Mark Beyer

Investors who kept their money in Australia's top blue chip stocks enjoyed great returns in the 2012-13 financial year.

Canning Vale contractor Hagstrom Drilling has expanded its east-coast presence with the acquisition of Sydney-based Australian Barge Hire.

Rio Tinto has boosted its global iron ore production to a record level during the June 2013 quarter, as it reviews new options to achieve its growth target at its Pilbara operations. Rio has also disclosed the high cost of a legal dispute with Gina Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting.

Struggling engineering contractor VDM Group has outlined plans to diversify into procurement and mining, after an independent expert ticked off a capital raising that will transfer day-to-day control

Law firm Ashurst has announced key appointments as it moves closer to full financial integration of its Australian and international practices.

Property group PBD Developments has achieved an uptick in sales at its Oceanique project, after cutting apartment prices and completing a company recapitalisation.

Long-running attempts to revive Swan Gold Mining have hit a brick wall, with the company unable to complete a planned $15 million capital raising despite boasting a high-powered board of directors.

In his usual forthright manner, state Treasurer and Transport Minister Troy Buswell made some pointed comments earlier this year about the role of the state’s port authority boards.

The new-found restraint characterising chief executive salaries has not extended to Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings, which has announced that new boss Don Voelte could earn $7.2 million each year.