Australia / New Zealand








Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

Peabody Energy evaluates options for a $3.78 billion Anglo American deal

Peabody Energy announced on Tuesday that it is reviewing all options in relation to its $3.78 Billion acquisition agreement with Anglo American, for some of the Australian steelmaking coal assets. This was after an ignition incident at a mine. The deal was signed in the last year, and it was expected to be completed by mid-2025. Media reports claim that production at Anglo American Moranbah North Mine, located in Queensland's Bowen Basin, Australia, was suspended last week after an underground fire broke-out at the mine. Peabody stated that it is in constant communication with Anglo American, to better understand its...

Oil & Gas

More US companies are saying that retailers are turning away their products as 'Buy Canadian" grows

The "Buy Canadian' movement has sent new waves of concern to the U.S. consumer companies who had hoped to sell their products in Canadian retail stores. Jessica Hung, CEO of California-based Parasol Co, said that the company has been working with a distributor since January to increase sales to new retailers, including convenience shops, in Canada. Hung said that the distributor, whom she declined to identify, had stopped working on the deal in early March due to the growing anti-American sentiment? Canada. Hung, referring the distributor, said that "they were instructed by a retail to pause any American-brand launch." They...

Environment

Shares of Australia's Paladin Energy fall after heavy rains stop uranium mine in Namibia

Paladin Energy, an Australian uranium company, announced on Friday that it temporarily suspended operations at its Langer Heinrich Mine due to heavy rains in Namibia. This sent its shares to a record low of over a week. Paladin stated that the severe weather has caused access to the mine to be severely restricted and all activities suspended. The Langer Heinrich Mine, which is owned by 75% of the company, is an important contributor to its production. As of 2339 GMT the shares of Australia's largest pure-play uranium mining company fell by as much as 8,9%, reaching their lowest level since...

Environment

Australia's Active Super fined $6.7 Million for making false environmental claims

The Securities Regulator said that Australia's Federal Court ordered superannuation funds Active Super and SuperSuper to pay A$10,5 million ($6.70m) in penalties for misleading statements about their environmental credentials. The Federal Court found Active Super guilty in June of misleading statements about its environmental, governance, and social credentials. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission filed a lawsuit in 2023 against Active Super to challenge the fund's claim that it had divested itself from gambling, coal, oil tarsands and Russian investments. ASIC reported on Tuesday that Active Super had direct and indirect investments in SkyCity Entertainment Group and Russian company Gazprom...

Fossil Fuels

Viva Energy, Australia's largest energy company, drops 25% after weak results and forecast

The shares of Viva Energy Group plunged by 25% on Tuesday to their lowest level ever as the Australian fuel retailer missed its full-year profit forecasts and warned that challenging trading conditions will weigh on first-half earnings. The stock price dropped by nearly A$1 billion (635 million dollars) after it was listed in July 2018. This wiped out almost A$1 billion of the market capitalisation for the company, which is now A$2.86 Billion. Viva Energy’s underlying profit fell 20% to A$254.2 in 2024. This was below Visible Alpha’s consensus estimate of A$260.6, which had been provided. "Group performance has been...

Oil & Gas

Ampol Australia falls on profits plunge and decade-low dividend

Ampol, an Australian fuel retailer, saw its shares fall by nearly 10% after the company reported a sharp decline in annual profits and declared its lowest dividend in over a decade. Ampol announced a final dividend per share of 5 Australian Cents, down from 120 Aucents a year ago. This is also below Visible Alpha’s consensus estimate, which was 7 Aucents. As of 0010 GMT the shares of the company had fallen 4.3%, while the benchmark index was down by 0.6%. Ampol reported a net profit of A$234.8 (149.5) million on a replacement-cost basis for the period ended December 31...

