Vale reports rise in quarterly iron ore output

Australia's EPA has sanctioned a three-fold expansion of Fortescue Metals Group's (ASX:FMG) Solomon Hub, which could sustain production for another 35 years.

With this deal, Rio has now agreed to more than $1.3bn in divestments this year.

Trump plans on investing several-hundred billions of dollars into rebuilding and repairing infrastructure across the US.

The fresh gains are partly down to strength in Chinese steel prices following further production cuts in the Northern China city of Tangshan, analysts say.

Commodities are back in favour, boosting oil producers and miners after their annus horribilis of 2015.

The world's second largest miner said the job cuts at its Australian iron ore business are part of a restructuring of the division.

Employees at Rio Tinto's (LON,NYSE,ASX:RIO) Hope Downs 4 mine in Australia will do better than a lump of coal over Christmas this year.

Platform aims to help local suppliers bid for contacts related to the Plan Nord, a provincial initiative to invest about $1.3 billion in infrastructure and other projects over the next five years.

Even if the US president-elect's massive infrastructure build-out plan makes it through Congress intact.