Copper sinks to five-week low on US growth fears

(Reuters) - Fresh signs of economic trouble in the United States beat copper down to five-week lows on Monday, but analysts expect strong demand from China to buoy the metal used widely in the construction and power industries.

London-listed miners were down on the back of broader market weakness. Britain's was down 0.2 percent while BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata were down between half a percent and 2.3 percent.


Read more at Reuters Africa

U.K. Stocks Rise for First Time in Five Days; HSBC, ICI, BHP Pace Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks advanced for the first
time in five days, led by HSBC Holdings Plc after Europe's
largest bank reported profit that topped analysts' estimates.

Imperial Chemical Industries Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. also
paced the gains.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Copper Falls, Erasing Earlier Gains, as Monthlong Rally Seen as Overdone

(Bloomberg) -- Copper dropped in New York, erasing
earlier gains, on speculation a rally that increased prices
7 percent in the past month was overdone.

The metal, which gained in recent weeks on strikes in Latin
America, rose 28 percent this year on concern demand would
outpace supply. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest miner,
said today its copper production jumped 17 percent in the three
months ended June 30. Marius Kloppers, the incoming chief
executive, said he wants to raise metal output 10 percent a year.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

BHP Billiton Annual Production of Copper, Nickel, Iron Ore Rises to Record

(Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's
biggest mining company, posted record annual production of
copper, iron ore and nickel, fueling what will be its largest
yearly profit.

Output of copper, the metal that contributes the most to
earnings, climbed 17 percent in the three months ended June 30
from a year ago, Melbourne-based BHP said in a statement. Nickel
production gained 15 percent and iron ore advanced 6 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Asian Stocks Climb on Earnings, Metals Prices; LG Electronics, BHP Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose for a second day,
led by technology shares and commodity producers, after LG
Electronics Inc. reported better-than-expected earnings and
metals prices climbed.

LG, Asia's No. 2 mobile-phone maker, was set for its
biggest gain in five weeks. BHP Billiton, the world's largest
miner, gained after copper prices jumped the most in a month.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Australia's S&P/ASX Rises to Record High, Led by BHP, Woodside, Newcrest

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks rose, pushing the
S&P/ASX 200 Index to a record. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Woodside
Petroleum Ltd. led gains as metals prices rose the most in almost
six weeks and oil traded at its highest in more than 11 months.

The S&P/ASX 200 added 31.30, or 0.5 percent, to 6415.50 as at
10:26 a.m. in Sydney. About two stocks rose for every one that
dropped. A sub-index of materials stocks jumped 1.1 percent, the
best performer among the index's 10 groups.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Alcoa, Clearwire, Foot Locker, Midland, Starbucks: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges
today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.
Share prices are as of 3 p.m. in New York.

Alcoa Inc. (AA US) slid $2.01, or 4.3 percent, to $44.44.
The Australian newspaper reported that BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP US)
won't make a takeover offer for the world's second-largest
aluminum company. The newspaper cited sources it didn't name as
confirming that Alcoa, based in New York, is ``no longer a target
of interest'' for Melbourne-based BHP, the world's largest mining
company. BHP's American depositary receipts, each representing 2
ordinary shares, gained $1.85 to $67.64.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Advance; SAP, Roche, Vodafone, BHP Billtion Pace the Gains

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for the first
time in three days after profit from SAP AG and Roche Holding AG
beat analysts' estimates, boosting prospects for earnings growth.

Vodafone Group Plc gained after the world's largest mobile-
phone company said it added more subscribers than analysts
anticipated. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Anglo American Plc led mining
stocks higher as copper rallied for a second day in Asia.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

S.Africa bourse slips on global economy, rates woes

(Reuters) - Mining groups Anglo American and BHP Billiton led South African shares lower on Wednesday over jitters of economic slowdown in the U.S. and China, but gold shares soared on the metal's price.

Traders said the bourse was spooked into profit taking as U.S. stocks fell after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed expects the U.S. economy to expand one-quarter percentage point below its estimate six months ago.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Alcoa, Alumina Advance on Takeover Speculation After Rio's Bid for Alcan

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Alcoa Inc. and Alumina
Ltd., partners in the world's biggest alumina venture, rose to
records on speculation that Rio Tinto Group's $38.1 billion bid
for Alcan Inc. will spark more aluminum-industry takeovers.

BHP Billiton Ltd. might bid for New York-based Alcoa and
Alumina, UBS AG analysts Glyn Lawcock and Mark Busuttil said in
a report yesterday. Alcoa also may try to buy Melbourne-based
Alumina, which owns 40 percent of the Alcoa World Alumina &
Chemical joint venture, the analysts said.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

European Stocks Rise, Led by BHP Billiton, Anglo American; Univar Surges

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks climbed for a second
day, led by mining and telecommunications companies, after a
strike in Chile sent copper prices higher and Telekom Austria AG
raised its profit forecast.

