B08 Metal Ore Mining

Fund managers cautious on resources rally

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Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 15-Aug-16

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has gained 3.5 per cent so far in 2016. In contrast, the resources sector (excluding gold stocks) has gained about 15 per cent in the year to date. However, some analysts have questioned whether the sector’s recent performance can be sustained. ST Wong of Prime Value Asset Management suggests that further economic stimulus measures in China will be needed in order to boost demand for commodities.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, PRIME VALUE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, FIDELITY AUSTRALIAN OPPORTUNITIES FUND, FORAGER FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, MACMAHON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MAH, MONADELPHOUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX MND, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

Man who tipped iron ore upturn sees it going on

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Original article by Jasmine Ng
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 12-Aug-16

The iron ore price has averaged around $US53 per tonne so far in 2016. Prestige Economics president Jason Schenker has forecast that the price of the steel input will average $US55 per tonne for the full calendar year. He also expects it to trade at around $US60 per tonne in the second half, while he says it will rise to $US62 in 2017 and $US72 in 2018. Schenker had forecast in October 2015 that the iron ore price would rebound, citing factors such as economic stimulus measures in China.

CORPORATES
PRESTIGE ECONOMICS LLC, ABN AMRO BANK NV, METAL BULLETIN LIMITED, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, VALE SA

Resources on the rebound, but is it time to get on board?

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Original article by Philip Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 11-Aug-16

A rise in the spot prices of some commodities may signal a recovery in the resources sector. Investors are optimistic. The share prices of Australian-listed mining companies have risen 25 per cent since the beginning of 2016. Fortescue Metals Group’s stellar performance is particularly impressive. The stock has risen from $A1.44 in January to $A4.50 on 9 August.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED

Newmont to mull Barrick Super Pit deal

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 11-Aug-16

US-based Newmont Mining Corporation has indicated that it could seek to gain full ownership of the Super Pit gold mine in Western Australia. Barrick Gold recently flagged the possible sale of its 50 per cent stake in the massive mine. Newmont CEO Gary Goldberg has stressed that organic growth rather than acquisitions remains the big miner’s primary focus, but adds that its knowledge of the Super Pit could make it an exception. He notes that Newmont acquired the Cripple Creek & Victor mine in 2015 at a time when the gold price was lower.

CORPORATES
NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED – ASX AGG, DIGGERS AND DEALERS FORUM, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

BHP Billiton widens tougher payment terms across Pilbara

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 11-Aug-16

Suppliers to BHP Billiton’s iron ore operations in Western Australia have criticised its move to increase payment terms for more suppliers from 30 days to 60 days and require them to use a third-party payment vendor. BHP had already extended the payment terms of many suppliers in late 2015, and the latest move is expected to affect a relatively small proportion of companies that supply products and services to BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, BHP BILLITON IRON ORE PTY LTD, QUANDREM, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Contractors line up for Rio project

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Original article by Peter Ker, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 11-Aug-16

Rio Tinto has issued the first tender for the last phase of its Silvergrass iron ore mine, which is slated to cost $US338m ($A438m). The resources giant is seeking a contractor to supply crushing machinery, a conveyor belt and electric power to the project. Rio commenced the initial phase of the Silvergrass mine in 2015, making extensive use of construction contractors. It is expected to do so with the final phase of the mine, which is expected to produce about 20 millions of iron ore each year when it reaches full capacity.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NRW HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NWH

Forrest slams Grylls over tax threat

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Aug-16

Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest has criticised a proposal by new Western Australian National Party leader Brendan Grylls to impose an iron ore tax on BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. Grylls has proposed changes to state agreements with the two resources giants to increase the levy on iron ore out from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5. Fortescue would not be affected as its state agreement is more recent. Grylls says the levy will not proceed if BHP and Rio successfully lobby the Federal Government to overhaul the system for distributing GST revenue.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Even Twiggy should fight this tax on BHP and Rio

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Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 9-Aug-16

Western Australia National Party MP Brendon Grylls has proposed imposing a levy on iron ore producers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. The tax is believed to be $A5 per tonne, which would generate about $A3bn in revenue for the State Government each year. Fortescue Metals Group would benefit from the increase in the break-even price of both BHP and Rio, potentially above that of Fortescue itself. The tax could also prompt BHP and Rio to reduce production in the Pilbara. Although it appears that Fortescue and smaller iron ore miners would be exempt from the proposed tax, this could change.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Vale vows not to flood the iron markets

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 8-Aug-16

The annual capacity of Vale’s "S11D" iron ore project will be 90 million tonnes, which has prompted some analysts to forecast an iron ore oversupply in 2017. However, Vale’s Peter Poppinga has downplayed concerns about an oversupply, arguing that the Brazilian group will ramp up exports over several years, with its mine capacity to increase at a faster pace than its rail capacity. He also stresses that not all of the increased production will be exported to Asia.

CORPORATES
VALE SA, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, ROY HILL HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, WORLEYPARSONS LIMITED – ASX WOR

Rio Tinto willing to sacrifice low-cost crown for cash

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 5-Aug-16

Rio Tinto boasted the lowest iron ore production costs in Western Australia in the first half of 2016, with a "C1" cost of $US14.30 per tonne. However, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques argues that increasing free cash flow is more important than bragging rights as the lowest-cost producer. Rio Tinto’s total iron ore output is tipped to be about 330 million tonnes in 2016, and Jacques has declined to comment on when the resources giant is likely to achieve its target of lifting annual output to 360 million tonnes.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED