Chile rejects divisive $2.5 billion Dominga copper-iron ore project

In India's biggest foreign investment deal since 1991, the Indian government has on Monday finally given South Korea's Posco the green light to build a giant $12 billion steel plant in the country. Posco has said it expects to renew `shortly' its pact with the Orissa government for building the $12 billion steel plant, even as the firm has assured that no exports of iron ore would be conducted from the site.

BHP Billiton today announced that the partners of Samarco had approved the US$3.5 billion (BHP Billiton share1 US$1.75 billion) Fourth Pellet Plant Project at Samarco (Brazil). The expansion will increase Samarco iron ore pellet production capacity by 8.3 million tonnes to 30.5 million tonnes per annum (100% basis). First pellet production is expected in the first half of calendar year 2014. BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby, said “Samarco is a low cost supplier of high quality iron ore pellets and over the last several years has been very successful in growing its resource base. This investment builds on its resource and operational strengths and will further improve Samarco’s competitiveness and market position.”

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (CLF.N:Quote) reported more than a five-fold increase in first-quarter profit as demand and prices for its iron ore and steel-making coal soared.Net earnings were $423 million, or $3.11 per share, compared with $77 million, or 57 cents per share in the quarter a year earlier. Revenue rose 63 percent to $1.2 billion, the Cleveland-based company said on Thursday.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE:RS) reported today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. For the 2011 first quarter, Reliance reported net income of $92.3 million, up 107% from 2010 first quarter net income of $44.7 million, and up 134% from $39.5 million in the 2010 fourth quarter. Earnings per diluted share were $1.23 in the 2011 first quarter, up 105% from 2010 first quarter earnings per diluted share of $.60 and up 132% from $.53 for the 2010 fourth quarter. Sales for the 2011 first quarter were $1.91 billion, up 32% from 2010 first quarter sales of $1.45 billion, and up 21% from 2010 fourth quarter sales of $1.58 billion.

Sherwin Iron Limited (ASX: SHD) is pleased to announce that it has successfully undertaken a $8.5 million share placement at 16 cents a share to institutional and sophisticated investors as part of its strategy to accelerate drilling and development of its Roper River Iron Ore Project (Project) in the Northern Territory. Image by Sherwin Iron Limited

Russia's top steelmaker Severstal (CHMF.MM: Quote) said on Thursday its crude steel output rose to 3.65 million tonnes in the first quarter 2011, up 5 percent from the same period last year. However, production was down 5 percent compared with the last quarter 2010, when output reached 3.84 million tonnes.

Russia's two main rail lines into Asia and, in particular China, are increasingly overburdened which is causing a headache for metals firms looking to increase exports.

Revolver Resources Inc., (TSX VENTURE:RZ) ("Revolver") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's length letter of intent with Oculus Mining S.A. ("Oculus") effective April 11, 2011, relating to a reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction"), pursuant to which Revolver proposes to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Oculus from the shareholders of Oculus (the "Oculus Shareholders") on a pro rata basis. Trading in the shares of Revolver has been halted in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and will remain halted until such time as all required documentation has been filed with and accepted by the TSXV and permission to resume trading has been obtained from the TSXV.

Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (TSX:LIM) (the "Company" or "LIM") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced public offering of C$100,000,000 in common shares and C$10,000,500 in flow-through shares of the Company, at a price of C$12.50 per common share and C$15.00 per flow-through share (collectively, the "Offering"). The Offering was completed by a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and included BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Jennings Capital Inc., Haywood Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters").