Featured
Lithium bear market tipped to intensify in 2025
Bank of America has slashed its forecasts for the battery mineral and also warns that iron ore could fall to $US75 a tonne. But there is one commodity that the broker is tipping will go on a tear next year.
- Updated
- Alex Gluyas
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How Rio and BHP got caught in a three-way Trump squeeze
Rio Tinto and BHP maintain their relations in Beijing, buddy up to the new team in Washington and try to protect their interests in Canada. But it could just work out for the pair.
- James Thomson
WA unveils $150m lithium rescue package
The West Australian government has unveiled a $150 million rescue package for the state’s struggling lithium sector.
- Tom Rabe and Mark Wembridge
Peabody in $5.8b Anglo American coal deal
Takeover target Anglo American has shored up its defences against BHP by selling its Queensland coal mines for up to $5.8 billion.
- Peter Ker
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why iron ore could fall 25pc next year (and it’s not Trump)
China’s struggling stimulus and strong production means the market for the steel-making ingredient will move further into oversupply next year. That’s bad news.
- James Thomson
November
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Glencore, BHP & Co’s $9.4b wealth transfer now just part of life
Miners running up to Queensland is a good example of how business is playing Australian politics, where state premiers are the ones in high demand.
- Anthony Macdonald
NSW idle in pragmatic shift on coal: Glencore CEO
Gary Nagle says the state, where Glencore is struggling to extend the life of a coal mine, has fallen behind the rest of the world in failing to adopt a more “neutral” position on the fossil fuel.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
Not everyone believes that a US-China trade war will smash Australia
Former BHP economist Huw McKay believes that the iron ore price will not necessarily suffer. The costs may come elsewhere.
- John Kehoe
US mining legend Robert Friedland plots ASX listing
The billionaire businessman says he will list his iron ore assets in Australia next year and will use an IPO to fund acquisitions of local critical minerals projects.
- Peter Ker
Resolute Mining loses $500m after junta detains CEO in West Africa
Tax and contract dispute with authorities in Mali wipes $468 million from Australian gold miner’s market value
- Mark Wembridge
Meet Chris Ellison’s personal accountant
Yenna Ong, the number cruncher who managed the Mineral Resources founder’s private affairs, rapidly gained great power. Then just as suddenly, she was gone.
- Neil Chenoweth
South32 partner soars 108pc on Trump win
Investors have bet the explorer’s chances of building a critical minerals project in Alaska have been boosted after the Republican nominee secured the presidency.
- Peter Ker
Rio Tinto racing to seal Mongolian copper deal
Rio Tinto is urgently pushing to acquire copper-rich tenements close to its Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia to avoid a big slump in grades and volumes next year.
- Peter Ker
October
Sev.en Global checks out Sanjeev Gupta’s ailing European mills
Sources say Sev.en has run the numbers on a handful of mills in Liberty Steel’s European portfolio, especially Poland.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
ASIC confirms probe into MinRes’ decade-long ‘tax dodge’
The regulator is taking a closer look at Mineral Resources after allegations chief executive Chris Ellison ran a scheme through the British Virgin Islands.
- Elouise Fowler and James Eyers
- Opinion
- Mining
MinRes scandal an acute credibility test for Justin Langer
The Chris Ellison-led miner has collected some big names – from the former cricketer to strategic adviser Julie Bishop. Are they merely celebrity figurines?
- Peter Ker
- Exclusive
- Mining
Fortescue pushes Canberra for emissions policy review
Fortescue has warned the West Australian government against palming off responsibility for greenhouse emissions to Canberra.
- Tom Rabe
Lithium stocks rally reveals M&A hope for juniors
Rio’s takeover of Arcadium has unleashed a rally in the ASX’s junior lithium stocks, but the lagging performance of the major producers means they are expected to miss out on the next wave of deals.
- Alex Gluyas
Rare earths hopeful Astron Corp launches cash call
The equity raise comes after Astron tasked ICA Partners to secure debt for its Donald project, which will require $450 million to $490 million in capital expenditure.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Why mining lies at the heart of Australia’s productivity problem
Australia badly needs to diversify towards more productive industries. The politically privileged position of the mining industry is one of the obstacles.
- Adrian Blundell-Wignall
- Analysis
- Lithium
WA lithium miners get a Rio reality check, with a silver lining
When it looked past the raft of hard rock lithium miners in its own backyard, Rio Tinto made a big statement about the future of the lithium industry.
- Peter Ker
Rio Tinto’s Serbian lithium pain might be Argentina’s gain
After two decades of work to build a lithium and borates mine in Serbia, Rio Tinto has taken its billions elsewhere. Is this the end of Europe’s lithium dream?
- Peter Ker
September
Lithium stocks roar back as short sellers scramble on mine closure
Some of the sharemarket’s most shorted lithium stocks surged after reports that a major project has been suspended in China, which could be a boon for prices.
- Alex Gluyas
August
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Australia’s iron ore future is different, not dead
There’s plenty of red dirt in Fortescue’s results – which makes it a bit different to its two big rivals. Andrew Forrest is in China trying to work it out.
- Anthony Macdonald
June
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Chalmers sell-down order adds to crazy tale of rare earths intrigue
Treasury orders forcing Chinese interests to sell shares in Northern Minerals comes as Australia faces hard questions on Chinese involvement in our critical minerals sector.
- James Thomson
