the country, with men earning an average $478.10 more per week than women in a state dominated by mining and construction.