Mining News Media Rare Earths News World Mining News: Commodities, Resources Media Man

Australian Dollar: $0.6520 USD (up 0.0040 USD)
Iron Ore: $104.45 USD (up $0.20 USD)
Oil: $60.87 USD (up $1.07 USD)
Gold: $4,069.77 USD (up $44.86 USD)
Copper: $4.9775 USD (down $0.0055 USD)
Bitcoin: $93,135.56 USD (up 1.46% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 46,229.59 (down 360.65 points)

Bitcoin: (Near Live) $93,331.83 +1.13%

News

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

News

Lithium giant's forecast hikes mining stocks

Chinese media outlet Cailian recently reported that Ganfeng Lithium chairman Li Liangbin has forecast that demand for lithium could rise by 30 per cent in 2026 and boost the price of the battery metal to around 200,000 yuan ($43,000) per tonne. Li's comments at an industry event have prompted a rally in the price of both lithium and the share prices of lithium producers; indeed, Australian lithium miners defied the downward trend on Tuesday, which saw the local bourse shed 1.9 per cent. (RMS)

News

Australian Mining News

Recent Developments (November 2025)

Market Debuts and Conferences: Red Mountain Mining (ASX: RMX) saw shares rise 36% on its OTCQB listing, highlighting US-Australia critical minerals ties. The company presents at the Virtual Investor Conference on November 19, focusing on antimony and rare earths projects.

Tech Advancements: Southern LiDAR's underground mapping tech is gaining traction for safety and efficiency in Australian mines.

Policy and Investment: A global mining giant committed AU$35M to NSW's zero-emissions steel demonstration plant, amid debates on taxpayer funding versus competitiveness against Chinese imports. Meanwhile, the Australian Mines and Services Handbook 2026 booking rush signals optimism.

Broader Discussions: Social media buzz includes critiques of environmental impacts (e.g., highway projects versus mining) and state rivalries, with Western Australia's mineral dominance contrasting Victoria's challenges.

News

Markets

S&P/ASX 200 846 9.10 -1.28%
S&P 500 6617.32 -0.83%
NIKKEI 48702.98 -3.22%
FTSE 9552.30 -1.27%
AUD/USD 65.06 +0.22%
GOLD 4067.32 +0.83%

News

Wyloo bets on nickel future as part of critical minerals boom

Wyloo's financial accounts show that it booked a $377.6m profit in 2024-25, after a massive impairment charge on its nickel assets resulted in a $352.8m loss for the previous financial year. The private company of Andrew and Nicola Forrest is continuing to explore for nickel near its mothballed mines in Western Australia, while it is also considering the construction of a nickel concentrator near Kambalda. Wyloo's CEO Luca Giacovazzi stated in its latest annual report that its future growth is likely to be on mining and selling nickel, while this focus is expected to be expanded to include rare earths. (RMS)

News

Nov 19

US fears, Nvidia nerves wipe $60b from ASX

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Tuesday, recording its biggest one-day fall since the Trump administration's 'liberation day' tariffs in April; the S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.9 per cent to close at 8,469.1 points. Tony Sycamore from IG says the local bourse was hit by a "perfect storm", with investors awaiting the release of Nvidia's latest financial results and US jobs data for September. BHP was down 3.7 per cent at $40.90, TechnologyOne ended the session 17.2 per cent lower at $29.26 and DroneShield fell 5.8 per cent to $2.45. Pilbara Minerals bucked the trend, rising 3.3 per cent to close at $4.09. (RMS)

Nov 18

ASX wipes out $60b in second-worst day this year

The Australian sharemarket suffered its second-biggest drop this year on Tuesday as investors erased $60 billion in value on growing anxiety about chip giant Nvidia’s upcoming results and concerns that interest rates in the US won’t fall soon. Losses accelerated in afternoon trading with the S&P/ASX 200 Index closing down 167.3 points, or 1.9 per cent, to 8469.1, the lowest level since late June. It was the worst session since US President Donald Trump unleashed hefty tariffs early April.

Ownership of 'Solar Energy Systems' is on the rise

(Roy Morgan Summary)

New data from Roy Morgan shows that 32% of Australian households (more than 3.3 million) now have some form of solar energy system, such as a solar hot water system, a solar heated swimming pool or rooftop solar panels with or without battery systems. These figures include 27% of households with solar panels and 5% with both solar panels and storage batteries. Western Australians are leading the way in solar panel ownership (37%) along with South Australian households (also 37%), followed by Queensland (33%). Households in these States are more likely to have solar panels than an average Australian household. Meawhile, households in South Australia and the Northern Territory (Darwin and Alice Springs) have a higher take-up of solar batteries (9% and 7% of households, respectively) compared to the national average (5%). While ownership of solar power storage batteries is at a much lower rate compared to solar panels, the federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is set to boost the future take-up of storage batteries nationwide. (RMS)

Nov 15

Make coal great again or China gets your data: Hanson

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will release details of the party's energy policy during the last parliamentary sitting week for 2025. However, Hanson contends that amongst other things Australia must withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and extend the operating lives of the nation's existing fleet of coal-fired power stations. Hansen has emphasised the importance of coal-fired power generation to data centres in Australia, warning that they will not be able to compete with China. Hanson adds that it "frightens the hell out of me" that China will dominate global data storage due to its lower electricity prices, which will be at least partly due to coal imported from Australia. (RMS)

News

Former Rio boss called to Mongolian probe

A Mongolian parliamentary inquiry into cost blowouts at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine was announced in September, with public hearings due to be held between December 8 and 12. Slated to be one of the world's top-five producers of copper by the end of the decade, the Oyu Tolgoi mine cost almost $US1.7 billion more than planned and took almost two years longer than expected to build. Former Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques is one of close to 300 witnesses called to appear before the inquiry, with Jacques having been CEO of Rio from 2016 to 2020. (Roy Morgan Summary)

Nov 14

BHP to learn class action fate for $72b Brazil dam disaster

The UK's High Court will shortly issue a ruling on whether BHP is legally for an iron ore tailings dam disaster in Brazil which killed 19 people and caused massive environmental damage in November 2015. The tailing dam was owned by the Samarco joint venture between BHP and iron ore rival Vale. Should BHP be found to be legally liable, individual claimants' eligibility for compensation and the size of any payouts will be determined in the next stage of the long-running case. BHP and Vale have already paid billions in compensation to people who were affected by the disaster. (RMS)

News

Fresh probe launched into MinRes, Ellison

It has been revealed that the Australian Taxation Office has launched a new investigation into Mineral Resources and its billionaire founder Chris Ellison. News of the investigation was revealed in a request sent by the ATO to the Federal Court in October for access to previously sealed documents that had been filed in the unfair dismissal case brought by MinRes' former procurement manager Steve Pigozzo in 2022. The new investigation will focus on how MinRes and Ellison calculated income and fringe benefit taxes, with the revelation regarding the new probe coming as MinRes prepares to hold its AGM next week, at which shareholders will be asked to approve a lucrative share options package for new chairman Malcolm Bundey. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Rio ends two-decade Serbia lithium mining dream as cost cuts bite

Rio Tinto has advised that its Jadar lithium project in Serbia has put in 'care and maintenance' mode. The company will cease undertaking environmental, heritage and geological surveys at the site in the Jadar Valley, four years after revealing plans to invest $US2.4bn ($3.7bn) on developing what it claimed would be the biggest lithium mine in Europe. There is growing competition for capital within Rio Tinto's lithium division, and its $10bn deal to acquire Arcadium Lithium earlier in 2025 added several mines that are already in production to its lithium portfolio. (RMS)

News

American activist claims IperionX more dud than minerals gem

Trading in the shares of Australian-listed IperionX were halted on Thursday, following the release of a report into the company by New York hedge fund Spruce Point Capital Management, which specialises in short-selling. With the US-based IperionX seeking to develop titanium extraction technology and having been backed by the Trump administration as part of its bid to secure domestic production of critical minerals, Spruce Point's report sought to raise doubt about IperionX's prospects. (RMS)

News

Biotech gets $20m in critical minerals push

US-based biotechnology firm Endolith has raised $US13.5m ($20.6m) via its initial round of venture funding, while it aims to raise an additional $3m in a second tranche. The start-up is developing technology that can be used to extract critical minerals such as copper from low-grade ore and waste rock that would be unprofitable to process using traditional methods. Endolith's technology uses microbes and artifical intelligence, and the company aims to commence real-world trials at a mine site within 6-12 months. (RMS)

News

Oversupply of oil could create glut of 4m barrels a day, says energy watchdog

The International Energy Agency has stated in its latest monthly report that the world is producing more oil than it needs, and that there could be a glut of 4m excess barrels a day entering the market by 2026. The IEA's warning has come in the same week that it issued its latest energy outlook report, which included a controversial scenario in which global oil demand would continue to grow until 2050. It had dropped the scenario in 2020 after it was accused of repeatedly criticised for underestimating the growth of renewable energy in its annual report, but returned the scenario to its outlook this year after calls from the White House to present a more optimistic view for the future of oil. (RMS)

News Lead Up

News

The cryptocurrency market is stagnating, lagging its competitors

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation has changed little over the past day, fluctuating around $3.5 trillion. The cryptocurrency fear index has fallen to 15, its lowest level since 4 March. Notably, the cryptocurrency market has been left out of the recent rally in precious metals and stock indices. If this is not an attempt by whales to lock in profits from the rally since April or even from the growth of the last two years, then it is an alarming signal of deep-seated risk aversion that is about to manifest itself in larger markets.

Bitcoin continues to struggle to remain within the bull market on weekly timeframes, trying to stay above the 50-week moving average. Last week's close was on the edge and attempts to develop an offensive this week are running into sell-offs, despite the favourable external backdrop. The previous such transition occurred at the end of 2021, and so far, everything aligns with the 4-year halving cycles that many were quick to dismiss.

News Background

Over the past three months, a clear break has occurred in the correlation between Bitcoin and the stock market. The S&P 500 stock index has risen 7% during this time, while BTC has lost 15%. Judging by four years of close correlation, it can be argued that Bitcoin is currently undervalued, according to Santiment.

Jan3 founder Samson Mow attributes Bitcoin's decline to a massive sell-off by investors who bought it over the past 12 to 18 months. They are rushing to lock in profits amid rumours of an imminent bearish trend in the crypto market.

The crypto market's growth phase is nearing its end, so it is time for investors to consider locking in profits and reducing the share of crypto assets in their portfolios, according to Morgan Stanley, which cites a four-year cycle that the cryptocurrency market has consistently followed since 2009.

The bitcoin mining industry is facing a difficult period due to growing competition and declining profitability, said MARA CEO Fred Thiel. According to him, only those miners who have access to cheap energy or new business models will survive.

According to SoSoValue, spot Solana ETFs in the US have attracted more than $350 million in 11 trading sessions. The steady inflow of funds into new SOL ETFs came as a surprise to the market. The results significantly exceeded initial conservative forecasts, according to LVRG Research.

Visa has unveiled a pilot project called Visa Direct, which allows US customers to make direct cross-border payments in USDC stablecoin to recipients' wallets. The initiative is aimed at content creators and freelancers.

The crypto industry is entering a new phase of capital raising. The launch of Coinbase's ICO platform is expected to be a key event in this trend, according to Bitwise. The exchange will select and launch one verified project per month. (FxPro)

News

The dollar emerging from the data fog

• The US government shutdown is over. • Central bank policy convergence helps EURUSD. • Political scandal causes the pound to fall. • Japan's currency interventions are ineffective The House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 to resume government operations. The president immediately signed the document. The record-long shutdown is over. This fact promises that the Fed and investors will soon begin to exit their positions. The president immediately signed the document. The record-breaking shutdown is over. This fact suggests that the Fed and investors will quickly start to emerge from the fog once statistics are published again, allowing them to make data-driven decisions. But will they like what they see when the picture becomes clearer?
Alternative sources show a slowdown in the US GDP. The IMF forecasts a decline in its growth rate from 2.8% to 2% in 2025. The eurozone, on the other hand, is expected to accelerate from 0.9% to 1.2%. At the same time, the Bank of France plans to raise its estimates for the country, despite the ongoing political turmoil. The narrowing divergence in economic growth argues in favour of maintaining the upward trend for EURUSD. The same can be said about monetary policy. The ECB has most likely ended its easing cycle, barring any major shocks. The federal funds rate is likely to continue falling amid a cooling US labour market and economy. The euro has advantages over the dollar. However, in the short term, mixed data could lead to mixed movements in EURUSD.

The conflict on Downing Street has allowed GBPUSD bears to launch a new attack. When Labour came to power in Britain in 2024, the pound gained preference thanks to hopes for political stability after constant ministerial changes under the Conservatives. However, since then, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ratings have been falling. Rumours of a plot to replace the leader have made investors nervous and prompted them to sell sterling. Doubts about the effectiveness of potential currency interventions continue to push the USDJPY pair higher. The current conditions differ from those of last year. Back then, Tokyo intervened in the FOREX market before raising the overnight rate. Now, Sanae Takaichi is sticking to a policy of fiscal and monetary stimulus. Any purchase of the yen will only have short-term success. In addition, it will require the expenditure of foreign exchange reserves. These are needed to make the investments in the US economy promised to Donald Trump. (FxPro)

News

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

News

Media

Google Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Website Of The Month' award; Runner-up: Yahoo! Finance

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award; YouTube and Paramount Plus are runner-ups! Strong mention: Tubi

News

Pop Culture News

Landman (Paramount Plus)

Plot

Set against the backdrop of the booming West Texas oilfields, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an independent oil company. Tommy navigates cutthroat deals, family tensions, and moral dilemmas while trying to keep his business afloat. The story kicks off with an investigation into a fatal accident involving an out-of-town lawyer, weaving in elements of drug cartels.

Landman is an American drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by Wallace's podcast Boomtown. It explores the high-stakes world of the oil industry in West Texas, blending themes of fortune-seeking, corporate intrigue, and personal drama amid roughnecks, billionaires, and geopolitical shifts.

The series premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, and has been renewed for a second season.

Landman: Season 2. Trailer (Paramount Plus)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mhzQawESdqg

"You think you understand how this business works, but you don't." Things are heating up in the final Landman trailer. Season 2 premieres November 16, 2025, only on Paramount+.

"Death and a Sunset"
November 16, 2025

"Sins of the Father"
November 23, 2025

"Almost a Home"
November 30, 2025

"Dancing Rainbows"
December 7, 2025

"The Pirate Dinner"
December 14, 2025

"Dark Night of the Soul"
December 21, 2025

"Forever Is an Instant"
December 28, 2025

"Handsome Touched Me"
January 4, 2026

"Plans, Tears and Sirens"
January 11, 2026

"Tragedy and Flies"
January 18, 2026

News

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Markets, Mining, Rare Earths, Politics: Australia and USA Connection

Thirsty Thursday: Media Watercooler

Sin City, Sydney, Australia: From The Sea To The Outback And Beyond ...

October 2025

Oct 23

Australian Dollar: $0.6490 USD
Iron Ore: $104.15 USD (up $0.15 USD)
Oil: $59.22 USD (up $1.36 USD)
Gold: $4,092.94 USD (down $28.55 USD)
Copper: $5.0110 USD (up $0.0610 USD)
Bitcoin: $107,652.80 USD (down 2.81%)
Dow Jones: 46,590.41 (down 334.33 points)

Mining Stocks: (Near Live)

BHP Group Ltd $43.51
Fortescue Ltd $20.36
Rio Tinto $130.40
Northern Star $23.56
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.40
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.33
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.02

Gold Price Today: 4,085.15 -12.66 -0.31%

News

Albanese-Trump Summit Secures $2 Billion Critical Minerals Deal Amid Rudd Backlash

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump finalized a critical minerals framework on October 20, with each nation committing $1 billion to secure supply chains for rare earths and technology resources against Chinese influence. The agreement includes a projection for Australian superannuation funds to reach $1.44 trillion in U.S. investments by 2035 through independent growth. Trump's comment on Ambassador Kevin Rudd prompted initial calls for his dismissal from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, which she later retracted amid internal Liberal Party criticism.

News

Cryptocurrency Sector For Most Is Flat At Present; Many Lost Gamble Over Past Week And Months!

News

Mining/Minerals

Critical minerals deal likened to Manhattan Project

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the $13bn critical minerals deal has taken the partnership between Australia and the US to "another level". He has also described the deal as a job-creating "game changer" for Australia. The US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, has in turn emphasised the importance of critical minerals in giving the US an advantage in artificial intelligence technology; he has stated that winning the AI arms race will be just as important to the US as the Manhattan Project was in building the first atom bomb. (RMS)

News

China's reaction to the Trump-Albanese talkfest

Experts say the Chinese government is unlikely to be unduly concerned about Australia's critical minerals and rare earths deal with the US. Fudan University's dean of international studies, Wu Xinbo, says the key issue is the processing of rare earths, rather than mining them. Wu, who is also an adviser to China's foreign affairs ministry, argues that it will take a long time for countries such as Australia and the US to build the same rare earths processing capacity as China. Meanwhile, China's response to the Australia-US deal has been somewhat restrained to date, but Richard McGregor from the Lowy Institute says this could change if China feels that it is being unfairly locked out of investing in Australia's rare earths sector. (SMH/RMS)

News

Restrict sales of critical minerals: NT Chief Minister

The Northern Territory's Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaco says it makes sense for Australia to develop resources such as critical minerals in the national interest and in the interest of allies such as the US. She adds that China has developed its mineral resources for its people and industries, so Australia and the US should do so as well. Finocchiaco contends that there is a strong case for restricting the sale of rare earths and other critical minerals to China in the wake of the landmark agreement between Australia and the US. China's dominance in the processing of critical minerals has been is partly built on supply from mines in Australia and the US. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Defence orders brutal cost cuts

The federal government still aims to increase defence spending by $5.7bn over the next four years and $57bn over a decade. However, the budget papers from May show that defence spending is slated to rise by just $770m overall in 2025-26 and $730m in 2026-27. This has prompted the Australian Defence Force to implement austerity measures; the Chief of the Air Force, Stephen Chappell, recently commissioned reviews of capability priorities and sustainment costs. The Chief of the Defence Force, David Johnston, has in turn imposed a cap on the number of days ADF reservists can work each year. The spending restraints have coincided with the rising cost of the AUKUS submarines program and projects such as the Hunter-class frigates. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

'No one's going to get money back': Taxpayers exposed to $130m hit in Rex sale

Regional Express Holdings' shareholders will not recover any of their investment following the collapsed airline's sale to US-based Air T. Ian Douglas, an honorary senior lecturer at the University of NSW, also doubts that creditors will recover any money. They include the federal government, which initially provided Rex Airlines with an $80m loan to enable it to keep servicing regional routes after going into administration in mid-2024; the government subsequently bought $50m of Rex's debt from one of its creditors. Douglas adds that the government may have to continue funding Rex to ensure that it continues to provide regional flights.

News

ASX falls as gold, rare earths stocks tumble

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Wednesday, after a sharp fall in the gold price weighed on resources stocks; the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7 per cent to close at 9,030 points. Newmont Corporation shed 9.6 per cent to end the session at $131.36 and Arafura Rare Earths was down 13.5 per cent at $0.42. However, Woodside Energy rose 3.5 per cent to $23.17, Adairs was up 8.3 per cent at $2.36 and 4DMedical advanced 2.8 per cent to finish at $1.85. (RMS)

News

Gold hits wall just as $1b pours into ETFs

Data from Global X shows that inflows into Australian-listed gold exchange-traded funds have totalled $997bn so far in 2025. The previous calendar-year record of $981m was set at the height of the pandemic in 2020. The record inflows have coincided with a sharp fall in the price of both gold and silver, with the bullion price posting its biggest one-day fall in 12 years. However, strategists have downplayed the fall in the gold price, arguing that gold producers will continue to make big profits given that the price of bullion remains well above the average cost of production. (RMS)

News

Southern Cross to save $30m but core jobs 'safe'

Southern Cross Media Group's chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise says the vast majority of its shareholders support the proposed merger with Seven West Media. He adds that while Southern Cross's board listens to the views of shareholders, it makes decisions based on what is in the best interests of the company, which may not necessarily be in the best interests of a particular shareholder. Mackay-Cruise adds that the company's employees will not be impacted by the merger, with no changes to its on-air hosts, producers or sales teams. (RMS)

News

Entertainment/Arts

Indian films out-perform Australian releases at the local box office

A new report shows that Australian box-office takings for Indian films are expected to top $50m in 2025, compared with $32.5m in 2021. In contrast, ticket sales for Australian films are forecast to fall from $54.2m in 2021 to just $16.8m this year. The report has been released by film industry executive Nick Hayes, who says films in Hindi, Telugu and other Indian languages are now the third-most popular in Australia, behind US and British films. The report also notes that the market share of English-language films in Australia has fallen to 91 per cent since 2021. (RMS)

News

Lithium miners cool on Labor price floor plan

Resources Minister Madeleine King has stated that a guaranteed price floor could be a key part of the federal government's proposed critical minerals strategic reserve. The rare earths industry is generally supportive of a price floor, although sources have indicated that there is lack of agreement on the issue amongst major lithium producers. Cameron Perks from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence believes that lithium miners are likely to oppose a price floor, as such a mechanism tends to benefit new projects rather than companies that already have operating mines. (RMS)

News

Controversial rare earth mine in Victorian town fast-tracked by government deal

Astron Corporation's proposed Donald rare earths and mineral sands mine in regional Victoria has been given 'major project status' by the federal government. The mine, which is a joint venture between Astron and US-based Energy Fuels, has already received final approval from the state government. Astron's MD Tiger Brown says the company aims to make a final investment decision on the Donald project by the end of 2025. The mine is expected to eventually be the fourth-largest rare earth mine outside of China. (RMS)

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

October 23, 2025

Sin City Sydney, Australia
Gold lost more shine!

