The founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) Andrew Forrest raised his stake in the company by AUD$39 million this week amidst declines in the prices of both Fortescue shares and iron ore.
London listed Xstrata (LON:XTA) started Thursday copper production at its $310 million (A$300) Mount Margaret operation in north-west Queensland, Australia.
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has publicly said Friday it will vote against the mooted $70 billion merger between Glencore (LON:GLEN) and Xstrata (LON:XTA), which sent shares of both the Swiss commodity trader and the coal giant down the slope Thursday in London.
Mining tycoon Gina Rinehart has triggered a squall of controversy in Australia by issuing a call for the minimum wage to be reduced and accusing those jealous of her immense wealth of being lazy.
Australia's political and business leaders signaled their emphatic support for the country's increased involvement in the African mining sector at a conference in Perth on Thursday.
Iron ore prices hit the lowest level since November 2009 on Tuesday as the commodity crashed 4.6% closing at $94.80. The dive proved a drag for producers of the commodity, particularly companies investing heavily to expand their production capacity.
London-based Anglo American (LSE:AAL) has joined an expanding list of coal producers making staff cuts at specific Australian operations, after it announced it will cut at least 50 jobs when its Moranbah North mine reverts back to a single longwall operation.
Gold producer Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) resumed its operations at the Lihir project, in Papua New Guinea, following the resolution of a dispute lodged by the Lihir Mining Area Landowners Association (LMALA).
MMG (HSX:1208) CEO Andrew Michelmore says China's leadership transition later this year could put the brakes on overseas investment due to impeded decision-making by China's policy-making elite.