Iron ore warning lights flashing

Andy Home The price slide in iron ore is accelerating, but there is a key difference to last August's meltdown.

Mining

BHP flags more cuts to coal

Brian Robins BHP Billiton has flagged ongoing rationalisation of its coal operations, which will include further divestments as it works to lift returns.

NSW defends tough CSG regulation

Philip Wen The intense community backlash against coal seam gas exploration will make it difficult for the NSW government to loosen its regulation of the industry, resources minister says.

Mining

Coal market 'difficult': New Hope

Brian Robins New Hope Corp has cut coal output further at its West Moreton operations in Queensland citing the downturn in the coal market.

Mining

Disruptions tighten copper supply

A series of copper mine shutdowns and supply logjams has prompted some analysts to scale down forecasts for a market surplus.

Energy

More coal cuts loom as prices retreat

Australian coal miners are steeling themselves for years of production cuts, job reductions and asset sales as swelling shipments from international rivals lower hopes of a recovery in prices for...

Courts

Blow for Newcrest - exploration licence quashed

Michael West In a stunning decision, a NSW court finds in favour of a small explorer, sending a strong message on who should hold mining and exploration leases.

Mining

Rio faces union push in iron ore

Two powerful unions have joined forces to try to take on Rio Tinto at its iron ore mines, for the first time in two decades.

Brockman joins rail access battle

Peter Ker Brockman's application for access to Fortescue's rail line appears to be an attempt to ambush Atlas Iron's bid for access.

Mining

BHP chief on austerity drive

Philip Wen BHP's new chief slashes the miner's capital spend, in a further sign of the slowdown in the sector.

Mining

Glencore Xstrata shelves coal terminal

Brian Robins Glencore Xstrata has cancelled plans for a coal export terminal in Queensland, citing the poor state of the coal market.

LNG

Oil Search looks to PNG for growth

Brian Robins Oil Search is hoping to boost the capacity of its gas export project in Papua New Guinea, with the addition of a further two export units, as it seeks to boost returns from its assets in the country.

Commodities

BHP sees lower iron ore price

Global iron ore supplies will expand faster than demand over the long term, potentially lowering prices of the commodity, according to BHP Billiton.

Mining

Fortescue nears asset sales

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals hopes to sell part of its rail and port assets by mid-year, to pay down debt.

Metals

Future of Alcoa's Geelong plant in doubt

Philip Wen The future of the troubled Point Henry aluminium smelter in Geelong is back under a cloud after its American owners Alcoa revealed it was considering deep production cuts worldwide.

Gas

Origin explores LNG pipeline sale

Brian Robins Origin Energy has flagged the potential sale of the pipeline from its Australia Pacific LNG project in Queensland.

Gas

Woodside tie-up points to floating LNG

Philip Wen Woodside announces a tie-up with Shell, indicating that floating LNG is Woodside’s preferred option to develop its massive Browse gas resource.

Coal

Whitehaven battles weak markets

Phil Wen and Glenda Kwek Whitehaven says weak prices and the strong dollar are continuing to drag on its performance, but is optimistic prices will rise.

Intelligent Investor

BHP a good bet but could be better

John Addis The case against BHP Billiton is simple: buying its stock works out only in a resources boom.