ASX futures down 52 points/0.6% to 8983

Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.5%
Dow Jones -0.7%
Nasdaq -0.9%
Europe: Stoxx 50 -0.8%
FTSE +0.9%
DAX -0.7%
CAC -0.6%

Australian dollar: US64.89 cents

Bitcoin -3.3% to $US108,067

Gold -0.5% to $US4102.77 per ounce
Oil +4.2% to $US59.67 a barrel
Brent crude oil +4% to $US63.74 a barrel
Iron ore +0.6% to $US104.15 per ton

10-year yield:
US 3.95%
Australia 4.11%
Germany 2.56%

News Update: (Near Live)

Bitcoin:

New York/Wall St via Mr Wolf!
Oct 22

Cryptos Today:
(Near Live) Moody: Part Corrective! Up Again! Salt Of The Earth In Metals Right Chess Move?! Trump Trade Done! All That Glitters Not Digital Gold?!

Bitcoin $107,034.44 -3.50%
Ethereum $3,748.00 -5.13%
Tether $1.0002 -0.03%
Binance Coin $1,060.11 -1.96%
XRP $2.3425 -5.84%
Solana $178.75 -6.74%
TRON $0.3188 -1.61%
Dogecoin $0.1876 -5.97%
Cardano $0.6166 -6.86%

Market part corrective again! Mood: Suspicious! Regaining smiles a little! Hardcores keep the dream! Never give up! Pivot if required!

Media Man Favs:

(Near Live)
Wall St, New York

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News
Japanese bulls went to recharge

For the first time in Japan, a woman has become prime minister. Although this result was largely anticipated, lingering risks led to a noticeable market response. However, the overall effect so far has been to sell Japanese assets, from the yen to stocks.

Takaichi’s position (stimulating the economy and lowering interest rates) has led to speculative buying in Japanese stocks. From its lows in early October, the Nikkei 225 has risen by almost 13% and on Tuesday morning was on the verge of reaching 50,000. As it approached this psychologically important round level, a wave of profit-taking pushed the index down to 49,000 during the day. However, this technical sell-off has not yet changed the long-term positive outlook for the market. Takaichi is expected to intensify efforts to stimulate economic growth, focusing less on the budget balance and accumulated public debt.

On weekly timeframes, the Nikkei225 is close to, but has not yet entered, the overbought zone on the RSI. Over the past 10 years, powerful corrections after rallies have occurred when the index was close to 80, and now it is at 75. Overall, these are relatively high values, but in such cases, rallies often become extreme, knocking out the positions of early sellers. To be cont (FxPro)

News Flashback

Bitcoin: bull market may be in its final stages

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation fell by 3.1% to $3.65 trillion during the day. The bulls failed to push the market above the recent highs of $3.95 trillion, and we are seeing the formation of an active short-term downtrend. This will be confirmed if the next local low is $3.35 trillion. These levels are already below the 200-day average, which will attract the attention of long-term sellers. So, we continue to closely monitor market dynamics near $3.5 trillion, where a meaningful moving average is located.

Bitcoin at $108K has again fallen to its 200-day moving average. It is pointing upwards and is now 30% higher than the levels seen in March-April, when BTC last dipped below it. The spring scenario of prolonged consolidation around a critical line and a further breakout now looks like a hopeful scenario for bulls. However, there are still risks that the first prerequisites for the next prolonged bear market are forming.

News Background

BTC's rebound from its lows is encouraging, but the structure remains fragile. The decline in trading volumes on spot platforms and derivatives markets signals a decline in confidence and demand, according to Glassnode. According to Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, the recent sharp correction in the crypto market is unrelated to manipulation. According to him, the leading sellers were long-term investors and miners. Sixty-seven per cent of institutional investors are optimistic about Bitcoin's prospects for the next three to six months, according to a Coinbase Institutional survey of 124 respondents. At the same time, 45% of institutional investors believe the bull market is in its late stages. Publicly traded companies continue to build up their crypto reserves. Strategy acquired 168 BTC over the past week. BitMine bought 203,826 ETH. According to Jefferies, in September, the profitability of BTC mining fell by more than 7%, and the daily income per 1 EH/s of hash rate decreased from $56,000 to $52,000. In October, a sharp correction in the asset increased pressure on the economics of its mining. (FxPro)

News

Oil prices could fall another 15% by the end of the year

Crude oil prices fell 0.7% on Monday after three consecutive weeks of decline. Global production is growing while global economic growth is slowing, putting pressure on prices. In addition, the risk premium on signing the gas agreement and intensifying efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict has begun to decline. At the same time, oil prices are far from oversold, leaving room for further decline in the coming months. Baker Hughes reported on Friday that 418 oil rigs are operating in the US, the same as a week earlier, undermining the recovery trend seen since August. However, America is increasing production efficiency, extracting more oil from each well.

Bloomberg noted that there are now nearly 1.2 billion barrels of oil at sea, a record since the peak in 2020, when US production was at historic highs and Saudi Arabia and Russia were fighting for market share, boasting of their potential.

The current situation strongly resonates with what happened more than five years ago. The latest weekly data showed a record high in daily production in the US, with supplies of 13.64 million barrels per day.

Inventory figures are a stabilising factor. Commercial inventories in the US are at the lower end of the range for the last decade, but they were about the same in January 2020, and six months later, this figure set a new record. However, without a collapse in consumption, such rapid growth should not be expected. The US government may also move to more actively rebuild the strategic petroleum reserve sold off in 2022.

The price of oil has been in a downward channel for just over three years, and at the end of September, it accelerated its decline as it approached the 50-week moving average and the upper limit of the range. The lower limit of this range is now close to $53 per barrel of Brent, with a decline towards the end of the year closer to $50.50 against the current $61.00.

The main scenario for oil is a decline towards $50 in the next 2-4 months. At the same time, the potential for an increase in US inventories is a potential stabilising factor. We assume that the situation with inventories is roughly similar worldwide, excluding the abundance of oil at sea. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Oil Holds Strong Despite Bearish Fundamentals

Weekly data from the EIA noted that the US returned to record oil production rates last week, supplying an average of 13.6 million barrels per day to the market, according to the latest EIA data. The trend towards increased supply began in August, but producers have only now returned to the peak levels recorded at the end of last year. Despite a 5.5-million-barrel increase in US commercial inventories over the past two weeks, inventories stay at the lower end of the range seen over the past decade, leaving considerable room for growth. The same can be said for the strategic reserve, which holds nearly 40% less oil than it did five years ago, before the start of the active sell-off. It is an interesting game in which, on the one hand, the US (the largest oil producer) is increasing supplies, while OPEC+ is increasing quotas on a monthly basis. This extremely bearish combination of factors did not cause oil prices to collapse; it was only because of global trade in currency depreciation that caused precious metals, stock indices, and cryptocurrencies to rise. Oil prices have not peaked in recent weeks .. To be cont .. (FxPro)

News

Gold hits new highs due to political turmoil

Gold is outside the realm of politics.

While currencies and securities depend on the actions of presidents and governments, precious metals do not. Therefore, political turmoil forces investors to use them as safe-haven assets.

The impressive 52% rally in gold started in April with the introduction of tariffs on America's Liberation Day. It continued due to the US government shutdown, the political crisis in France, and the change of leadership in Japan. he rise of gold above 4,000 dollars per ounce is not only the result of the weakness of fiat currencies. There are tectonic shifts in the structure of investment portfolios and fears of financial crises due to government recklessness.

The share of precious metals is growing both in speculators' assets and in the gold and foreign exchange reserves of central banks. The indicator has already exceeded the share of the euro. According to Eurizon Capital, if it equals the share of the US dollar, the price per ounce will soar to 8,500 dollars. The Supreme Court's abolition of tariffs will inflate the US budget deficit. France does not intend to reduce it, and Japan plans to increase bond issuance. All this creates a tailwind for commodity assets. (FxPro)

News

Politics remains the main driver of FX

The US government shutdown did not have a noticeable impact on the dollar's performance last week. However, it did help the stock market to grow slightly by strengthening expectations of monetary policy easing. However, these events pale in comparison to the change in Japan's ruling elite and the resignation of the French prime minister less than a day after the formation of the government in terms of their impact on the currency market. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was chosen head of the Liberal Democratic Party over the weekend and is on track to become the country's first female prime minister. This event caused the yen to fall 2% to 150.49 from Friday's level before correcting to 149.80 at the time of writing. Takaichi is considered a supporter of aggressive government spending, structural reforms, and soft monetary policy, echoing the basic principles of Shinzo Abe. Overall, she has a more right-wing approach to national policy and is also a supporter of revising Japan's pacifist constitution. The market reaction clearly shows that they are considering Takaichi to be the new prime minister. If she does not change her political views (and she has softened them recently to win the party elections), we should be prepared for a further weakening of the yen, which reached its highest level since 1991 in the EURJPY pair, exceeding 176. However, the single currency is also facing uncertainty today due to a new political crisis in France. Prime Minister Lecornu, who had been trying to form a government for a month, resigned the day after he finally presented his new cabinet. His appointments drew criticism from both left-wing and right-wing allies. The EURUSD fell to 1.1650 at its lowest point on Monday, losing a full cent against Friday's levels. Unlike Japan, where a 2% drop in the JPY was accompanied by a 5% jump in the Nikkei225 index, France's CAC40 lost more than 2% intraday, paring its losses to 1.2% towards the end of the trading day in Europe. The EURUSD stopped its climb in July and has been hovering around 1.1700 all this time, not least because of the political crisis in France. Without it, the single currency would have had a much better chance of exploiting political divisions in the US to its advantage. It would be an exaggeration to call the situation in Japan and France a drama. Still, these events once again emphasise that as soon as the dollar's throne begin.

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series; Crack The Code!

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
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Mr Kross vs Mr H
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Punks vs Egos
Kross vs H
Murdoch Title vs Title
Mr Black Coffee vs Mr Claudio's Cafe Blend
Mr Warner vs Mr Netflix: Broadway draw thus far! Re-match! Winner take all?!
TMZ vs Riddle UFC vs PFL
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Mr X vs Hollyweird
Succession vs Billions
Mouse House vs Art House
NFL vs UFL
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E. Honda vs NJPW
Capcom vs Warner
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Combat Sports Players vs Father Time
NXT vs TNA Wrestling (Showdown, not Invasion)!
Alpha vs Meta
TED X vs The Others
WWE's Solo vs Western Australia
UFC Predator vs MMA Predator
Bulls vs Bears

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019)
A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021)
A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy. For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)
Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power.

The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details: Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox).
Runtime: 2h 6m.
Genre: Drama/Crime.
Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess. Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability).
Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News Flashback

Gold, copper, & silver:

How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man "Bullish is a mindset"

Mining/Energy/Resources: Australia and World

October 2025

October 21, 2025

Monday Money: All That Glitters ...

