GDF Suez’s takeover of International Power (LON:IPR) has been completed.
Kazakhmys (LON:KAZ) has appointed Sergei Diachenko as chief operating officer of the group.
International Airlines Group (IAG) reported that in January 2011, group traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres rose by 6.1 per cent versus January 2010. Available seat kilometres were up 9.5 per cent.
Shares in Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSA) tumbled almost 3 per cent in early trade as its quarterly profits fell short of market expectations. Replacement cost net income, excluding one-off items, was US$4.1 billion in the three months ended December compared with City forecasts some US$750 million higher.
Unilever (LON:ULVR) this morning revealed it is launching another round of cost cutting as it unveiled a 15 per cent rise in quarterly profits to €1.4 billion.
DiamondCorp (LON:DCP, JSE:DMC) said the decline development at the Lace mine in South Africa is on track and it is nearly ready to start a drilling programme at Jwaneng in Botswana on the first of two diamondiferous kimberlite pipes which were intersected there during drilling last year.
Oxus Gold PLC (LON:OXS) has agreed to sell its entire 50 percent stake in the Amantaytau Goldfields joint venture (AGF) in Uzbekistan at a cash price yet to be agreed, and plans to seek opportunities to invest in the mining sector outside Uzbekistan.
Beowulf Mining (LON:BEM) said it is still on course to receive final assay results on its Kallak South iron ore project on schedule in second quarter of this year despite Sweden’s coldest winter in a century. With temperatures plummeting as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius, the company has drilled just 10 of a planned 32 holes for 951 metres. Assay results for this phase of the programme are expected later this month. Beowulf plans to drill 3,500 metres in all.
Amur Minerals (LON:AMC) has found a new mineralised area within the Kun Manie copper-nickel project in Far East Russia. Kun Manie, in Far East Russia, is Amur’s flagship project. It currently comprises three main deposits - Maly Krumkon, Ikenskoe and Vodorazdelny.
Aurelian Oil & Gas PLC (LON:AUL) said poor weather has delayed fraccing and testing of the Trzek-2 horizontal well targeting the Siekierki tight gas field in Poland. Results, which were originally due in December, are now expected by mid-March.
Aurelian Oil & Gas is set for the most important month in its history, according to Ambrian Capital analyst Werner Riding.
Leni Gas & Oil PLC (LON:LGO) said it has appointed Steve Horton as a non executive director with immediate effect. Horton has extensive experience in the energy sector with a record of delivery in drilling and production operations, major construction projects, M&A transactions, and business management.
African Aura Mining (LON:AAAM, TSX-V:AUR) this morning unveiled some encouraging early results from its Ndablama prospect in western Liberia, which it says has “all the hallmarks of being a significant gold system”. Results from the first eight holes include an eight metre intersection with 6.04 grams of the precious metal per tonne and 16 metres at 2.38 grams.
Lonrho (LON:LONR) revealed a strong set of first quarter results, driven by a 21 percent year-on-year increase in group turnover. The company is essentially a growing Africa-focused conglomerate with assets spanning agriculture, infrastructure, transport, support services, its own airline and a chain of hotels.
Osceola Hydrocarbons has raised £1.5 million for its core projects and planned admission to AIM via a successful placing and open offer, which was oversubscribed. The soon-to-be AIM listed junior offered 30 million shares at a price of 5 pence per share to existing shareholders and to certain placees procured by Campbell O'Connor & Co.
Bahamas Petroleum (LON:BPC) told investors that it has found multiple prospects in its southern licenses. It has now completed a 1,120 kilometre 2D seismic survey across four of its offshore licenses. Last year BPC carried out the first seismic work in the area since 1987, but this new programme will be the first prospect-level survey in the Bahamas.
Noventa (LON:NVTA,TSX:NTA) reported results for the year to end-December 2010, a period which saw the implementation of a new strategy and equity issues raising US$35.1 million which are being used be used to expand mining and processing capacity at the flagship Marropino tantalum mine in Mozambique.
The Albanian government has approved the Durresi block licence petroleum complimentary agreement for San Leon Energy (LON:SLE), allowing it to focus on acquiring 3D seismic over the project.
Central Rand Gold (LON:CRG) shares collapsed amid concerns that it may lose access to a large proportion of its gold reserves due to the rising water table across the Central Rand Goldfield of South Africa.
Pan African Resources (LON:PAF, JSE:PAN) expects its half yearly earnings - the interim results are due 22 February - will beat last year’s comparatives by a significant margin.
Edison Investment Research has started coverage of Green Dragon Gas (LON:GDG), one of the largest independent producers and distributors of coal bed methane gas in the People’s Republic of China.
African Aura Mining (LON:AAAM, TSX-V:AUR) spent another day among AIM’s ‘top risers’. The shares advanced over 10 percent, after it revealed encouraging early results today from the Ndablama gold prospect.