Barrick takes US$8.7B impairment charge
Barrick Gold (TSX: ABX; NYSE: ABX) is writing down the value of its assets by US$8.7 billion and slashing its quarterly dividend in response to the recent decline in metal prices.
Australia, NZ & South Pacific
Newcrest swallows A$6.2B writedown
Newcrest Mining’s (TSX:NM; ASX: NCM) warning in early June that it would be taking up to a A$6-billion writedown on its various gold mining assets around the world has come to pass, and the bite is a little deeper than first anticipated…
Laramide’s Henderson takes the long view
Laramide Resources (TSX: LAM; US-OTC: LMRXF; ASX: LAM) ended 2012 with an enterprise value of less than US$1 per lb. in the ground for its district-scale uranium resource in Australia and a handful of smaller projects in the U.S. — yet…
Mega Uranium eyes JV with Cameco at Kintyre
VANCOUVER — It’s been a busy month on the deal front for Toronto-based junior Mega Uranium (TSX: MGA). In mid-June Mega announced a proposed merger with peer Rockgate Capital (TSX: RGT), which would create a cashed-up…
Alacer looks to shed Australian mines
There are knocks on the door for Alacer Gold’s (ASR-T) Australian assets, and the company is listening.
Rockgate and Mega to merge
VANCOUVER — Rockgate Capital (RGT-T) and Mega Uranium (MGA-T) are merging to create a uranium company with several advanced projects, early stage properties, a healthy treasury and a strong team of managers and directors.
Commentary: TSX rule change gets mixed reaction Down Under
On Dec. 31, 2012, the Toronto Stock Exchange made amendments to its company manual to require that TSX-listed issuers elect all directors annually, in addition to changes requiring disclosure of majority voting policies.
Newcrest to take $6B writedown, cut office jobs
Newcrest Mining (NM-T, NCM-A), joining a growing list of miners that have been rattled by the recent dip in commodity prices amidst escalating costs, intends to slam the brakes on spending and swallow up to A$6 billion ($5.8 billion) in…
New study gives Vista more options at Mt. Todd
VANCOUVER — Mt. Todd, the largest undeveloped gold project in Australia, took a big step towards production with a prefeasibility study that gives owner Vista Gold (VGZ-T, VGZ-N) a choice: the company can either spend a billion dollars to…
Hanlong reneges on Sundance deal
VANCOUVER — Mining companies and resource investors are going to have a tough time believing Hanlong Group if it tables another takeover offer. Twice the huge Chinese energy and resource company has offered to take over junior miners, but…
New milestone for OceanaGold
Earlier this week OceanaGold (OCG-T, OGC-A) declared that the first concentrate from its Didipio open-pit mine in the Philippines was en route to Japan.
Iron ore outlooks turn gloomy
VANCOUVER — Goldman Sachs has cut its iron ore price forecasts and downgraded its Rio Tinto (RIO-N, RIO-L) recommendation from “neutral” to “sell.” The reason? More than 90% of the company’s 2012 earnings…