BHP Billiton Ltd. and Anglo American Plc rose. Univar NV,
the largest distributor of chemicals in the U.S., surged to a
record after CVC Capital Partners offered to buy the company.
Royal Numico NV jumped on speculation Europe's biggest baby-food
maker may receive a takeover bid.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Australian Shares Climb to Record, Led by BHP Billiton on Higher Oil Price

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks rose, pushing the
S&P/ASX 200 Index to a record high. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Santos
Ltd. gained as oil prices traded near a 10-month high.

Rio Tinto Group advanced on a report it may bid for Alcan
Inc., while Zinifex Ltd. jumped on speculation of a combination
with Oxiana Ltd.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Australian U.S.-Linked Shares Fall; James Hardie Drops, Mining Stocks Rise

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks with overseas sales,
such as James Hardie Industries NV, fell after the Australian
dollar yesterday reached the highest in 18 years.

Mining shares gained, led by BHP Billiton Ltd. after the
company yesterday announced the approval of its $1.7 billion
Pyrenees oil field project off the coast of northwestern
Australia.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

BHP Billiton, MTN lift S.African stocks higher

(Reuters) - South Africa's blue chip Top-40 index ended in positive territory on Thursday, led by miner BHP Billiton and mobile phone group MTN, as commodity prices rose and the rand currency firmed.

The Top-40 index closed 0.38 percent firmer at 25,666 points, ending a five-day losing streak, while the broader All-share index closed 0.42 percent higher at 28,402 points.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Drops for Fifth Day, Led by BHP, Woodside, Paladin

(Bloomberg) -- Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index fell for
a fifth day, its longest losing streak since March. BHP Billiton
Ltd. and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. led resources shares lower after
prices of commodities including copper, zinc and oil dropped.

Uranium producers Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. and
Paladin Resources Ltd. declined on concern prices of the nuclear
fuel may have peaked.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Shares Decline on Concern Over U.S. Home Sales; China Stocks Plunge

(Bloomberg) -- Asian shares fell, led by Sony Corp.
and BHP Billiton Ltd., on concern figures this week will show a
drop in U.S. home sales, signaling declining demand in the
region's largest export market.

``Stocks globally take a fall every time there's more bad
news on U.S. housing-related or lending data because there's a
threat that this may spill over into other parts of the
economy,'' said Eric Betts, a strategist at Nomura Australia Ltd.
in Sydney. ``This wouldn't be good for companies that depend on
the U.S. consumer.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Decline on Ifo Report; BHP Billiton, Julius Baer Slide

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for a second
day after German business confidence fell more than economists
forecast in June, adding to signs that growth in Europe's largest
economy may slow.

BHP Billiton Ltd. led mining shares lower on concern China
will raise interest rates to cool the economy. Julius Baer
Holding AG declined the most in a year after UBS AG sold part of
its stake in the Swiss Bank, thwarting takeover speculation.
Deutsche Bank AG and Barclays Plc led a decline by banks on
concern that losses in the U.S. mortgage market may grow.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Stocks Slide From Record, Led by Nissan; BHP Drops on Metals Prices

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks fell, dragging a
regional benchmark from a record high, after confidence in the
U.S. homebuilding industry dropped to a 16-year low and metals
prices declined.

Nissan Motor Co. and James Hardie Industries NV led a drop
among companies that rely on U.S. sales on speculation spending
in the world's largest economy will wane. BHP Billiton Ltd., the
world's largest mining company, ended a three-day climb, while
energy stocks including Inpex Holdings Inc. advanced after crude-
oil prices rose to the highest in nine months.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

BHP, Teck, Newmont May Have Reduced Copper Processing Fees, Macquarie Says

(Bloomberg) -- Mining companies, including the
world's largest BHP Billiton Ltd., may have reduced fees paid to
smelters for processing raw material into refined copper under
mid-year contracts, according to Macquarie Bank Ltd.

Some agreements on so-called treatment and refining charges,
or TC/RCs, have been reached by miners, including BHP, Teck
Cominco Ltd. and Newmont Mining Corp., the bank said in a report
today. Miners may have lowered fees from previous settlements,
and either excluded or limited ``price-participation'' clauses
allowing smelters to benefit from copper price gains, it said.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Asian Stocks Rise for Third Day on U.S. Inflation; Toyota, Samsung Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose for a third day
after a measure of U.S. inflation cooled and the yen weakened
against the dollar and euro, helping improve earnings prospects
for the region's exporters.

Samsung Electronics Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. led
technology companies and automakers higher. BHP Billiton Ltd.
climbed to a third straight record after metals prices advanced.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News