Four reasons to stay calm, carry on
May 16 - 22, 2012
WHILE resource sector investors seem to believe it is the end of the world, aka the end of the Super Cycle, there are four good reasons not to give up the ghost.
Counting on austerity
May 16 - 22, 2012
CATATONIC would have to be one of the last words in the English language investors would want to hear associated with stock markets. But unfortunately, using it and the phrase “harsh but fair” seems completely accurate at the moment. And if Greece goes down the anti-austerity route, “look out below” could be the appropriate catchcry.
Perilya still on the hunt
May 16 - 22, 2012
PERILYA CEO Paul Arndt has again confirmed acquisitions for the company are firmly on the agenda, telling shareholders many companies and projects are becoming “available” in the current tough macro environment.
Broadening Panoramic adds new site
May 9 - 15, 2012
A FEW years back nickel miner Panoramic Resources seemed yet another of those companies that could talk the talk in terms of growth and diversification, but was struggling to walk the walk. The miner was doing a great job operating its two nickel mines, but despite having more than $A100 million at its disposal and a dedicated M&A team designated to find the assets to diversify, nothing happened. Not anymore though, and the latest deal, that to buy the Panton PGM project, looks a very elegant bit of business indeed!
Time for action for last man standing
May 9 - 15, 2012
ALBERT Wong’s Winmar Resources is hopeful of putting a tricky past 12 months behind it and winning some recognition of its status as one of the last independent hematite plays in the Pilbara.
Indo cuts too much too soon
May 9 - 15, 2012
WHILE the news for miners in Indonesia is not good, those expecting a significant positive impact on near term commodity prices may also be disappointed. The emphasis at this stage, though, is very much on the ‘near term’.
Night follows Day
May 2 - 8, 2012
EXCUSING for a moment the obviously grotesque comparison of the Titanic and Kagara Mining (given the awful human tragedy involved with the former), there does seem an ill-fated element to what seems the sudden and completely unexpected demise of the former base metal corporate flyer.
The search for a deal
May 2 - 8, 2012
MOST would agree exploration can in large part be a bit of a lottery, meaning, to continue the analogy, those with more prospective ground merely have more numbers on their ticket. With exploration thus being a somewhat disingenuous business development plan for serious resource companies, those holding tangible ambitions for growth really require an aggressive acquisition focus. Troy Resources is a case in point.
Crunch time coming for Hawsons partner
May 2 - 8, 2012
THE recent visits to Asia by senior managers at New South Wales iron ore hopeful Carpentaria Exploration are set to become more frequent once a crucial deadline passes in less than a fortnight.
Lower returns call for narrower investor focus
April 25 - May 1, 2012
RETURNS in the resources sector have peaked according to Citi, meaning investors seeking good returns over the next five years should be seeking out specific growth companies – such as two new iron ore miners in Africa – rather than employing a macro approach.
Xstrata value in Altona project
April 25 - May 1, 2012
MAY or June could prove very significant months for Altona Mining given the Xstrata option to buy 51% of Altona’s advanced Roseby project in Queensland expires at the end of the current quarter.
Lea sees next Polaris on his radar
April 18 - 24, 2012
JON Lea was an intimate part of the team that engineered a big success for shareholders of Polaris Minerals a couple of years back when that iron ore junior was taken over by Mineral Resources for about $A150 million. And he’s aiming to do it again with Radar Iron.
BMO takes fresh, positive view on base metals
April 18 - 24, 2012
IGNORING all the pessimism around at the moment, the outlook mustn’t look too bad if tier one resources sector investment bank BMO Capital – routinely labelled the pre-eminent investment bank in the sector – initiates positive coverage of four well-known Canadian base metal producers. Initiates!
Copper faces flat road ahead
April 18 - 24, 2012
AFTER an economy-defying couple of years, the copper price will struggle to register significant gains this year, particularly in the first half, because of persisting economic weakness across the world, according to Thomson Reuters GFMS’ 2012 Copper Survey.
Blue Horseshoe loves Rio, FMG …
April 11 - 17, 2012
MERRILL Lynch’s recent “love index” covering two dozen Australian mining stocks and what brokers think of them threw up some interesting contrasts, with Rio Tinto, FMG, Saracen and BC Iron all loved-up, and Gloucester and the Rio-controlled ERA (especially ERA!) more or less dateless.
Venturex presents new picture
April 11 - 17, 2012
STAND by for an imminent capital raising at Venturex Resources would seem the obvious message given the company is down to its last million or so with some months still left to go on an adjusted feasibility study for its Pilbara copper-zinc project.
Ivanhoe Oz next in line
April 4 - 10, 2012
INVESTMENT bank UBS sees an increased chance that nearly 60% of Ivanhoe Australia will be sold to a third party in the near future, with the implied value of any transaction potentially being well over half-a- billion. Xstrata will undoubtedly be sniffing around!
Forrest provides bridge for Poseidon return
April 4 - 10, 2012
HIS nickel investment remains small beer compared to his FMG interests but mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s increased financial commitment to Poseidon Nickel this week would nonetheless seem very positive news for other shareholders.
PanAust questions bank’s value assumptions
March 28 - April 3, 2012
PANAUST may have been one of the success stories of the Australian resources sector of the past decade or so, but if you believe a new analyst report this week, its new generation projects don’t, of themselves, appear likely to add a great deal of value to the company. Unsurprisingly though, PanAust management are dismissive – and they certainly have a point or two!
Better environment for deals, says Arndt
March 21 - 27, 2012
BASE metal miner Perilya’s strong corporate and operational performance in recent times has not, to be frank, yet done a great deal for the wealth of shareholders but unsurprisingly managing director Paul Arndt maintains it ultimately will. Another successful acquisition would probably create plenty of interest.