(New York, Wall St)

Mining Stocks: (Near Live)

BHP Group Ltd $43.63 -0.50 -1.13%
Fortescue Ltd $20.31 -0.56%
Rio Tinto $130.11 -1.78 -1.35%
Northern Star $23.46 -2.38 -9.21%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.58 -1.01 -8.71%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.11 -0.86 -4.51%
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.38 -0.79 -1.87%

Gold Price Today: 4,122.58 -219.77 -5.06%

News

Oct 22

Australia

Trump and Albanese Seal $8.5 Billion Critical Minerals Pact Amid Rudd Rebuke

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a framework agreement on October 20, 2025, at the White House, valued at up to $8.5 billion, to enhance supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths, including over $3 billion in investments for mining and processing 30 essential metals for defense, technology, and clean energy. The deal aims to reduce reliance on China's dominance in these resources while reinforcing the U.S.-Australia alliance, including AUKUS submarine efforts. During the meeting, Trump publicly confronted Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd over his prior criticisms, stating 'I don't like you either,' prompting varied reactions from Australian officials and widespread social media attention.

News

Albanese hits critical mass

The $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals framework agreement between Australia and the US will result in each country contributing at least US$1bn to critical minerals and rare earths projects over the next six months. They include a gallium project in Western Australia and the Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says the AUKUS alliance will be a "deterrence" to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump contends that AUKUS will not be needed to defend Taiwan, because he does not think China will invade the self-governed territory. Trump has also ruled out reviewing the current tariffs on Australian imports, stating that the nation "pays among the lowest tariffs"; this includes a baseline tariff of 10 per cent and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium products. (RMS)

News

The Victorian towns poised to benefit from critical minerals deal

Edith Cowan University's Amir Razmjou says Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia will benefit the most from the landmark critical minerals deal with the US, followed by Victoria. Meanwhile, the Victorian government notes that the state has "globally significant" quantities of titanium, zirconium and rare-earth elements, as well as Australia's only operating antimony mine. It adds that growth in critical minerals could "inject billions of dollars of benefits" into regional Victoria; the Gippsland, Wimmera and Mallee regions account for the bulk of the state's critical minerals. However, farmers have warned that developing these deposits must not jeopardise the state's food bowl.

News Flashback

News Lead Up

PM to meet White House mining gurus to help solve crisis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend an event in Washington on Tuesday to mark the 140th anniversary of mining company BHP. US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Security Council adviser David Copley will be present at the event, with both men heavily involved in trying to solve the US's critical minerals crisis. A former executive of US gold, copper and zinc miner Newmont, Copley is viewed as the White House's unofficial mining guru, while Burgum has taken a keen interest in the efforts of BHP and fellow Australian mining firm Rio Tinto to establish a large copper mine in Arizona. (RMS)

News

NuCoal to blight pitch on minerals

There are claims that the cancellation of a coal mining licence by the NSW government in 2014 represents a breach of the Australian-US free trade act. The licence was held by NuCoal, with US investors in NuCoal seeking as much as $500 million in compensation for the cancellation. Nick Farr-Jones, director of Taurus Funds Management, which represents US shareholders in NuCoal, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should use his trip to Washington and his meeting with US President Donald Trump as an opportunity to compensate the US investors. Farr-Jones says Australia needs to "right this wrong" if the federal government is to have any credibility when it comes to mineral rights. (RMS)

News

Gold Bulls have no choice but to push

Gold's rally to record highs above $4,300 per ounce resulted from a debasement trade. Governments cannot cope with budget deficits, are accumulating debt and demanding that central banks cut interest rates, as in the US, or keep them low, as in Japan. As a result, investors are losing confidence in government bonds and currencies. They are looking for alternatives and turning their attention to precious metals. As a result, gold has been gaining for the last nine weeks, the fifth time in the history of free currency conversion since the 1970s. However, there has never been a 10-week consecutive growth period. The gap from the 200-week moving average also shows the excessiveness of the rally. The spot price at its peak exceeded this line by 90%. There has only been one larger gap once before, in 1980. At the very least, the market needs a technical respite. But historically, its beginning could be the start of a significant multi-year reversal. Now, we are on the side of the bears, but at the same time, we understand that the bulls simply have no choice but to push the price further up, as stopping would ruin the whole game. Each time, gold finds a new driver of growth. In the summer, there were expectations of a resumption of the Fed's easing cycle. To be cont... (FxPro)

News

Rinehart's rare earths shares top $3.5b as Trump needles China

Hancock Prospecting has increased its exposure to the rare earths sector after participating in St George Mining's $72.5m capital raising. The latter had initially sought to raise $40m, but increased this to $50m in response to strong demand from institutional investors. St George subsequently also agreed to issue Hancock with $22.5m worth of shares, lifting the Gina Rinehart-controlled company's stake to around six per cent. St George will use the proceeds of the capital raising to expand its Araxa project in Brazil. Hancock's other investments in the sector include Lynas Rare Earths, Arafura Rare Earths and US-based MP Materials. (RMS)

News Flashback

PM has his work cut out striking rare earths deal with Trump

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hoping to secure a deal with US President Donald Trump regarding the US getting access to Australia's rare earths, but it may not be as easy as Albanese might hope. The Trump administration is seen as being divided into two camps on the issue, namely the resource nationalists and the economic rationalists, and the first one is currently holding sway. They believe the US should create an end-to-end critical mineral supply chain, and it was probably behind the recent US government investments and equity stakes in US critical minerals mining firms Lithium Americas and MP Materials. The economic rationalists camp believes the US needs the help of its allies to meet its critical mineral needs, at least in the short term, with it being noted it can take more than 20 years to open a new mine in the US. (RMS)

News

Minerals/Politics

Stockpile of critical metals urgent: miners

The federal government aims to establish its $1.2bn critical minerals strategic reserve by late 2026. However, the mining industry has warned the government that it must act more quickly to build the minerals stockpile, contending that another mining nation could potentially trump Australia and become a supplier of choice to defence partners such as the US and Japan. Meanwhile, the industry is believed to have been told that the government may use contracts for difference to set a 'floor price' for critical minerals. The strategic reserve is expected to a priority when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets US President Donald Trump at the White House next week. (RMS)

News

Australian/Asia Pacific News

Rio set to shutter Tomago smelter

The Tomago aluminium smelter's coal-fired power supply contract with AGL Energy is set to expire in 2028, and it faces the prospect of a massive increase in power costs under any new supply agreement. This makes it highly likely that Rio Tinto and its partners in Tomago will permanently shut down the NSW smelter in 2028, unless investment in renewable energy in the state is ramped up significantly in the next few years. The cost of electricity is also a major threat to the future of Rio Tinto's Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania, with its current supply deal to expire at the end of this year. The Tomago smelter employs more than 1,000 people. (RMS)

News

Ellison loses key ally in MinRes board exodus

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Colin Moorhead and Susan Ferrier as non-executive directors. Their recruitment follows the departure of six members of Mineral Resources' board in recent months; this includes Zimi Meka, whose resignation was announced on Friday. The recent departures mean that only three of the nine MinRes directors who attended its 2024 AGM will front shareholders at this year's meeting; they include embattled MD Chris Ellison, who has previously committed to stepping down by mid-2026. (RMS)

News

Rare earths market splits into light and medium-heavy segments

There are increasing signs that the rare earths market is splitting into two distinct segments, namely light elements such as as neodymium and praseodymium, and medium-heavy elements such as dysprosium and terbium. The Shanghai Metal Market suggests that while demand for light elements remains stable, demand for medium-heavy elements is weak, and procurement teams need to differentiate between these segments when negotiating contracts. US buyers need to cultivate relationships with non-Chinese suppliers, as well as keeping an eye on government equity moves, as Washington's willingness to take direct stakes in projects like Tanbreez suggests future deals are likely.

News

Rio, Japanese in Pilbara mine deal

Rio Tinto has secured state and federal government approvals to develop new iron ore deposits at the West Angelas hub in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto and its Robe River joint venture partners, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest $US733m ($1.1bn) to expand the West Angelas mine, with Rio Tinto to contribute $US389m. The expansion of West Angelas will maintain its annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes. Rio Tinto launched its Western Range iron ore joint venture with China-based Baowu in June, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Pilbara. (RMS)

News

Loophole use in $2.4b gold deal leads to reform calls

Shares in gold miner Predictive Discovery have rallied in the wake of a proposed merger with Toronto-listed Robex. Predictive's shareholders will control 51 per cent of the merged group, although they will not be given a vote on the deal. In contrast, the merger will need to be approved by at least two-thirds of Robex shareholders. The proposed merger has prompted renewed scrutiny of the ASX's listing rules, which allow companies to waive the requirement for a shareholder vote under certain circumstances. Simon Mawhinney from Allan Gray Australia has likened the Predictive deal to James Hardie's merger with Azek earlier this year. (RMS)

News

GoldMining Inc. launches 2025 exploration at São Jorge, Brazil

Comprehensive program targets copper-gold zones; recent drilling hit 2.79 g/t AuEq over 79m, including antimony mineralization. Company also expands land package and updates mineral resource estimates.

News

Nevada Gold Mines deploys autonomous haul trucks

Fleet of 300- and 230-tonne trucks automated using Komatsu's FrontRunner system across U.S. surface operations for efficiency gains.

News

Calls for uranium listing as US goes all out on nuclear power

Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan says White House officials emphasised during his recent visit to the US thart a secure supply of uranium is a priority for the Trump administration. Tehan contends that the federal government should therefore add uranium to its critical minerals list, and include it in any deal with the US for an exemption from its reciprocal tariffs regime. Australia accounts for about one-third of the world's known reserves, although the nation's exports of unenriched uranium comprises just 10 per cent of global supply at present. Tehan recently reiterated that nuclear power will remain part of the Coalition's energy policy. (RMS)

News

BHP salutes Japan 'trust'

BHP's president of its Australian operations, Geraldine Slattery, addressed an Australia-Japan business conference on Monday. She declined to comment on unconfirmed reports that China has banned the resources group's Pilbara iron ore shipments. Instead, she emphasised BHP's "deep" relationship with Japan and the free-trade relations between the two nations. Slattery highlighted the level of trust and transparency in the relationship between Australia and Japan. (RMS)

News

MinRes appoints company secretary

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Sarah Standish as its joint company secretary. Standish will replace CFO Mark Wilson in the role, which she will share with Derek Oelofse. Mineral Resources has released a statement in which it notes that Standish has 20 years of experience in legal, governance, risk and compliance functions at both ASX-listed and international companies in the mining and energy sectors. Her appointment has coincided with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission investigation into corporate governance issues at Mineral Resources. (RMS)

News

Upstart glisters among surging gold miners

The gold price has risen by almost 50 per cent in US dollar terms so far in 2025. This has in turn boosted the share prices of Australian gold producers; Northern Star Resources' market capitalisation has increased by 60 per cent so far in 2025, reaching a record high of $35bn last week. Meanwhile, Westgold Resources' share price rose by 24 per cent last week, lifting its market capitalisation from $4bn to $5.1bn; this followed its announcement of plans to lift gold production by 45 per cent to 470,000 ounces over the next three years. (RMS)

News

Lynas revisited: Can it reclaim its crown in rare earths?