Fossil Fuels

Anglo American sells nickel business up to $500 Million

Anglo American announced on Tuesday that it would sell its nickel mining business to an MMG Ltd unit listed in Hong Kong for up to $500m. A broader restructuring is underway to focus its operations on iron ore and copper. Nickel business in Brazil includes two ferronickel projects and two greenfields. Anglo will receive $350 million upon completion, up $100 million as a price-linked gainout, and an additional $50 million for potential project development, according to a company statement. Together, the assets produce around 38,000 metric tonnes of nickel each year. In January, the metal's price fell to a record...

Coal

Whitehaven Coal's second-quarter production in Australia rises by 92.7% and beats estimates

Whitehaven Coal, Australia's largest coal producer, posted a 92.7% increase in production for the second quarter on Wednesday. This was largely due to strong contributions from its New South Wales mines as well as its newly acquired Queensland mines. The New South Wales operations of the miner, which includes Maules Creek and Narrabri, saw a 1.3% increase in their managed run-of mine (ROM) production. Whitehaven, who purchased the Blackwater and Daunia coal mines from BHP Group in December for $4.1 billion, produced a total of 4.6 millions metric tons of ROM coal for the three-month period ended December. This was...

Fossil Fuels

Australia's Ampol expects lower annual earnings on Lytton refinery snags

Australia's Ampol estimated a steep drop in yearly earnings on Thursday as production at its Lytton refinery in Queensland was hit by operational restraints and lower refining margins. Shares of the company declined as much as 3.9% to A$ 28.78 in early trade while the more comprehensive benchmark index was down 0.3%. Production at the Lytton refinery was weighed down by a. refinery-wide steam failure and issues with its fluidised. catalytic cracking unit last year. Ampol, Australia's top fuel seller, anticipates earnings. before interest and tax on a replacement cost basis of about. A$ 715 million ($ 448 million) for...

Oil & Gas Exploration

FTSE 100 touches record high as growing rate cut bets dent sterling

The UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 hit an all-time high on Friday, supported by a weaker pound after much softer than expected retail sales data boosted expectations of an interest rate cut next month. The FTSE 100 increased 1.4% to hit record highs and logged its 4th straight weekly gain. The midcap index increased 0.3% and registered its best weekly efficiency given that October 2023. British retail sales fell unexpectedly in December, according to data that raised the danger of an economic contraction in the 4th quarter, adding to the obstacles facing finance minister Rachel Reeves. Gilt yields moved lower throughout...

Environment

China tortures and turns on seaborne coal market: Russell

China imported a record amount of coal in 2024, driving world imports of the fuel to an alltime high. So why are coal exporters beginning 2025 in a deep blue funk? For coal exporters, China is both their saviour and tormentor, as the record import volumes are only possible due to the fact that seaborne prices have dropped to multi-year lows. Rates for export coal have declined in order to stay competitive with China's domestic prices, with the world's. biggest producer and importer of coal driving what takes place in. international coal markets. China's coal imports increased to an all-time...

Oil & Gas Equipment

Sodexo's Q1 revenue rises, though weak European volumes keep back development

French food catering service Sodexo reported a 4.6% increase in its firstquarter natural revenue on Tuesday, missing market expectations, as robust growth in India, Brazil and Australia was balanced out by decreased activity in Continental Europe. Consolidated earnings was 6.4 billion euros ($ 6.7 billion) in the 3 months through November, compared to the 6.5 billion euros anticipated by experts in a company-provided consensus and 6.3 billion euros a year previously. Throughout the past years, the catering sector has actually benefited from tailwinds such as inflation which caused record outsourcing and volumes, boosting development. The France-based business's development began the...

Crude Oil

Crude Oil

Stocks rally in relief after Trump suspends tariffs

On Thursday, global stocks rose, the dollar recovered its footing and the manic bond saleoff stabilized after U.S. president Donald Trump announced he would temporarily reduce the heavy duties he just imposed on several countries. After a market crash that wiped trillions from global stocks, and sent U.S. Treasury Bonds and the dollar tumbling, Trump announced on Wednesday a 90-day suspension of many of his new duties in an unexpected reversal. Overnight, Wall Street's "Magnificent 7" stocks soared again. Their market value grew by more than $1.5 trillion. S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite Index posted their largest daily percentage...

