Proactiveinvestors Australia

We look at some interesting research out today from the City boutique Bernstein, which looks at the ramifications for the coal market of the recent floods in Australia. The impact it seems goes far beyond the thermal and coking coal markets.

The fall in BHP's share price may be a reaction partly to general market weakness but also the result of the audacious bid for PotashCorp. 

The latest numbers show BHP Billiton is continuing to widen its hefty lead on its global diversified mining peers.

BHP Billiton's bombproof balance sheet forms a blockbuster to rival bidders for PotashCorp.

With the US$38 billion offer BHP is attempting to gain in one swoop a global leading position in a commodity business that has significant growth prospects.

Peak Resources is on track to become the next major rare earth supplier from the Ngualla project in Tanzania. The company has produced two refined rare earth products at ANSTO Minerals - which importantly are in saleable form and available for evaluation by target customers.

The completed Scoping Study for the Mansa manganese project has demonstrated positive project economics as the project moves closer to production in a matter of weeks. Budgeted costs of delivering a CIF product are between $190 and $210 per tonne, in line with its expectations.

The start of the second phase drilling at Mt Forrest iron project puts Mindax on the path to potentially expand both the iron base as well as life of the mine. Importantly, it also has promise for the proposed partnership with Hong Kong-based Perpetual Mining, that could see the company invest $52 million.

The $5.1 million received is part of a planned $10 million investment by Owen Hegarty's EMR Capital in Highfield Resources to develop its advanced potash projects in Spain.

Having made inroads to access the eastern area of the high grade silver Bonanza Zone at the New Departure project in Montana, Black Mountain is on the cusp of first cash generative silver production.