Martina Merz has defended efforts to spin off the German company's steel business ahead of a board meeting next week.

The risks to the bullish drivers of the spot iron ore price are rising as the market starts to question the nature and strength of China's economic recovery.

Weng Zuliang expressed hope for both sides to promote and deepen pragmatic cooperation in iron ore trading.

The company is working with engineering consultancy Hatch Ltd. to design a pilot plant that uses an electric smelting furnace.

Dalian iron ore futures hit a five-week low.

China's National Development and Reform Commission said it would look at measures to curb "unreasonable" prices.

Audit found nearly half of Rio's assets lacked access to appropriately qualified cultural heritage expertise within the business.

The $15 billion Simandou project was restarted Saturday.