Caterpillar beats estimates again, delivers bullish outlook for 2018

Seven days after putting Regent Pacific on notice that it should not withdraw its takeover offer, Regent informed BC Iron yesterday that it had entered into a binding mandate letter with Standard Chartered Bank of Hong Kong and Westpac Banking Corporation for $US155 million debt finance. BC Iron said Regent has now advised it will change its recommendation to its shareholders to vote in favour of the acquisition of all BC Iron shares.

The heavy rains that have kept much of N. Australia waterlogged for months have also resulted in the suspension of one of […]

Australian copper and gold miner Oz Minerals said on Thursday it is on track to achieve its forecast gold output of more than 185,000 ounces despite a 23 percent drop in first-quarter output. "While total gold production was lower this quarter, higher grades expected in the second and third quarters are expected to see production achieve forecast levels for the year of 185,000+ oz of gold," the company said in its quarterly production report.

Australian coal miner Whitehaven Coal said a formal process to find a bidder for the company was nearing a conclusion and interested parties have completed due diligence. Whitehaven said on Wednesday it was in was in talks with the parties to decide which proposal, if any, would be recommended by its board

BHP Billiton played down speculation it was in talks to acquire a cornerstone stake that could be worth $10.3 billion (A$9.8 billion) in Australia's largest oil and gas firm, Woodside Petroleum , from Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote). BHP Billiton, widely rumoured to be considering a takeover of Woodside, said in a short statement that there was no basis for the market talk, which has centred on BHP acquiring Shell's 24.3 percent stake as a step toward a full takeover.

Top global miner BHP Billiton has bought back A$6 billion ($6.3 billion) of its shares, or 4.4 percent of its Australian-listed shares, as part of its $10 billion capital management program. It said on Monday the final price was set at A$40.85 a share, a 14 percent discount to the market price of A$47.4985, based on the average trading price over the five days up to the close of the tender on April 8.

Ivernia Inc said it expects to place its flagship lead mine in western Australia under full care and maintenance for an indefinite period and lay off about 83 percent of related workforce amid environmental concerns surrounding the mine, sending its shares down 23 percent to a nine-year low.

Orocobre Limited (TSX:ORL)(ASX:ORE) is pleased to report that it has produced battery grade lithium carbonate from Salar de Olaroz brines. Orocobre's analysis shows that the lithium carbonate is of greater than 99.9% purity* and of higher purity than the specifications for battery grade material sold by existing producers. This material was produced by refining a lower purity product previously produced at the company's facilities at Olaroz with recirculated brines. As such, the Company considers the material to be representative of what could be expected in commercial production.

The mid-tier gold miner Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) confirmed today that it had achieved A$11 million (US$11.53 million) in revenue in March from the Paulsens gold mine in the Pilbara region while incurring operating costs of about A$5 million (US$5.24 million). The operation produced 8,583 ounces of gold last month and sold 7,897 oz.