Lynas Rare Earths is one of the few players in the sector outside China with genuine scale, but it is now at a critical juncture. A vertically integrated business model allows Lynas to produce a range of refined products, particularly neodymium and praseodymium. However, its product mix has leaned heavily toward light rare earths, leaving it exposed to pricing volatility. The most notable development in 2025 has been Lynas's breakthrough into heavy rare earths; the company announced its first production of dysprosium oxide in May, followed by terbium oxide at its Malaysian plant in June. This milestone currently makes Lynas the only commercial-scale producer of separated heavy rare earths outside China. Potential risks for Lynas include cost inflation, the ongoing threat of competition from China and uncertainty regarding the future of its licence in Malaysia. (RMS)

News

MinRes scores legal win on port levies

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has ruled that Mineral Resources and its lawyers should be allowed to see details of a controversial agreement between the state government and Chevron. The state-owned Pilbara Ports Authority had sought to block access to the agreement, which requires MinRes to pay a levy for using a cargo wharf and part of a shipping channel that had been dredged by Chevron for its Wheatstone LNG project. Chevron also built the Port of Ashburton, which MinRes now uses to export iron ore from its Onslow Iron project. (RMS)

News

Rare earth magnets have become the new battleground for global power

The unique properties of rare earth magnets have resulted in them becoming strategic assets, and supply chain control is increasingly being viewed as a matter of national security. China dominates the global production and supply of rare earth magnets, and this dependence on China was underlined earlier this year when the nation imposed export controls. Four rare earth magnet factories are currently under construction in the US, but China has been investing in rare earths processing for decades; it also manufactures most of the world's refining equipment and employs most of the specialised technicians, so ending China's dominance is likely to take years. (RMS)

News

BHP Faces Chinese Iron Ore Ban Amid Pricing Dispute:

Reports emerged that China's state-run iron ore buyers have instructed steelmakers to halt purchases of dollar-denominated cargoes from BHP, causing the company's shares to drop 1.8%. This escalates a broader pricing row, with BHP's stock closing at A$41.91 (down 0.73%). Analysts warn of potential supply chain disruptions for Australia's largest exporter.

Rio Tinto Eyes Early Closure of Queensland's Largest Coal Power Station:

The mining giant notified the Australian Energy Market Operator of a potential shutdown of its 1,000 MW coal-fired plant at the Tarong site as early as March 2029—six years ahead of schedule. This aligns with Rio's decarbonization push but raises concerns over energy reliability in coal-dependent Queensland.

Alcoa Permanently Closes Kwinana Alumina Refinery:

The U.S.-based firm confirmed the shutdown of its Western Australian facility after 60 years, citing high energy costs and global oversupply. This impacts 400 jobs and underscores aluminium sector struggles, with WA's government exploring support for affected workers.

Coal Royalty Pressures Lead to Job Cuts:

BHP's closure of the Saraji South mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin will eliminate 750 jobs, blamed on royalties eight times higher than 2024 profits.

Anglo American announced further redundancies at its Grosvenor mine and Brisbane office (potentially 1,000+ roles). Queensland's government offers fee relief but resists royalty cuts.

News Flashback

Events

The sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation and investment:

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 8–9, Perth Convention Centre—spotlighting future tech, sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to draw thousands for networking and demos.

International Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October 21–23, Sydney—featuring leaders from 120+ countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.

Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):

September 23–25, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)—showcasing automation and safety, with the Australian Mining Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.

News Flashback

Trump seeks equity stakes in critical mineral producers

The US Department of Defense bought $US400m ($607m) worth of shares in rare earths producer MP Materials earlier in 2025. The Trump administration is said to be looking at buying equity-like stakes in other producers of critical minerals, according to executives of Australian mining companies who recently held talks with officials from various US government agencies. Amongst other things, the government is said to be interested in buying stock warrants, which would grant it the right to buy shares in a mining company. The US aims to reduce its reliance on China for minerals that are crucial for defence technology and the energy transition. (RMS)

News

Argonaut tips gold to hit $US4500, lithium revival as supply tightens

The gold price has risen by 45 per cent so far in 2025, and it is currently trading above $US3,800 per ounce. Perth-based stockbroker Argonaut is bullish about the outlook for bullion, lifting its peak price forecast to US$4,500. Argonaut's executive chairman and co-founder Eddie Rigg also anticipates further consolidation in the gold sector. Meanwhile, Rigg expects the lithium price to rebound, arguing that proposed new projects in South America and Africa are unlikely to proceed in the near-term; he notes that they will be capital-intensive, while many are in volatile jurisdictions. (RMS)

News

News Flashback

Profile

Hancock Prospecting

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned mining and agricultural business run by Executive Chairwoman Gina Rinehart and CEO Garry Korte. At various stages of its trading history, the company has been known as Hancock Prospecting Ltd, Hancock Resources Ltd, Hanwright Pty Ltd, Hancock & Wright Ltd, and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is owned by Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

The company was founded in 1955 by Rinehart's father, the late Lang Hancock. Hancock Prospecting holds the mineral rights to some of the largest Crown land leases in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Gina Rinehart has disputed accusations that she is an heiress. Through Rinehart's spokesperson and chief financial officer at Hancock Prospecting, Jay Newby, Rinehart has claimed that upon assuming the role of the Executive Chairwoman, she took over a company that was in a perilous financial position with significant debt and major assets mortgages and under threat of seizure.

Projects:

Balfour Downs Station Manganese Operation, northeast of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

Hope Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Rio Tinto

Roy Hill project, south of Port Hedland, a joint venture between Hancock Prospecting (70%), Marubeni (15%), POSCO (12.5%), and China Steel Corporation (2.5%)

Alpha Coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Kevin's Corner coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Nicholas Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

(Developing profile/news). To be cont ...

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

News, Markets, Comms and Culture

May 15, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6420 USD (down $0.0050 USD)
Iron Ore June Spot Price (SGX): $101.70 USD (up $2.10 )
Oil Price (WTI): $62.89 USD (down $0.74)
Gold Price: $3,179.41 USD (down $72.13)
Copper Price (CME): $4.6435 USD (down $0.0650)
Bitcoin: $103,541.08 USD (down 0.93%)
Dow Jones: 42,051.06 (down 89.37 points)

News

Australia

Miners, energy help ASX to sixth day of gains

The Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.1 per cent to close at 8,279.6 points. Fortescue was up 2.2 per cent at $16.97, Woodside Energy rose 3.4 per cent to $22.31 and the Commonwealth Bank firmed 0.8 per cent to end the session at $167.50. However, Insignia Financial shed 15.8 per cent to finish at $3.37 and Aristocrat Leisure was down 8.9 per cent at $62.10. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Media

CNN and Fox take on their own legacies with new streaming services

Fox Corporation is set to launch its third streaming service in the US. Fox One will feature content from across the media group's operations, including news, sport and entertainment. It will complement Fox Corp's existing Fox Nation streaming news channel and Tubi, a free advertising supported general entertainment streaming platform. Meanwhile, Warner Bros Discovery-owned CNN plans to launch a news streaming service that will be bundled with subscriptions to http://cnn.com. Fox Corp and CNN are both confident that their new streaming products will not cannabilise the customer base for their cable TV services. (RMS)

News

Rio shows we must invest in green iron: Fortescue boss

Rio Tinto recently advised that the iron content of its flagship 'Pilbara Blend Fines' product will be downgraded by nearly one percentage point, to 60.8 per cent; BHP had previously reduced the iron content of two iron ore products in 2024. Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto says the trend underlines the need for Australia to invest in more domestic refining, in order to produce higher-grade iron ore. Otranto has indicated that Fortescue is on track to finish construction of a green iron plant at its Christmas Creek iron ore hub and produce commercial quantities of green iron by the end of 2025. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Beware the rally in iron ore above $US100, it might not last

The iron ore price has peaked at more than $US101 per tonne in Singapore trading on Wednesday, which is its highest level in about six weeks. Factors such as the easing of trade tensions between the US and China have bolstered the price of the steel input, although market watchers say the rebound is unlikely to be sustained. Headwinds include steel production cutbacks in China and a looming increase in global iron ore supply as new projects in Africa start to commence shipments. (RMS)

News

Core Lithium plan to revive mothballed Finniss

Perth-based Core Lithium has advised that it may resume operations at its Finniss mine in the Northern Territory. The mine was placed in 'care and maintenance' mode in 2024, in response to a sharp downturn in the price of lithium. Core hopes a plan to significantly reduce mining and processing costs at Finniss, while also boosting productivity, will enable the mine to reopen. CEO Paul Brown says the quality of the Finniss deposit and its proximity to the Port of Darwin gives it an advantage over rival lithium mines in Western Australia. (RMS)

News

Australian Mining News

WA Mining Conference and Exhibition: Scheduled for October 8–9, 2025, in Perth, this event will focus on critical minerals, mine waste management, and innovative technologies shaping the industry’s future. It aims to be a key platform for networking and industry insights.

Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX25): Set for May 20–22, 2025, in Brisbane, GRX25 will feature industry leaders like Owen Hegarty, discussing transformation and sustainability in mining.

Carbine Resources: The company secured a 21-year mining lease for its Muchea West silica sand project in Western Australia, marking a significant milestone.

Federal Government Cabinet: Following the re-election of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the new cabinet has been welcomed by mining bodies. The government is pushing the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (10% refundable tax offset for processing 31 critical minerals) and a Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive ($2/kg for renewable hydrogen).

Prospect Awards 2025: Nominations are open for the Australian Mining Prospect Awards, recognizing excellence in safety, occupational health, and industry leadership.

Legacy Minerals: The company is advancing the Nico Young nickel-cobalt project in New South Wales, leveraging prior work by Jervois Global to reduce costs and accelerate development.

Rio Tinto’s Winu Project: Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Metal Mining signed final joint venture agreements for the Winu copper-gold project in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert.

Sibanye-Stillwater: The company reported a 92% increase in zinc production (25,000 tonnes) at its Century zinc retreatment operation in Queensland for the March 2025 quarter, with a feasibility study for the Mt Lyell copper mine in Tasmania due by late 2025.

Tivan’s Speewah Fluorite Project: Tivan formed a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation, supported by a $5.3 million investment and government funding, to develop Australia’s first fluorite operation in Western Australia.

Hillgrove Resources: The Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia produced 811 tonnes of copper in April, with annual guidance set at 12,000–14,000 tonnes for 2025.

Critical Minerals and Sustainability: Australia’s mining sector is poised to lead in the global energy transition, with growing demand for critical minerals and a focus on innovation and sustainable practices.

