Major Focus Minerals shareholder Shandong Gold has raised its stake in the WA explorer to some 63 per cent, squeezing out Theta Gold Mines as a potential buyer.
Five new local COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Western Australia, with hundreds now being forced to isolate after potential exposures at an event.
The Australian share market has held on to steady gains despite a surge in local coronavirus cases, with investors focusing on reports about the raging Omicron variant being less severe than previous variants.
Shares in potash hopeful Kalium Lakes were down almost 16 per cent after the company flagged likely short-term production and technical issues at the Beyondie project.
Construction and civil contractor Pilbara Resource Group has gone into administration after its major mining partner GWR Group scaled back its operations.
BHP will not match Wyloo Metals' bid for Canadian nickel play Noront Resources, clearing the way for the Forrest-backed business to acquire all capital in the company for C$1.10 apiece.
Rio Tinto has signed a deal to buy the Rincon lithium project in Argentina for $US825 million ($A1.2 billion) as majors eye a supply crunch later this decade.
Premier McGowan has extended mandatory requirements for eligible workers to receive a third booster shot and reintroduced hard borders to all Australian states.
Gina Rinehart sold off about $10.2 million worth of shares in lithium aspirant Vulcan Energy Resources as it fought to keep a damaging short selling report out of publication, an ASX notice has revealed.
Property fund manager Charter Hall's social infrastructure real estate investment trust has acquired two childcare portfolios for $134 million, including 18 WA childcare centres for $100 million.
Woodside has signed with Asian partners to develop a long-term supply chain of sustainable hydrogen from Western Australia to Singapore and potentially Japan.
Chemicals manufacturer Coogee is planning a $40 million expansion of its chlor-alkali plant south of Perth, in a bid to more than double production at the Kemerton site.
Austal's US subsidiary has been contracted for $2.8 million to deliver initial design studies for the United States Navy's Next Generation Logistics Ship program.
