B08 Metal Ore Mining

Investors cheer BHP for buyback, dividend

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 2-Nov-18

BHP Billiton has advised that it will distribute $US5.2bn of the proceeds from the sale of its US shale assets to shareholders via a special dividend. Another $5.2bn has been earmarked for an off-market buyback of its Australian-listed shares. Macquarie says BHP will return cash to investors faster than the firm had expected; it had anticipated that BHP would complete an off-market buyback of its Australian shares and an on-market buyback of its London-listed shares by mid-2019. BHP shares rose 2.79 per cent to $33.11 on 1 November.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Fortescue up after Forrest buys shares

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 2-Nov-18

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest has increased his stake in the pure-play iron ore miner from 32.46 per cent to 33.87 per cent after buying 3.95 million shares in late October. Fortescue’s shares closed at a 10-week high of $4.11 on 1 November, and the stock has gained 13 per cent since Forrest’s on-market share transaction. Fortescue has also repurchased about $7m worth of share since it announced a $500 million share buyback in mid-October.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MINDEROO PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Miners fear tax grab by Labor government

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 1-Nov-18

Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland has warned that the South Africa-based miner may reconsider future investment in Australia if a change of federal government results in an increase in the sector’s royalties and taxes. Gold Fields has a 50 per cent stake in the Gruyere gold project in Western Australia, while its other local assets include the St Ives, Granny Smith and Darlot gold mines. Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals Group CEO says mining companies need policy certainty to continue investing in Australia rather than offshore.

CORPORATES
GOLD FIELDS LIMITED, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, GOLD ROAD RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GOR

BHP cuts US, China growth targets on trade tensions

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 31-Oct-18

BHP Billiton has forecast that GDP growth for both China and the US will be cut by 0.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent over the next two years as a result of the trade war between the two nations. However, BHP’s chief commercial officer Arnoud Balhuizen says the trade tensions have not yet had a "material impact" on the resources giant, even though it has weighed on the prices of some commodities. Balhuizen expects demand for iron ore and coking coal to remain strong in 2019.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

‘One of the least-trusted on the planet’: Rio chief’s stark warning to miners

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Original article by Nick Toscano
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 30-Oct-18

Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques will address the International Mining and Resources Conference in Melbourne on 30 October. He will note that mining is one of the world’s least-trusted industries, and that mining companies must take action to address this. Jacques will also tell delegates that Australian mining companies should focus more on highlighting the economic contribution of mining and how it improves people’s lives. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto has advised that a non-binding deal to sell its 45.05 per cent stake in the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea to Chinalco has lapsed.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ALUMINIUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED

Billionaires battle over small change

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 30-Oct-18

Hancock Prospecting and Wright Prospecting have been involved in a dispute over the Rhodes Ridge iron ore deposit for more than 15 years. The deposit has estimated reserves of 5.3 billion tonnes of high-grade iron ore, and it is valued in the billions of dollars. It is owned by Wright Prospecting and Rio Tinto, and it could be developed in the next 10 years. The Western Australian Court of Appeal has ruled that Hancock Prospecting does not have to pay Wright Prospecting special costs.

CORPORATES
HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, WRIGHT PROSPECTING PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, COURT OF APPEAL (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Relief looms for lower-grade ore miners

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 30-Oct-18

The price of benchmark iron ore with 62 per cent iron content has risen to its highest level for eight months in late October. Macquarie attributes the recent rally to factors such as an increase in Chinese steel production ahead of government-mandated winter cutbacks and growing demand for lower-grade iron ore amid falling margins. Macquarie notes that stockpiles of lower-grade Australian ore have fallen in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the discount for lower-grade ore is expected to narrow, which will benefit companies such as Fortescue Metals Group and Mineral Resources.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BCI MINERALS LIMITED – ASX BCI, CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INCORPORATED, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, BROCKMAN MINING LIMITED – ASX BCK

Rio Tinto’s economic impact runs to $43bn

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 19 : 29-Oct-18

A report produced by ACIL Allen Consulting on behalf of Rio Tinto has estimated that the resources giant accounted for 2.5 per cent of Australia’s GDP in 2017, or $42.7bn. The report also notes that Rio Tinto paid $4.9bn in taxes and royalties in Australia during 2017. The report takes into account both Rio Tinto’s direct and indirect contribution to the economy. Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques has urged mining companies to be more active in demonstrating their economic contribution to countries in which they operate. He will address the International Mining and Resources conference in Melbourne on 30 October.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ACIL ALLEN CONSULTING PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MINING AND METALS, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, TECK RESOURCES LIMITED, ANTOFAGASTA PLC, NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, GOLDCORP INCORPORATED

Iron ore shipments drop 8.6pc as Fortescue Metals Group starts $500m buyback

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Original article by Rushil Dutta
The West Australian – Page: Online : 26-Oct-18

Pure-play iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group still expects its 2018-19 production to be within the range of 165 million to 173 million tonnes. This is despite its shipments for the first quarter falling by 8.6 per cent year-on-year to 40.2 million tonnes. Fortescue has also advised that its cash production costs rose by nine per cent in the September quarter, to an average of $US13.19 per wet metric tonne. Costs for the full year are expected to be within its previous guidance of $US12 to $US13 per wet metric tonne.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

BHP digs deep to make new Pilbara mine female friendly

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Oct-18

BHP Billiton has awarded about $1.5 billion worth of contracts associated with its new South Flank iron ore mine in the Pilbara. BHP has required contractors to demonstrate their track record with regard to gender and cultural diversity when bidding for South Flank contracts, as part of its push for the project to have a gender-balanced workforce. Women comprise about 35 per cent of workers at South Flank, which is slated to commence production in 2021.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP