Mining

A five year agreement to supply subsea equipment and support services for the part Chevron Australia Pty Ltd owned Gorgon Project has been awarded to GE oil and gas business VectoGray.

West Perth based Straits Resources Ltd subsidiary, Straits Asia Resources Ltd, has posted a quarterly net profit of over $21 million ($US20.1 million), an increase of 139 per cent on the same quarter last year.

West Perth based Washington Resources has signed a joint venture agreement with exploration company Western Desert, allowing Western Desert to explore one of its Northern Territory tenements.

West Perth based Otto Energy Ltd are planning to raise $15 million to fund drilling preparations, site surveys and costs associated with its two permits in Po Valley, Italy.

Gwalia pursues Portman for royalty; NAB won't rule out rival bid; Resources boom for 20 years; BHP market value surges past $250bn on Chinese whispers; Chemicals tycoon snaps up Repcol stake

AUTOMOTIVE manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges with escalating costs, changing environmental regulations, and warnings about peak oil across the globe.

HIT by the high cost of feedstocks, biofuel players Mission Biofuels Ltd and Australian Renewable Fuels Ltd are seeking to adapt their strategies as rising agricultural product prices disrupt their business models.

IT may not be considered a sexy commodity compared with the likes of iron and gold, but the rapidly growing importance of potassium and phosphate is attracting the focus of a number of resource companies based in Western Australia.

Swan's $65bn megabank test; NRW in legal tussle over ore truck tyres; Burrup price trimmed as float plan back on track; Rate rises spur slide in housing loans; Oxiana bid for Zinifex a fair deal, says expert

Overland Resources Limited has entered into subscription agreements with institutional, sophisticated and industry investors to raise $10 million through the issue of 20 million new shares at $0.50 per share, with the issue subject to shareholder approval

Chinese circling Fortescue; Confession season intensifies as earnings growth slows; Coventry at 30-year low as investors wait; Bad debts threaten banks' double-digit profit growth; Globetrotter thrives on making virtue of family

Applecross-based global education services group Navitas Ltd has announced a joint venture between its part-owned student recruitment business, EduGlobal China Ltd, and online higher education company, Open Universities Australia (OUA).

Perth based nickel producer, Minara Resources, has appointed current chair of nickel group Xstrata Australia, Peter Coates, as its new chairman.

Rio Tinto subsidiary Hamersley Holdings has increased its interest in AusQuest to 6.9 per cent following the exercise of five million options at 40 cents per share.

HERE at the Note we often imagine what it's like to be a fly on the wall when the big deals are brokered. Alas, the detail is often left out in the announcements we peruse.

The Australian Prospectors & Miners Hall of Fame Foundation is appealing to the mining community to help it raise $10 million.

As the state's winemakers emerge from a tough few years, the industry has a different look to it.

Hit by the high cost of feedstocks, biofuels players Mission Biofuels Ltd and Australian Renewable Fuels Ltd are both seeking to adapt their strategies as rising agricultural product prices disrupt their business models.

A new $21 million oil and gas training facility has been opened in Henderson by the Federal and State Governments.

Rivervale-based Aurium Resources Ltd has acquired its second company for this year, following the takeover of Northern Territory-based Jarra Resources Ltd for up to $15.3 million.

Nickel miner Sally Malay Mining Ltd is to purchase Liontown Resources Ltd's Cowan Nickel Project assets in the easter Goldfields in a deal worth about $2 million.

Chinese steel company Shougang Corporation has agreed to invest up to 19.9 per cent in Perth-based Prosperity Resources Ltd via a share placement.

Pilbara iron ore explorer FerrAus Ltd has become the latest resource company to attract the interest of China, with mining and smelting company Western Mining Co Ltd to take a 10 per cent stake.

Western Australian exploration company Focus Minerals Ltd has acquired a further 50 per cent interest in the Coolgardie Gold Project.

Western Australian gold exploration company Castle Minerals Ltd, has intersected shallow gold mineralisation at its Akoko North site in Ghana.

West Perth based Nickel miner Mincor Resources NL has intersected Nickel near its Otter Juan nickel mine in Kambalda, Western Australia.

West Perth based mineral exploration company Beacon Minerals Ltd has announced positive results from its Barlee Gold Project in Western Australia, saying it will provide confidence for further regional exploration.

Consolidation in the Australian nickel sector looks far from over, following recent speculation and events surrounding Perth-based Albidon Ltd.

Chinese interest in Australia's iron ore sector has gone to a new level, with East Perth-registered exploration company Legacy Iron Ore Ltd seeking to list on the stock market.

A Spin-off company from Perth-based explorer Carrick Gold Ltd is aiming to list on the stock market late next month, after raising up to $8 million in its initial public offering.

Tony Sage, a director of Australian iron ore exploration and development company Cape Lambert Iron Ore Limited, has increased his stake in the company to 6.4 per cent following a conversion of nine million options.

Litigation funder Hillcrest Litigation Services Ltd said today it was endeavouring to reach an agreement with client Julian Wright following the multi-million dollar settlement of the court case involving Mr Wright's family.