Crude Oil

US assets are battered by trade war as'sell America trade' is intensified

The latest trade war escalation between the United States of America and China has shook the global markets on Wednesday. Investors have dumped bonds, stocks and the dollar. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump's 104% tariffs against China went into effect. Beijing responded with 84% duties on U.S. imported goods. According to George Saravelos, head of Deutsche Bank's foreign exchange research, the seemingly wholesale withdrawal of Treasuries from the market and the dollar as the "backbone" of the global financial systems could be indicative of a general decline in investor interest in holding U.S. assets and the end of an era....

Crude Oil

US bonds and dollar are battered by a'sell America" trade that is heating up

The global markets were hammered on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump's 104% tariffs against China went into effect. A savage sale of U.S. Bonds sparked concerns that foreign funds are fleeing U.S. Assets. The markets have been roiled by a crisis of unprecedented volatility this week, with stocks losing trillions in value and commodities and emerging market markets being hit hard. The dollar and U.S. Treasuries, the two mainstays of the global financial systems, were at the epicenter of Wednesday's rout. Many fear that Trump's tariffs are so severe they will trigger a recession, forcing the Federal Reserve to cut...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Australia shares fall amid global selloff as trade war escalates

Australian shares fell nearly 2% Wednesday, losing market value of $34.5 billion as a result of the escalating trade tensions, particularly between China and the United States. After a 2.3% increase on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 ended 1.8% lower. The index is down by nearly 15% since its all-time peak in mid-February. After President Donald Trump's tariffs kicked in, other top Asian stock indices fell as well. Fears of foreign funds fleeing U.S. investments were sparked by a savage sale in Treasuries. George Kurian is a portfolio manager with Oracle Investment Management. He said that investors' primary concern is the...

Mineral Resources

Saudi's Ma'aden weighs foreign partner for minerals processing pact

Three sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden, the country's largest mining company, is looking at forming a rare-earths processing partnership. The kingdom wants to be a global hub for critical minerals. Sources said Ma'aden was considering a partnership with MP Materials in the United States, China's Shenghe Resources or Australia's Lynas rare earths, as well as Canada's Neo Performance Materials. According to sources who weren't authorized to speak publicly about the discussions, Ma'aden intends to select at least one partner before the end of the month to assist in developing plans for a rare-earths processing...

Mineral Resources

Australian heavy rare Earths miners protest China export controls

Australian listed miners of heavy-rare earths rallied Monday, despite major selloffs on other markets. They were betting that Western governments would redouble their efforts to create a separate supply after China, the top producer, imposed export controls. Shares in Lynas, the top rare earths producer in the world outside China, rose 5%, as did Meteoric Resources which has a Brazil project. Meanwhile, shares in Australia's heavy rare earths developer Northern Minerals soared by 9.5%. China placed export restrictions for rare earth elements as part of a sweeping response to U.S. president Donald Trump's new tariffs. This has resulted in a...

Mineral Resources

Australian heavy rare Earths miners protest China export controls

Australian listed miners of heavy-rare earths rallied Monday, despite major selloffs on other markets. They were betting that Western governments would redouble their efforts to create a separate supply after China, the top producer, imposed export controls. Shares in Australia's heavy rare earths developer Northern Minerals, which has a project in Brazil and is based in Australia, surged by 9.5%. China placed export restrictions for rare earth elements as part of its response to U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs on Friday, which squeezed supply of minerals to the West used to manufacture weapons, electronic devices and a variety of consumer...

Mineral Resources

Trump's tariffs are forcing trading partners into a corner

The only option for U.S. trade partners in the current trade war with Donald Trump is to sue. Most countries that are hit by tariffs of 10%-50% on their exports, to the dominant economic superpower in the world, lack the firepower or political will to fight back, according to government officials, economists, and trade experts. The vast majority of Trump's trading partners didn't immediately respond and instead indicated their willingness to negotiate with him a compromise that would save face. Even those who have counter-measured left the door open to negotiations. China, who on Friday imposed an additional 34% tariff...

Mineral Resources

China responds to global trade war by imposing sweeping tariffs on U.S. products

China announced an additional 34% tariff on U.S. products on Friday. This is the most significant escalation of a trade conflict with President Donald Trump, which has fueled fears of a worldwide recession and caused a stock market crash. Beijing announced that it had added several U.S. companies to an export control listing and classified others as "unreliable". From Canada to China, nations have prepared retaliation as a trade war escalates after Trump raised U.S. Tariff Barriers to their highest levels in over a century. This led to a drop in the world financial markets. Shigeru Shiba, the Prime Minister...

Mineral Resources

Rio Tinto and BHP give in to union pressure over benefits for Pilbara workers

A mining union in Australia said that it had secured important financial benefits for its employees working in the iron rich Pilbara region, including compensation for flight delays and bonuses. The Mining and Energy Union said that Rio Tinto will compensate "Fly-In-Fly-Out" workers who are heading home for delays of more than four hours with A$500 (313.55) and A$1,000 (for delays over 12 hours). The amendment was made after more than 400 Rio Tinto workers from the Paraburdoo Iron Ore Project signed a petition of the Western Mine Workers Alliance to begin bargaining for a new collective agreement. This is...

Mineral Resources

Executives, trade and labor associations comment on Trump's reciprocal duties

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States, and higher duties for some of the biggest trading partners. This could lead to a trade conflict and upset the global economy. Countermeasures from trading partners could result in a dramatic increase in prices of everything, including bicycles and wine. Trump has already levied 25% on automobiles and auto parts. The latest responses from business executives, unions and trade associations. Companies STELLANTIS The automaker announced that it would temporarily stop production in some of its Canadian assembly plants and Mexican...

Mineral Resources

Executives, trade and labor associations comment on Trump's reciprocal duties

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States, and he may increase duties on some of its biggest trading partners. This could lead to a trade conflict and upset the global economy. Countermeasures from trading partners could result in a dramatic increase in prices of everything, including bicycles and wine. Trump has already levied 25% on automobiles and auto parts. The latest responses from business executives, unions and trade associations. Companies ANTONIO BARAVALLE is the CEO of LAVAZZA We had planned to increase the local production (in the...

Mineral Resources

QUOTES - Executives, trade and labor organizations on Trump's reciprocal duties

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States, and increased duties on some of its biggest trading partners. This could lead to a trade conflict and upset the global economy. Countermeasures from trading partners could result in a dramatic increase in prices of everything, including bicycles and wine. Trump has already levied 25% on automobiles and auto parts. Here are some reactions from business executives, trade and union associations: Companies KATSUYA NAKANISHI is the CEO of MITSUBISHICORP The CEO of a Japanese trading company said that the firm...

Mineral Resources

BHP considers spinning off its iron ore and coal divisions

Three sources familiar with the matter said that BHP, the world's largest listed miner, considered splitting off its Australian coal and iron ore divisions as part a medium-term strategy for growth. BHP Group considered separating the divisions as part of its plan to focus on commodities such as potash and cobalt, which are expected to grow in the future. Two sources confirmed that the company had considered a listing for Australia before management decided against it. They said that the consideration was in progress as BHP was preparing to bid on Anglo American for 2023 and 2024 and was pushing...

Mineral Resources

Canada and Mexico are not subject to the new global rates because the fentanyl tax is still in place

Mexico and Canada were spared new tariffs Wednesday, as President Donald Trump excluded the top US trading partners from his 10% global tariff baseline. Previous duties are still in place. Tariffs will not be applied to most goods from Mexico and Canada which comply with the USMCA agreement between the three nations, except for steel and aluminium and auto exports. Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada because they did not do enough to stop migration and the trafficking of fentanyl. However, he later announced a concession for USMCA-compliant goods. The White House fact sheet stated that "for...