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The article examines the proposed merger of large mineral industries firm Glencore and Xstrata. Objections to the price offered Xstrata stockholders by Glencore from Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, which owns 12 percent of Xstrata and a subsequent agreement by Glencore to increase the amount of stock in the new firm issued to Xstrata stockholders are discussed.

The article discusses the state of the mining industry and examines the prospects of large-scale mergers taking place within the mining industry. The effect of high commodity prices on the mining industry is explored and the reasons for the mergers are examined. According to the article, mergers could take place between mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton and between Xstrata and Anglo American.

The article reports that in the metals and mining industry there are two conflicting strategies at work between firms trying to become the biggest producers of a particular metal and those that aim for diversity. The hedging benefits of diversification are considered and contrasted with investor responses. One analyst asserts that the best time for diversified firms to take over their specialized rivals is when commodity prices fall. Implications of such mergers and acquisitions are considered.

Discusses the planned merger between mining company BHP and Billiton. How Paul Anderson turned BHP around to make a profit; Thought that size and profitability are often linked; How the mining industry is small in size relative to other comparable industries, such as petroleum; Outlook.

Reports on transformations within South Africa's gold industry, as of February 1998. Resignation of Mzi Khumalo as chairman of JCI, the country's first black-owned mining house; Details concerning Gold Fields and Anglogold, new companies; Figures for a depressed gold price; Complex corporate structures, rising costs, aging mines, low productivity and other problems to be overcome if the industry is to become competitive; Consolidation strategies; Forecasts.

The article presents international business news briefs as of December 8, 2012. Commodity trading firm Olam received backing from investment company Temasek. Metal mining firm Freeport-McMoRan acquired two oil-and-gas companies. The Brazilian economy grew by less than 1% in the third quarter, despite government measures to increase output.

The article focuses on the proposed merger between the mining and commodities trading company Glencore and the Swiss mining company Xstrata. Information is provided on how the merger would make the company the world's largest thermal-coal mining company. The article details the problems the merger might create, such as violations of antitrust laws.

The article considers the decision by the mining industry company Anglo American to purchase majority ownership of the diamond mining company De Beers, focusing on the declining market power of that company in its industry.

This article reports on the international mining company Xstrata and why the firm Anglo American rejected a merger between them. The article discusses the similarities and differences between the companies' debts, merger histories, cost controls, and government regulations. Information is also provided on Xstrata executive Mick Davis and Anglo American executive Cynthia Carroll.

This article focuses on the Chinese government's control of the company Chinalco and its assistance to the mining company Rio Tinto. Tom Albanese, chief executive officer (CEO) of Rio Tinto is also discussed. The author addresses Albanese's three major deals with the firms Alcan, BHP Billiton, and Chinalco and the mining industry's troubles as commodity prices decrease.

The article reports on the efforts of Anglo-Australian mining company BHP Billiton, the world's largest, to buy third-place Rio Tinto, and the efforts of Chinese aluminum producer Chinalco to influence the deal. China's interest in the deal is discussed, including its heavy reliance on iron ore, much of which is produced by BHP and Rio.

The article focuses on consolidation in the mining industry. BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Rio Tinto rule the world of mining. Now two middle-sized firms--Noranda, based in Canada, and WMC Resources of Australia--are likely to be taken over. The willing target is Noranda, Canada's biggest mining and metals company. When Noranda opened the door to bidders, trade-unionists in Canada worried about its natural resources falling into foreign, state-owned hands. Any foreign takeover would need official Canadian backing. Yet it is unlikely a Minmetals bid would be blocked. Like other miners, Noranda has seen turnover leap and profits soar this year. Across the Pacific, WMC faces a hostile cash bid from Xstrata. Swiss-headquartered and already earning half its profits in Australia, Xstrata was a relatively small Swiss company until the winter of 2001-02. If Xstrata buys WMC, that would add more nickel, copper, gold and a giant new mine, Olympic Dam, in South Australia that WMC claims includes, in addition to copper and gold, one-third of the world's known uranium deposits. In mining, size does bring diversity, of commodity, region and political risk, as well as operational flexibility.

The merging parties are Xstrata, a London-listed but Swiss-based mining group that floated last year with the intention of consolidating its way to global influence, and MIM Holdings, an Australian company with big copper and coking-coal assets. If three-quarters or more of MIM shareholders agree to sell, the combined firm will have a diversified metals-and-mining portfolio--and great potential. Curiously, when it was announced, the case for selling was made by Leo Tutt, MIM's chairman. Where was Vince Gauci, the managing director, widely seen as the architect of an impressive turnaround since he took the job in 1999? A clearly embarrassed Mr. Tutt said that Mr. Gauci had dissented from the decision to accept Xstrata's cash, believing that the bid undervalues MIM.

Presents brief reports about business around the world, for the week of March 24, 2001. Decision by central banks in the United States and Japan to cut their interest rates; Merger of Australian mining firm BHP with British firm Billiton; British leisure group Whitbread's sale of 3,000 pubs to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity; Decision of Spain's government to sell its remaining stake in Iberia airline; U.S. advertising firm Interpublic to buy rival True North Communications for $2.1 billion; Other brief reports.