China’s reported ban on Australian coal escalates dispute beyond mere nuisance

A surge in commodity prices combined with its multibillion-dollar asset fire-sale has put the company in a position to pay big dividends and explore acquisitions.

The company is reviewing its copper output guidance for 2017 as industrial action at its largest copper mine enters its third week Thursday.

The world's No.1 heavy machinery maker is telling miners not to rest on their laurels now that the industry is finally coming back up from a brutal downturn and keep focused on maximizing returns and efficiency.

The world's fourth largest miner of the steelmaking ingredient said it also benefitted from declining costs.

The world's number five diversified miner posted its first annual net profit in five years.

BHP Billiton still sees potash as a key commodity in which to base its future growth despite prices for the fertilizer remain weak.

Net profit was $3.2bn for the six months to December 31, compared with a loss of $5.7bn in the same period a year earlier.

The Australian coal industry has launched a new coal advertising campaign – Coal: Making the future possible – that highlights the important role coal will play in the world’s future energy mix while reducing emissions.

The world’s No.1 iron ore miner produced 349 million tonnes of the steelmaking ingredient in 2016, helped partly by the opening of its massive S11D mine.