Queensland Mining Coroner: Wayne Pennell was appointed Queensland’s first mining and resources coroner to investigate fatalities and address a backlog of inquests, enhancing safety accountability.

Social Media Sentiment: Posts on X highlight ongoing exploration (e.g., Verity Resources’ Monument Gold Project) and acquisitions (e.g., Terra Metals’ Dante Project expansion), reflecting active industry momentum. However, a 119% mining rate hike by a Goldfields council has sparked concern among local explorers. (Grok)

News

Pop Culture/Entertainment

Media Movies

Network (1976) - Directed by Sidney Lumet, this satirical drama follows a TV network exploiting a deranged anchor’s rants for profit, highlighting media sensationalism. Stars Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch.

Nightcrawler (2014) - A thriller by Dan Gilroy about a drifter (Jake Gyllenhaal) who becomes a freelance crime journalist, blurring ethical lines for fame. It’s a sharp critique of modern media’s vulture-like tendencies.

Zodiac (2007) - Directed by David Fincher, this film chronicles a cartoonist-turned-detective’s obsession with the Zodiac Killer, exploring media’s role in public fear and fascination.

Citizen Kane (1941) - Orson Welles’ classic traces the life of a newspaper magnate, loosely based on William Randolph Hearst, examining media power and personal ambition.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) - A biting satire about a ruthless press agent and a powerful columnist, showcasing media manipulation with sharp dialogue.

News

Gold: Movie

Gold (2016) is a crime drama inspired by the 1990s Bre-X mining scandal. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a prospector who partners with geologist Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) to find gold in Indonesia. After striking it rich, their success unravels amid fraud and betrayal. Directed by Stephen Gaghan, the film explores greed and ambition but received mixed reviews for its uneven tone and pacing. It grossed $14.8 million against a $20 million budget. Available on platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime (check current listings). (Grok)

News/Profile

Gold (1974)

Gold (1974) is a British thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, based on Wilbur Smith's novel Gold Mine. Set in South Africa, it follows Rod Slater (Roger Moore), a mining engineer, who uncovers a conspiracy to flood a gold mine to manipulate global gold prices. The plot involves corporate greed, sabotage, and high-stakes action, with Slater racing to stop the scheme.

Cast: Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, Bradford Dillman.

Key Details: 120 min, rated PG, released August 1974 (UK). Filmed on location in Johannesburg, featuring intense mining scenes.

Reception: Mixed reviews; praised for action and Moore’s charisma, criticized for pacing and dated elements. IMDb rating: 5.7/10.

Availability: Limited streaming; available for rent/purchase on platforms like Amazon or on DVD.

News

Bitcoin Movies Streaming

Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery (2024, HBO)

A documentary by Cullen Hoback exploring Bitcoin’s origins and the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. It’s a thrilling investigation into Bitcoin’s rise and its potential impact on global finance.

Streaming: Available on HBO’s streaming platform, Max. Check JustWatch for additional services or free options like Apple TV+ trials.

Bitconned (2024, Netflix) A true-crime documentary about three individuals who scammed millions in the unregulated crypto market to fund lavish lifestyles. Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)

A popular documentary diving into Bitcoin’s impact, its challenge to centralized banking, and its early history. It’s a great pick for understanding Bitcoin’s ethos. Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime Video (free for subscribers), Fandango at Home, and for purchase/rent on Amazon, YouTube Primetime, or Apple TV.

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)

Follows programmer Daniel Mross and early Bitcoin adopters, offering insights into Bitcoin’s volatile early days. Ideal for beginners.
Streaming: Available on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)

A concise documentary tracing the history of money and Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt fiat systems. Features experts like Andreas Antonopoulos.

Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Fandango at Home. Free on YouTube in some regions (e.g., Ulterior States).

Notes on Streaming with Bitcoin:

Major platforms like Netflix and HBO Max don’t directly accept Bitcoin payments. However, you can use crypto via gift cards purchased from platforms like Bitrefill, Coinsbee, or eGifter, which offer cards for services like Amazon, Fandango, or Rakuten, usable for streaming or movie tickets.

For example, Bitrefill sells Showtime or Rakuten gift cards (for US, Spain, Portugal, Italy) payable with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin.

Crypto debit cards from providers like http://Crypto.com or Coinbase can also convert Bitcoin to fiat for subscriptions or purchases at non-crypto-accepting platforms.

Additional Tips:

Check platforms like JustWatch or IMDb for real-time streaming availability, as services change frequently.

Some older documentaries, like Ulterior States (2014), are freely available on YouTube, offering ideological perspectives on Bitcoin’s early days.

Be cautious with free streaming sites; some, like Openload or Streamango, have been linked to crypto-jacking schemes that mine Monero using your device’s CPU. (Grok)

Rio Tinto increases Australian supplier spend to A$17.7 billion

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto strengthened its spend with Australian businesses to over A$17.7 billion in 2024, supporting both national and local suppliers.

This is an increase of 9.9% from the previous year and was spent with more than 6,000 suppliers across the country. This spend has helped boost local, regional, and national economies, contributing to employment and strengthening Australian owned and managed businesses.

As part of this spend, more than A$926 million was spent with 182 Indigenous businesses across Australia – an increase of about 27% since 2023. Of this, A$671 million was spent with Traditional Owner businesses that we have land use agreements with, contributing directly to the economic strength of the communities where we operate.

Spending with local suppliers across Australia also increased by 14.8%, reaching A$1.3 billion.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said: “From one side of the country to the other, our suppliers - including Indigenous, small, and regional businesses - are at the heart of our success and ability to operate in Australia. Their contributions help keep local communities strong.

“We recognise the important role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our operations. That’s why we continue to increase our investment with them.

“In 2024, we expanded our spend with Australian Indigenous businesses by 27.5% to A$926 million and with local businesses across Australia by 14.8% to A$1.38 billion. These partnerships drive economic growth and strengthen the communities they serve.”

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250403505411/en/

Mining. Energy and Resources: Australia

February 20, 21, 2025

Hydrogen rethink for Fortescue

Iron ore miner Fortescue released its interim results on Thursday, posting a net profit after tax of $US1.55 billion. This was significantly down on the $US3.3 billion result it posted a year ago, while revenue was down one-fifth at $US7.6 billion and Fortescue's interim dividend was down from $1.08 per share to $0.50. Meanwhile, Fortescue revealed that it is considering pausing almost $1 billion worth of approved hydrogen projects in Australia and the US while it evaluates the stance of the second Trump administration on clean energy. (RMS)

News

Investors dump big miners as iron ore heads for a glut

The iron ore price shed nearly 30 per cent during 2024, which was reflected in the latest financial results of Australia's biggest producers of the steel input. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue have significantly reduced their interim or full-year dividends, which has in turn weighed on their share prices. Sam Berridge from Perennial expects the outlook for the nation's iron ore miners to remain challenging; he forecasts that the iron ore price will average $US80 per tonne in 2026, compared with around $US106 in Singapore trading at present. Berridge notes that the addition of iron ore from the Simandou project in Guinea will provide an additional headwind for the sector.

News

Japan Inc returns to the Pilbara

Japanese company Mitsui has paid $US5.34 billion ($8.4 billion) to acquire a 40 per cent in the Rio Tinto-led Rhodes Ridge project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, with Mitsui buying the stake from two descendants of noted WA iron ore explorer Peter Wright. Rhodes Ridge is set to produce its first iron ore in 2030, and contains enough ore to operate for 140 years to operate at its initial production rate of 40 million tonnes per year. Rio's CEO Jakob Stausholm says that Mitsui's investment shows that the Pilbara still "has got many, many great – not years – but decades ahead".

News

Lithium producer IGO falls to $782m loss

IGO Limited has posted revenue of $284m for the first half of 2024-25, which is 35 per cent lower than previously. The company has booked an interim net loss of $782m, compared with a $288.3m profit for the previous corresponding period. The result was marred by a $524.6m impairment charge on the lithium hydroxide refinery at Kwinana in Western Australia, which IGO owns in partnership with China's Tianqi Lithium. The impairment charge reflects the fact that the existing production unit at the refinery has never reached full capacity of 24,000 tonnes a year, as well as the partners' recent decision to cancel plans for a second production unit.

News

Boost for rare earths as lithium miners reveal big losses

Lithium producers Pilbara Minerals and IGO reported significant losses on Thursday, due to the ongoing downturn in the price of lithium. Pilbara Mineral announced an interim loss of $69 million, while IGO disclosed a loss of $782.1 million, which includes its share of a $525 million impairment on a lithium hydroxide plant owned in partnership with Chinese firm Tianqi. The announcement of the big losses by Pilbara Minerals and IGO comes as the Andrew Forrest-owned Wyloo announced it will form a joint venture with Hastings Technology Metals to develop the Yangibana rare earths and niobium project in Western Australia, in a deal that also sees Wyloo secure a 19.9 per cent stake in Toronto-listed Neo Performance Materials. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The Month' award

Mining News

Mining industry ‘critical’ to future energy transition

Breton Technology Middle East and Australia Chairman Lance Kawaguchi says the mining industry is “critical” to the future energy transition.

A prominent tech and manufacturing company is pushing the boundaries of sustainable mining globally through the deployment of battery-electric machinery and advanced autonomous technology.

“Our mission is to try to do our part to be sustainable,” Mr Kawaguchi told Sky News Australia.

“What we are trying to do is to find solutions ... to still be able to mine but reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption.”

Media Man: Sky's the limited with the right resources, media and business associates, vision and hard and smart work!

News

Mining via Grok

Mining is an essential industry that involves the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth. Here's an overview based on general knowledge and contemporary information:

Methods of Mining:

Underground Mining: Used for deep mineral deposits. This method involves creating shafts or tunnels to reach the ore. It's more expensive and can be hazardous but is necessary for high-value minerals located deep underground.

Open Surface (Pit) Mining: Best for minerals located near the surface. This method creates an open pit to extract the ore. It's generally safer and less expensive than underground mining when the ore body is near the surface.

Placer Mining: Utilizes water to extract minerals, typically gold, from sediments in river channels or other alluvial deposits.

In-Situ Mining: Involves dissolving the mineral resource in place using chemicals and then processing it at the surface without moving the rock. This method is often used for uranium.

Environmental Impact:

Mining has significant environmental impacts:

Land Disturbance: Open pits, spoil heaps, and tailings change landscapes dramatically, often leading to deforestation and habitat destruction.

Water Pollution: Mining can lead to acid mine drainage, where acids and heavy metals leach into water sources, which is harmful to aquatic life and human health.

Air Pollution: Dust from mining operations can affect air quality, and processing some ores releases harmful gases.

Rehabilitation: Modern mining practices often include plans for land rehabilitation post-mining, though the success of these efforts can vary widely.

Technological and Economic Aspects:

Technology: Modern mining uses advanced technology for exploration (like satellite imagery, geophysical methods), extraction (automated machinery), and processing (bioleaching, for instance).

