BHP on exploratory mission in Chile

SPURRED on by near-record copper prices, BHP Billiton and its partners in the Escondida copper mine at high altitude in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile are continuing to invest heavily to offset the natural decline in the operation's ore grades.

BHP beefs up investment in Escondida

SPURRED on by near-record copper prices, BHP Billiton and its partners in the Escondida copper mine at high altitude in the Atacama desert in northern Chile are continuing to invest heavily to offset the natural decline in the operation's ore grades.

Equinox bid foils merger

CANADA'S Lundin Mining is searching for a white knight bidder to oppose the hostile $C4.8 billion ($A4.78 billion) cash-and-share bid from ASX-listed Equinox Minerals.

BHP dispels Olympic Dam concerns

BHP BILLITON has moved to dispel suggestions that the development timetable for its planned $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in the South Australian outback was set to slip because of uncertainties surrounding demand for uranium.

Shares up strongly but the longer trend is flat

Qantas rose after it announced cuts to the fleet and management.

Telstra charts the future of yellow door stoppers

It would be almost 10 years ago that Telstra was hit with the full realisation that its landline telephone business was under serious threat. The copper network was the company's major profit generator and dwarfed all its other assets. But consumer communications habits were evolving - mobile phones and the internet had taken off and in this space there was no shortage of competitors.

BRIEFS

ENGINEERING

Eating on the run

Japanese, tapas, schnapps or fine dining - standards are high on the slopes.

Many eyes make NBN heavy work

NBN Co boss Mike Quigley yesterday produced some statistics that certainly underline that the broadband network he is building for the government is a political football.

NBN will have to get used to the scrutiny - the public has every right to know

The boss of NBN Co, Mike Quigley, produced some statistics yesterday that certainly underline that the broadband network he is building for the government is a political football.

Television bosses need to lift their game if they are to remain in the game

As prices drop, the internet threatens to become sports fans' preferred provider.

Lundin unequivocally rejects Equinox

CANADA'S Lundin Mining has formally rejected Equinox Minerals $C4.8 billion ($A4.88 billion) offer for the company, advising its shareholders to be "wary" of the offer, which its says comes with "extensive conditions".

Olympic flame suddenly all of a flutter for BHP Billiton

THE continuing struggle to bring the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant to the north of Tokyo under control comes as BHP Billiton works towards making a decision early next year on a $30 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine.

Bearish nuclear outlook could cool BHP plan

AS THE struggle continues to bring the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant north of Tokyo back under control, BHP Billiton is weighing up a $30 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine.

Uranium companies hit hard as world reels after calamity

URANIUM producers and explorers have emerged as the early and big losers from the nuclear nightmare that has followed Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

Iron ore price train is coming to a stop

Oversupply will see the price of the product, and the stock of the companies that mine it, decline.

Planning ahead key to iron ore before good times end

It was not that long ago that iron-ore prices were knocking on the door of $US200 a tonne, for the good stuff anyway. But the same sort of uncertainty and risk aversion that knocked the stuffing out of base-metal prices in recent weeks is also at play in the iron-ore market. Prices have come back to $US170 a tonne.

Top end on the march

A record price at Manly. Two harbour-front house sales at Vaucluse on the same day through LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf. A $10 million-plus sale on the beachfront at Point Piper. A bullish $6.5 million Woollahra sale. Too soon for too much champers but maybe March will see the clearing of prestige bottlenecks. Vendors typically have to trim ambitious expectations but there's a backlog of buyers, some of whom want to sell first. The fresh turnover means agents have no excuses about offering wayward price estimates.

Gomez hits pay dirt with OZ Minerals purchase of Carrapateena

A PLUCKY decision to punt his own funds ��� and those of the taxpayer ��� on the hunt for South Australia's next Olympic Dam deposit has paid off for Rudy Gomez.

Future Fund lands an airport windfall

It may be a late Christmas present or an early one, but David Murray's Future Fund has bagged a 56 million ($90 million) special dividend on its investment of more than $200 million in Britain second-largest airport, Gatwick.