Eight Australian engineers are feared dead after their private plane crashed in Malawi today en route to a uranium mine site.

The fragility of investor confidence was exposed today when the FTSE 100 Index lost hold of early gains of 66 points to close in negative territory.

Tullow Oil has announced its subsidiary, Energy Africa Gabon SA (EAGSA), has entered into a participation agreement with Forest Oil Gryphon Marin BV whereby EAGSA will earn a 15% working interest in the Gryphon Marin permit in the southern Gabon offshore.