Economics: Mining can be extremely lucrative, driving economic growth in many regions. However, the volatility in mineral prices can lead to boom-and-bust cycles in mining-dependent communities.

Energy Transition: There's an increasing focus on mining due to the demand for minerals critical for renewable energy technologies (like lithium for batteries).

Social and Political Dynamics:

Labor: Mining often employs significant numbers of workers, but conditions can be tough, leading to labor disputes. Automation in mining aims to reduce human risk but also affects employment.

Community Impact: Mining operations can bring development to remote areas but also social displacement, health issues, and conflicts over land use and water rights.

International Relations: Countries rich in resources can become focal points for international partnerships or competition, as seen with rare earth elements or, historically, with uranium, like the recent interest in Niger's uranium by countries like Turkey.

Bitcoin and Cryptomining:

Unlike traditional mining, cryptocurrency mining involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions on the blockchain, which requires significant computational power and energy. Recent X posts highlight a growing intersection between digital and physical mining worlds through themes like Bitcoin mining games and the environmental debate around the energy consumption of crypto mining.

This overview captures the multifaceted nature of mining, from its methodologies to its broader implications on society, technology, environment, and global politics. (Grok)

News/Profile via Grok

Mining Industry

The mining industry continues to evolve, influenced by various economic, environmental, technological, and regulatory factors:

Technological Advancements: The industry is seeing a push towards automation and the use of advanced machinery, aiming for efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental impact. Technologies like autonomous drilling systems, AI for exploration and mine planning, and IoT for real-time monitoring of equipment are becoming more common.

Environmental Concerns and Sustainability: There's increasing pressure for the mining industry to adopt more sustainable practices. This includes efforts to reduce water usage, lower emissions, rehabilitate mined lands, and use renewable energy sources in mining operations. The concept of "green mining" is gaining traction, where the focus is on minimizing the environmental footprint throughout the lifecycle of a mine.

Regulatory Changes: Governments around the world are updating mining laws to boost growth while ensuring environmental protection and community rights. For instance, as seen in posts on X, Indonesia has updated its mining regulations to streamline operations but also to ensure compliance and environmental protection.

Demand for Critical Minerals: The rise in demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies has shifted focus towards minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. These are crucial for batteries and electronics, leading to what might be described as a new mining boom for these specific resources.

Economic Impact and Market Dynamics: The mining sector's health often serves as a barometer for global economic activity. Recent sentiment, as reflected on platforms like X, indicates optimism with expectations of increased investment in the sector, though there are calls for more favorable conditions like lower power tariffs and stable policies.

Supply Shortfalls: There's growing concern over supply shortfalls for several key metals due to insufficient current mining output to meet the rising demand, especially for those used in high-tech products and green technologies.

Investment and Expansion: The industry is looking at significant expansion, with equipment industries related to mining expected to grow by a substantial margin. This growth is driven not just by traditional mining but also by the need for new mines to meet the demand for metals critical for the tech and green industries.

Global Perspective: While the U.S. remains a significant player, countries like Australia, with its gold rushes in the past, and now regions in Africa and South America, are central to the global supply of various minerals. The strategic importance of mining in national economies and for global supply chains continues to be a focal point in geopolitical discussions.

Social License to Operate: Mining companies are increasingly aware of the need for a social license, meaning gaining community and societal approval, not just regulatory permits. This involves better engagement with local communities, more transparent operations, and contributing positively to the areas they operate in.

Remember, while these insights reflect general trends and sentiments, the mining industry's specifics can vary greatly by region, the mineral in question, and current global economic conditions. Always consider the latest reports and local news for the most current state of affairs in the mining sector. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Mining Profile And News via Grok

Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation, but it's also a critical component of the maintenance and development of the blockchain ledger. Here's a simplified overview of how it works:

Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions broadcasted to the network into a block. They verify that these transactions are legitimate according to the rules of the Bitcoin network (e.g., checking for double-spending).

Creating a Block: Once a set of transactions are verified, they are added to a block. Each block contains a reference to the previous block, forming a chain (hence, blockchain).

Proof of Work: Miners must solve a complex mathematical puzzle that requires significant computational power. This puzzle is essentially finding a hash that meets certain criteria (the hash must start with a certain number of zeros). The difficulty of this puzzle adjusts to ensure that a new block is mined approximately every 10 minutes.

Hash: A hash is a function that converts an input of letters and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length. In Bitcoin, the SHA-256 hashing function is used.

Finding the Solution: The first miner to solve the puzzle gets to place the next block on the blockchain and claim the rewards. This process involves a lot of trial and error, with miners adjusting a value called the "nonce" in the block header to try to produce a hash that meets the criteria.

Rewards: The successful miner is rewarded with:
Block Reward: A set amount of newly minted bitcoins. This reward halves approximately every four years in what's known as the "halving." As of my last update, the block reward was 6.25 bitcoins, but by 2024, it would have halved again if the schedule continued as planned.
Transaction Fees: All the transaction fees from the transactions included in the block.

Energy Consumption: Bitcoin mining is notorious for its energy consumption due to the computational power required for proof of work. This has led to discussions about the environmental impact of Bitcoin.

Mining Pools: Because the probability of mining a block solo has become very low due to the network's total computational power, many miners join mining pools. Here, miners combine their computational resources and share the block rewards according to the amount of work they contributed to the probability of finding a block.

Equipment: Over time, mining has evolved from using CPUs to GPUs, FPGAs, and now ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), which are designed specifically for mining and offer significant efficiency improvements.

Decentralization and Security: The mining process helps to secure the network by making it economically infeasible to attack or alter the blockchain. For an attacker to change any part of the blockchain, they would need to redo the proof of work for all subsequent blocks and outpace the honest nodes, which is impractical without controlling more than 50% of the network's mining power.

Since we're now in 2024, if there have been significant changes or updates to Bitcoin mining practices, technology, or regulations since my last update, those would be worth checking out for the most current information. Would you like me to search for any recent developments in Bitcoin mining? (Grok)

#Mining #MiningNews #MiningIndustry #MiningStocks #Energy #Resources #Technology #Innovation #Blockchaing #Bitcoin #BTC #newsfeed #newsfeeds #newswire #Grok #MiningPR #PR #News #media #mediaman #mediamanint #XMining

Markets and Commodities

October 10, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6710 USD (down $0.0040 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $105.15 USD (unchanged - public holiday)

Oil Price (WTI): $73.36 USD (down $0.55 USD)

Gold Price: $2,607.14 USD (down $15.75 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4080 USD (down 0.0605 USD)

Bitcoin: $60,908.07 USD (down 2.11% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,512.00 at 4.20pm NY time (up 431.63 points on yesterday's close)

Gina Rinehart upgrades her airport (and email signature)

By Mark Di Stefano

September 23, 2024

What’s the point of being the country’s wealthiest person if you can’t make unilateral changes to drab office life that give you a cute little thrill?

Take Gina Rinehart, who treats her Hancock Prospecting workforce to all sorts of perks. There’s the high salaries. But also the $100,000 cash gifts she draws out in a random ballot for workers on her birthday each year.

Rinehart recently appears to have hijacked the email signatures of her Hancock underlings (something she does quite regularly).

Under their names and contact now sits a gargantuan goose to announce her National Mining Day, which will be held at Santos’ Moomba plant in November. (AFR)
@FinancialReview

Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review

https://afr.com/rear-window/gina-rinehart-upgrades-her-airport-and-email-signature-20240923-p5kcsp

Energy, Resources And Mining News: Australia

September 30, 2024

Exports shock on ore to hit $39bn

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to reveal a final budget surplus of $15.8bn for 2023-24; this is $6.4bn higher than was forecast in the budget on 14 May. Chalmers claims that Labor's second successive surplus is solely due to lower government spending. However, falling commodity prices are set to weigh on the budget bottom-line in coming years. Revised government forecasts show that resources and energy export earnings will fall to $372bn in 2024-25, compared with $415bn in 2023-24; the value of iron ore exports is forecast to fall to $107bn in 2024-25, down from $138bn in 2023-24. Nickel and lithium export earnings are also expected to fall sharply.

(Roy Morgan Australia)

News

Minister told ERA wouldn't sue over lease

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King moved to formally cancel Energy Resources of Australia's long-standing lease on the Jabiluka uranium deposit in late July. The Northern Territory government subsequently rejected ERA's application to renew the lease. It has been revealed that King's advisers had told her that ERA would be unlikely to pursue legal action if the Jabiluka lease was cancelled, given that major shareholder Rio Tinto opposes mining at Jabiluka without the consent of the traditional owners. ERA launched a Federal Court challenge to King's ruling in early August, claiming that it was denied procedural fairness.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Telco turned miner vies for desert gas

Australian-listed Jade Gas Holdings has a market capitalisation of about $70m. However, one broker has suggested that this could potentially rise to around $500m due to its coal-seam gas project in Mongolia. Jade Gas was initially listed on the ASX as a Telstra reseller called Westel Group, before transitioning to a resources group. Meanwhile, Jade Gas is under scrutiny for commissioning Hong Kong-based DWK to undertake a drilling program at its Mongolian tenements; it claimed that DWK had been drilling gas wells for a decade, but documents show that the company had not been registered when Jade announced the contract in June.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Federal police drop foreign bribery investigation into Australian miner

September 28, 2024
The Australian Federal Police launched an investigation into foreign bribery allegations against Sundance Resources in 2016. However, an AFP spokeswoman has advised that the probe has failed to yield sufficient admissable evidence to refer criminal proceedings to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The police investigation centred on allegations that Sundance had bribed government officials in the Republic of Congo between 2006 and 2008 in order to advance its Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project. The investigation was complicated by the deaths of several Sundance executives in a plane crash in the Congo in 2010.

News

Prospector Mark Creasy wins support for Calidus Resources rescue

September 28, 2024
Creditors of Calidus Resources have backed a proposal from veteran prospector Mark Creasy to rescue the failed gold miner from administration. Creasy's proposal was supported by the majority of Calidus shareholders, and will result in his West Coast Lending assuming full ownership of Calidus. The deal with Creasy was backed after Calidus directors withdrew their support for an alternative proposal from Petra Capital. West Coast Lending, which is controlled by Creasy's Yandal Investments, aims to resume production at Calidus's Warrawoona gold mine in the Pilbara within months.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

De Grey quick to snuff out takeover speculation

September 28, 2024
De Grey Mining has dismissed recent media reports which suggested that the listed gold miner has received a buyout proposal from Canada-based Agnico Eagle. De Grey has advised that the article which appeared in The Australian is 'pure speculation'. De Grey owns the Hemi deposit in the Pilbara, and it aims to commence developing a gold mine at the site before the end of 2024. Agnico Eagle owns the Fosterville mine near Bendigo in Victoria, and there has been speculation in recent months that the company is keen to acquire assets in Western Australia.

