News

Aspiring minerals sands miner Sheffield Resources has signed an offtake agreement with a Chinese processor for more than half the zircon concentrate produced at its planned $348 million Thunderbird project near Derby.

Finders Resources has received the backing of some high-profile Perth investors in its opposition to a hostile takeover offer, with Euroz's Tim Lyons, billionaire Ralph Sarich and Brettney Fogarty among a list of shareholders to have indicated they will not accept the 23-cents-a-share bid.

ANZ has agreed to sell its life and consumer credit insurance business OnePath Life to international insurance giant Zurich for $2.85 billion.

The Australian share market is moderately stronger in early trade amid solid gains from the big miners.

Watchdog tells TPG to act on NBN payouts or it's court

ICON Engineering has secured a subsea rig interface contract with Woodside for the Greater Enfield oil development off Exmouth.

Mineral Resources has launched a $484 million takeover bid for oil and gas group AWE amid the ongoing battle for control of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth.

The Australian share market ended the first trading day of the week slightly higher amid lower volumes ahead of this week's key data releases.

Three engineering alliances have been shortlisted for a $47 million 'smart freeways' project that will use technology to convert the emergency lane on part of Kwinana Freeway into a full-time traffic lane.

A joint venture between engineering groups Downer and Ausenco has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for OZ Minerals' Carrapateena copper gold project in South Australia.

Three senior government ministers faced the cameras this morning to promote plans for a new high school in Subiaco, which will link with shared public open space at the neighbouring football oval.

Perth-based shipbuilder Austal has signed a memorandum of understanding with JR Kyushu Jet Ferry to develop a new high-speed trimaran passenger ferry for the company's Japan-to-South Korea route.

Optus will compensate almost 9,000 customers after failing to provide them with the fast national broadband network speeds it promised.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended conditional approval for Tellus Holdings to develop a clay mine and waste storage facility at its proposed Sandy Ridge project in the Goldfields.

The directors of Osborne Park-based Tox Free Solutions have decided to cash-in on 17 years of successful national growth by accepting a friendly $671 million takeover offer from waste management competitor Cleanaway.

The Australian share market has started higher as local investors build on the positive momentum from Wall Street on Friday.

Winter harvest gloom lifts for grain farmers

RugbyWA is out of voluntary administration after Rugby Australia waived a legal debt of more than $1 million.

The Australian maker of a sonar-based shark detection system, which was recently adopted for trial in southern California, has dropped its toothy name as it chases bigger fish.

The Australian share market has ended the day comfortably higher with an end-of-week rally across most sectors, led by a jump in energy stocks.

EY's Perth managing partner, Mike Anghie, is planning to join APM as its chief executive, four months after advising Quadrant Private Equity on the purchase of a 60 per cent stake in what is Australia's largest privately owned human services company.

BGC Contracting announced today that it has been awarded two contracts with mining giant BHP Billiton at its Pilbara iron ore facilities.

Belmont-based Zenith Energy has signed a power purchase agreement to build a 15-megawatt power station at Gascoyne Resources' Dalgaranga gold project.

A Chinese state-owned energy company has stepped up its efforts to gain control of the Waitsia gas field north of Perth, launching a hostile bid today for oil and gas group AWE after withdrawing its proposal for a friendly takeover earlier this week.

The western rock lobster industry contributes $282 million and around 900 jobs directly to the Western Australian economy with an overall impact of more than $500 million, a new report has found.

The Australian share market has gained ground in early trade, thanks to a lift in oil prices and a positive lead from Wall Street.

Tropicana funded for longer life

The state parliament has passed legislation today that seeks to guarantee Western Australian businesses a larger share of government contracts, after the auditor general found major flaws in the existing Buy Local policy in a report tabled earlier this week.

Junior explorer Walkabout Resources will tap investors for up to $10 million through a placement and rights issue as the company continues exploration at its African projects.

Australian shares have closed higher after a strong day for the big four banks and most other heavyweight stocks.

Finders Resources' second-largest largest shareholder, Taurus Funds Management, has rejected a 23-cents-a-share bid for the copper miner by Indonesian group Eastern Field Developments.

Byrnecut executive chairman Steve Coughlan has slammed the state government's decision to crack down on payroll tax exemptions, saying his company will no longer receive the exemption for courses being undertaken by 1,200 employees.