Fortescue looking to bulk up quickly

FORTESCUE Metals Group is about to embark on its next stage of expansion, confident that demand for iron ore will remain strong for more than a decade, and signalling that its initial focus will be on increasing production from its base in Western Australia's Chichester Ranges.

Fortescue ship refloated in Port Hedland

BHP Billiton says the grounding of a ship at the Port Hedland harbour illustrates why third parties should not be given access to its Pilbara rail network.

Babcock & Brown shares dive on fee flow fears

Babcock & Brown, the worst- performing stock on the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index, fell on concerns that credit market turmoil may cut proceeds from asset sales to reduce debt.

Fairfax moves to unwind margin loan

THE Fairfax Media director John B. Fairfax has unwound a margin loan over 159 million of the publisher's shares, which was believed to have prompted short-sellers to target the stock over recent weeks.

Rio Tinto rail access could 'cost $30b'

Rio Tinto says it could cost Australia $30 billion over 20 years if the company's Pilbara railways in Western Australia are open to third party access.

Australian merchant bank Babcock and Brown faces lenders

Babcock & Brown Ltd., Australia's second-largest merchant bank that last week lost half its market value, is accelerating an examination of its listed funds as it faces its bankers over a potential review of its 2.8 billion Australian dollars (US$2.7 billion) corporate debt facility.