MINING CORPORATIONS – AUSTRALIA

Rio eases off its iron ore expansion

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 18 : 20-Jan-16

Rio Tinto expects to produce 350 million tonnes of iron ore in Western Australia and Canada in 2016, which is slightly below market forecasts of 355 million tonnes. Total production was 327 million tonnes in 2015, with the Pilbara region accounting for 310 million tonnes. However, Rio had initially flagged Pilbara output of 330 million tonnes. The latest guidance suggests that Rio Tinto may not achieve its Pilbara production target of 335 million tonnes in 2016.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, IRON ORE COMPANY OF CANADA, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Resource raisings hit the pits

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 18 : 18-Jan-16

New figures show that Australian resources groups raised just $A2.41bn in new equity during 2015, which is the lowest level since 2005. There was a sharp decline in IPO activity in particular in the resources sector, while iron ore hopeful Waratah Resources is the latest company to shift its focus to the technology sector. Businessman Nathan Tinkler notes that investors are reluctant to support equity raisings in the resources sector at present.

CORPORATES
WARATAH RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX WGO, AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC COAL LIMITED – ASX AQC, BLOOMBERG LP, PENGANA CAPITAL LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

More oil, gas write-downs set to follow BHP’s lead

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 18-Jan-16

The downturn in the crude oil price prompted a number of Australian-listed energy groups to announce write-downs in 2015. The price of Brent crude oil closed at $US28.94 per barrel on 15 January 2016, coinciding with BHP Billiton’s announcement that its 2015-16 interim results are likely to include a $US7.2bn impairment charge on its oil and gas assets. Mark Busuttil of JP Morgan has forecast that Santos could announce a pre-tax write-off of about $A2bn.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT, SENEX ENERGY LIMITED – ASX SXY, AWE LIMITED – ASX AWE, DRILLSEARCH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX DLS, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, BLOOMBERG LP, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, BG GROUP PLC, GLADSTONE LNG PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG LIMITED

Citi chooses BHP as preferred big miner

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-Jan-16

Citigroup is upbeat about BHP Billiton, issuing a "buy" rating on the stock and a share price target of $A18. The investment bank has also indicated that it now prefers BHP over rival mining giant Rio Tinto, citing factors such as BHP’s significant underperformance during the last six months and the outlook for iron ore. Citigroup expects the price of the steel input to average $US35 per tonne over the next several years.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP,{SPAC}RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO,{SPAC}CITIGROUP PTY LTD,{SPAC}FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG,{SPAC}SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO,{SPAC}WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL,{SPAC}BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT

The new normal: Rio freezes salaries and travel

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 17 : 15-Jan-16

The challenging conditions in the resource sector have prompted Rio Tinto to implement new cost-cutting measures, which include putting salary increases on hold. All staff will be subject to the salary freeze, including CEO Sam Walsh, who has told staff that a rebound in commodity prices is unlikely for some time. Rio Tinto will also seek to reduce its travel expenses, while it may reduce its expenditure on consultants and contractors.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Iron ore price slide causes more delays for Sundance

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 14-Jan-16

China Gezhouba Group has been forced to delay signing a contract to develop transport infrastructure for Sundance Resources’ iron ore project in Africa. The state-owned group has sought to postpone signing the agreement with the Cameroon Government due to the latter’s financing issues in the wake of the downturn in the iron ore price. China Gezhouba Group will build port and rail facilities for the Mbalam-Nabeba project.

CORPORATES
SUNDANCE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX SDL, CHINA GEZHOUBA GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, ANSHAN IRON AND STEEL COMPANY

ERA ‘strategic review’ for Ranger in pipeline

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Original article by Barry FitzGerald
The Australian – Page: 18 : 13-Jan-16

Energy Resources of Australia’s uranium production at the Ranger mine in the Northern Territory rose by 12 per cent year-on-year to 669 tonnes in the December 2015 quarter. The company is only processing stockpiled ore from the open-cut operation, which has reached the end of its mine life, after major shareholder Rio Tinto rejected plans for the Ranger 3 Deeps expansion. ERA will release the results of its strategic review during the March 2016 quarter.

CORPORATES
ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX ERA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ZENTREE INVESTMENTS

Gindalbie ‘at risk’ of collapse

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 18 : 13-Jan-16

The future of Gindalbie Metals is uncertain following Ansteel’s decision to cease providing funding for the Karara magnetite ore mine in Western Australia. The Chinese group has a 52 per cent stake in the mine, which has a workforce of 1,000. Gindalbie has advised that there now are doubts about its ability to continue as a going concern, prompting its shares to fall to a record low of $A0.08 on 12 January 2016. The stock traded at $A1.40 in 2011, when the iron ore price was around $A180 per tonne.

CORPORATES
GINDALBIE METALS LIMITED – ASX GBG, ANSHAN IRON AND STEEL COMPANY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Cut in steel production a new blow for miners

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Original article by Scott Murdoch, Wang Yuanyuan
The Australian – Page: 15 : 12-Jan-16

The Chinese province of Hebei will reduce its iron and steel production by 10 million tonnes and eight million tonnes respectively in 2016. Hebei accounts for about 25 per cent of the nation’s iron and steel production, as well as the bulk of the iron ore exported from Australia to mainland China. The production cutbacks have been attributed to factors such as an oversupply and an attempt to address the issue of pollution in China.

CORPORATES
XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, CHINA METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY PLANNING AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Rio to consider Walsh’s successor

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Original article by James Chessell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 40 : 11-Jan-16

The head of Rio Tinto’s iron ore division, Andrew Harding, is seen as the leading candidate to succeed CEO Sam Walsh. The latter himself headed the iron ore division before being elevated to the top job after Tom Albanese resigned in 2011 in the wake of several massive write-downs. Walsh recently indicated that Rio’s board favours appointing an internal candidate to succeed him. Succession planning will be a key priority for Rio chairman Jan de Plessis, who will want to conclude this process several years before he stands down.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ALCAN INCORPORATED, RIVERSDALE MINING LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, VALE SA, GLENCORE PLC, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, SABMILLER PLC, ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV, GM HOLDEN LIMITED, NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD