RESOURCES CORNER

Survival of the shiniest: will gold prevail?
19 Jun 2013 - Despite a quarterly gold output drop, independent consulting group Surbiton Associates points to the shielding impact of the weakened Aussie dollar and the often misleading nature of production costs as reasons the industry is not as threatened as some would believe.

Weight of sunken gold: The woes of Newcrest
12 Jun 2013 - It has been anything but a golden run for Australia’s largest listed gold producer, and this week Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM) drove a stake through shareholders hearts by confirming between $5bn and $6bn of writedowns.

Chinese investment in for the long haul
06 Jun 2013 - China has committed over $1.55 billion to Australian mining as Beijing gets behind a range of projects to ensure a long term supply of metals that will underpin its ongoing urbanization goals.

Committed investment back to dark ages: BREE
29 May 2013 - After hitting its peak last year, committed resource sector investment in Australia is on a downward course in the near term, according to the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).

The China story
22 May 2013 - China has managed to keep its daily crude steel output in excess of 2 million tonnes since the middle of February.

Australian Bauxite: the company name says it all
21 May 2013 - With its first Tasmanian mining lease well on the way to being granted, Australian Bauxite (ASX: ABZ) is poised to take advantage of favourable developments in the global bauxite market.

Swan swoops on miners
15 May 2013 - Wayne Swan’s sixth budget sees mining companies hit with tighter rules for depreciating mineral exploration assets, as ongoing global volatility and the high Aussie dollar hamper prices and profits.

The coal, hard truth in NSW
08 May 2013 - Global miner Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO) has cautioned that hundreds more coal jobs are at risk following a decision from the Land and Environment Court this week.

Engineering construction to wane: report
01 May 2013 - Global miners Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP) have been encouraged by a leading global mining investor to divest billions of dollars worth of assets regardless of whether they can realise full value on them.

BHP Chief favours low costs over expansion
23 Apr 2013 -BHP Billiton Limited’s (ASX:BHP) recently appointed chief executive, Andrew Mackenzie, overhauls the global miner’s management team, directing focus toward driving low-cost-production as opposed to expansion.