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A Busy Day for Australian Miners: Acquisitions, Contracts, and Production Updates

Rapid Critical Metals Expands NSW Silver Footprint
Rapid Critical Metals Limited (ASX: RCM) has made a strategic move, acquiring an 80% controlling interest in the Tooloom Silver Project in northern New South Wales. The 121km² project area covers a historical silver district with over 80 workings, and the company sees strong exploration potential, with past drilling returning high-grade silver intercepts and numerous untested high-grade surface samples. Rapid plans to aggressively explore the project, aiming to define drill targets and advance it towards potential resource definition. This acquisition significantly expands the company's New South Wales silver footprint, complementing its existing Webbs Silver Project.

GR Engineering Secures $68M Northparkes Contract
GR Engineering Services Limited (ASX: GNG) has been awarded a $68 million engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the Northparkes Coarse Particle Flotation Project in New South Wales. The project, located 300 km west of Sydney, is expected to increase copper recovery and improve energy efficiency at the Northparkes operations. GR Engineering's Managing Director, Tony Patrizi, highlighted the company's proven process design record and EPC delivery capability, which have led to this contract award from long-term client Evolution Mining.

Orora Flags Impacts from Middle East Conflict
Packaging company Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) has provided a trading update for FY26, citing the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on its Saverglass business. The company now expects Saverglass FY26 underlying EBIT to be approximately €52m to €59m, down from previous guidance of broadly in line with FY25 EBIT of €79.2m. This reduction reflects both direct impacts on the company's Ras al Khaimah facility in the United Arab Emirates, as well as indirect impacts from lower volumes and a shift towards lower-margin products. Orora has decided to transition the Ras al Khaimah facility to a closed-loop 'hot' operation, with production shifting to Mexico.

Bendigo Bank Announces Strategic Partnerships
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) has unveiled the second phase of its Productivity Program, which includes entering into strategic partnerships with Infosys and Genpact. The seven-year technology service partnership with Infosys aims to significantly improve the bank's IT service delivery capability, while the six-year business operations partnership with Genpact will drive greater productivity and support stronger risk management. These changes are expected to result in an annual run rate expense benefit of $65 million to $75 million by FY28, but the bank also anticipates incurring upfront transition costs of $85 million to $95 million, mainly in FY27.

Alkane Resources Maintains FY2026 Production Guidance
Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) has reported strong quarterly gold production of 45,776 ounces of gold equivalent (AuEq) for the March 2026 quarter. The company's robust balance sheet, with $374 million in cash, bullion, and listed investments, and its debt-free status (excluding equipment finance) provide a solid foundation. Alkane has maintained its FY2026 production guidance of 160,000 to 175,000 AuEq ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of A$2,600 to A$2,900 per AuEq ounce, demonstrating the resilience of its operations.