News

Victorian gas projects approved

September 28, 2024

The federal government has approved two new gas production licences for Beach Energy near existing projects off the coast of Victoria. Resources Minister Madeleine King says gas produced at the Artisan and La Bella fields will be reserved solely for domestic use and will help to put downward pressure on gas prices in NSW and Victoria. The government's decision to approve the new licences has coincided with the release of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's latest gas inquiry report, which has warned that the east coast's gas supply surplus for the March 2025 quarter is likely to be significantly lower than was previously forecast.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Mining via Grok

Mining refers to the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, which can range from traditional minerals like gold, silver, coal, and iron to more modern interests like lithium for batteries or rare earth elements for technology. Here's a detailed look into the concept of mining:

Traditional Mining

Historical Context: Mining has been pivotal since ancient times, initially for materials like flint, ochre for body painting, and later for metals like copper, tin, and iron which ushered in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Process: Modern mining involves several steps: Exploration: Identifying potential deposits through geological surveys.
Feasibility Studies: Analyzing the economic viability of mining operations, including costs, market conditions, and environmental impact.
Extraction: Methods vary from open-pit mining for near-surface deposits to underground mining for deeper ores. Techniques include drilling, blasting, and mechanical extraction.
Processing: Ore is usually refined to extract the desired mineral, often involving crushing, grinding, and chemical processes.
Reclamation: After mining, efforts are made to restore the land, though this aspect has historically been controversial due to environmental impacts.

Environmental and Social Impact: Mining can lead to habitat destruction, pollution (e.g., acid mine drainage), and social displacement. However, it's also crucial for economic development in many regions, providing jobs and contributing to national economies.

Cryptocurrency Mining

Concept: In the context of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, mining does not involve physical digging but rather computational work. Here, miners validate transactions and add them to the blockchain, a public ledger of all transactions.

Process:
Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions into blocks.
Proof of Work: Miners compete to solve complex mathematical problems (hashing), requiring significant computational power.
Block Creation: The first to solve the problem adds the new block to the blockchain, earning newly minted cryptocurrency and transaction fees as a reward.
Security: This process also secures the network against fraudulent transactions.

Energy Consumption: Cryptocurrency mining, especially for Bitcoin, has been criticized for its high energy consumption, leading to discussions on its environmental footprint.

Modern Innovations and Issues

Sustainable Practices: There's a push towards more sustainable mining practices, including the use of renewable energy for operations, better waste management, and rehabilitation of mined lands.

Critical Minerals: The demand for minerals essential for technology like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has surged, highlighting new challenges in mining ethics, geopolitics of mineral supply, and the environmental impact.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Often seen in developing countries, ASM provides livelihood but also poses significant health and environmental risks due to methods like mercury use in gold extraction.

Technological Advancements: From autonomous mining vehicles to drones for exploration, technology is transforming mining operations, making them safer, more efficient, and potentially less harmful to the environment.

Mining, in both its traditional and digital forms, remains a cornerstone of human civilization, supporting economic, technological, and societal development, while also presenting ongoing challenges regarding sustainability and ethics. (Grok)

Roy Morgan is a former Media Man 'News Outlet Of The Month' award winner

Mining, Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania

August 9, 2024

News

Legal fees for BHP class action top $680m

Law firm Pogust Goodhead is representing about 600,000 participants in a class action over Brazil's Samarco iron ore tailings dam collapse in 2015. The firm estimates that its legal fees could be around Stg250m, while total legal fees arising from the case could exceed Stg350m. Documents filed with the UK's High Court show that BHP's share of the legal costs have been forecast at around Stg108m; however, this is just for the first stage of the trial, and BHP will face a further legal bill if the resources group is found liable for the disaster in Brazil. Samarco is a joint venture between BHP and Vale.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Win for Fortescue in private eye battle

Federal Court judge Brigitte Markovic has dismissed an application by Element Zero's founders to access the instructions that Fortescue gave to private investigators who had been hired to put them under surveillance. Fortescue alleges that its former employees Bart Kolodziejczyk, Bjorn Winther-Jensen and Michael Masterman used its intellectual property to develop Element Zero's rival green steel technology. Justice Markovic ruled that the instructions given to the private investigators are likely to be subject to legal professional privilege.

News

Creasy in talks for Macquarie's $148m debt at miner Calidus

Macquarie Bank has a four per cent stake in Calidus Resources, while it holds $148m of the failed gold producer's debt. Sources have indicated that Macquarie has finalised the terms of a deal to sell its Calidus loan at a price that is at or near its carrying value. The buyer of the debt is believed to be Yandal Investments, the private investment vehicle of Western Australian billionaire Mark Creasy. His deal to acquire Macquarie's debt could give Creasy an edge over other potential bidders for Calidus or its assets, which include the Warrawoona gold project and a 40 per cent stake in the Pirra lithium joint venture.

News

Win for Whitehaven, MACH as court rejects climate bid

The High Court has dismissed the Environment Council of Central Queensland's application for special leave to appeal the Federal Court's decision to allow two NSW coal mine extension projects to proceed. The court had ruled in May that federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had acted lawfully in handling the environmental approvals process for the Whitehaven Coal and MACH Energy projects. The ECCQ had initiated legal action against the proposed mine expansions in 2022.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Mining, Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania

August 7, 2024

News

Liontown wants lithium breaks as prices teeter

Association of Mining & Exploration Companies CEO Warren Pearce says it is holding talks with the Western Australian government with regard to royalty relief for lithium producers. The price of spodumene has fallen to $US870 ($1,337) per tonne, and Liontown Resources CEO Tony Ottaviano contends that the government should intervene in order to avert a similar crisis to the rout that hit the nation's industry. He has also suggested that the federal government should expand its production tax credit scheme to include the upstream processing of spodumene.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

MinRes job cuts add to thousands lost in WA's mining sector route

A spokesman for Mineral Resources has confirmed that the iron ore and lithium producer will reduce its head count, although the bulk of the job cuts will be at its Perth head office. Mineral Resources has not disclosed the extent of the job losses, although it is believed to be about 100. The move follows the company's recent decision to mothball its high-cost iron ore mines in Western Australia's Yilgarn region and a delay in the expansion of the Wodgina lithium mine. WA's mining sector has already been hit by massive job losses in the nickel industry in 2024.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Iron ore 'must learn from nickel pain'

Dino Otranto, the CEO of Fortescue's mining arm, has warned that Australia risks missing out amid the global shift to 'green' steel'. He has called for increased collaboration between industry and government to ensure that the nation capitalises on the decarbonisation of the steel industry. He adds that the demise of Australia's nickel industry provides a timely warning for iron ore producers.

News

Jilted ERA heads to court over Jabiluka mine axing

Energy Resources of Australia wants the Federal Court to undertake a judicial review of the Northern Territory government's decision to not renew its mining lease for the Jabiluka uranium deposit. ERA contends that it was denied "procedural fairness and natural justice" in the decision to permanently ban mining at Jabiluka. Amongst other things, ERA has questioned the haste with which federal Resources Minister Madeleine King advised the NT government to reject an extension of the mining lease, which is slated to expire on 11 August.

News

Newmont fights $130m 'restructuring' tax bill

The Australian Taxation Office contends that Newmont Corporation owes it some $132.6m in capital gains tax liabilities arising from a restructuring in 2011. The tax dispute is believed to centre on Newmont's decision to consolidate ownership of its local mines under its Newmont Australia subsidiary; this included a transaction in which two of the mining giant's North American subsidiaries sold their holdings in Newmont Australia back to it. Newmont contends that the transfer was an internal restructure rather than a share sale, and it should therefore not attract capital gain taxes

News

Watchdog threatens 'critical' Browse

Woodside Energy's CEO Meg O'Neill has emphasised the importance of the company's Browse LNG project. She contends that Browse is the only gas field of sufficient size to meet the forecast demand for energy over the near-term. The Browse project's future is under scrutiny following a preliminary ruling from Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority that it presents a "unacceptable risk" to marine ecology. The EPA is expected to make a final recommendation on the project in 2025, although it can be overruled by the federal government. O'Neill has also defended Woodside's deal to acquire a low-carbon ammonia project in the US.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Markets and Commodities

July 18, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6730 USD (unchanged)

Iron Ore Aug Spot Price (SGX): $105.05 USD (down $2.10 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $83.10 USD (up $2.28 USD)

Gold Price: $2,458.69 USD (down $10.15 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4165 USD (down $0.0405 USD)

Bitcoin: $64,196.81 USD (down 0.80% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 41,198.08 at 4.20pm NY time (up 243.60 points on yesterday's close)

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Rio Tinto appoints new Copper Chief Executive

July 17, 2024

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has appointed Katie Jackson to lead its Copper business, succeeding Bold Baatar, who as previously announced, will become Chief Commercial Officer later this year.

Katie is currently President of National Grid Ventures, responsible for the development and operation of large-scale energy infrastructure assets. She will join Rio Tinto on 1 September 2024 and be based in London.

Katie has strong international experience in the energy sector, across both operational and commercial roles, starting at Shell as a Drilling Engineer and working in Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Following stints at Anadarko and Equinor, where she latterly ran Development and Production operations across Europe and Asia, she joined BG Group as Executive Vice President for Global Business Development and Strategy. Having rejoined Shell, she was subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President of Acquisition, Divestment and New Business Development with responsibility across the Shell portfolio.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: "Katie brings diverse experience from across the energy sector. Her leadership will be invaluable as we shape our copper business for a successful future. As we continue the ramp up of Oyu Tolgoi to become one of the world’s largest copper suppliers, we are also looking to the future with new opportunities across the world. We are very excited that Rio Tinto will benefit from Katie’s global perspective, proven operational and strategic leadership capability and her passion for driving sustainable growth.”

Katie Jackson said: “I am inspired by Rio Tinto's ambition to deliver the materials the world needs. It is an exciting time to lead the copper business when we have such a central role to play in delivering a low carbon future and I believe my current role delivering major infrastructure projects will help me bring a new perspective. I look forward to collaborating with our teams across the globe, in partnership with communities and governments, and lead the business to an even stronger future.”

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Andy Hodges, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.

News

In Case You Missed It

Rio Tinto to acquire Mitsubishi’s 11.65% stake in Boyne aluminium smelter

June 10, 2024 06:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has agreed to acquire Mitsubishi Corporation’s 11.65% interest in Boyne Smelters Ltd (BSL), which owns and operates the Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Australia.

On completion of this transaction, and the recent agreement to acquire Sumitomo Chemical Company’s 2.46% interest in BSL, Rio Tinto’s interest in BSL will increase to 73.5%.

The acquisition, which is for an undisclosed price, is subject to various conditions precedent, including approval from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board, and is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2024.

Rio Tinto looks forward to continuing to work with its remaining BSL joint venture partners and other stakeholders on securing a competitive low-carbon future for its Gladstone operations.

After completion of the two transactions, the BSL joint venture partners will be: Rio Tinto (73.5%), YKK Aluminium (9.50%), UACJ Australia (9.29%) and Southern Cross Aluminium (7.71%).

Websites

Rio Tinto
https://www.riotinto.com/

Rio Tinto: Media Releases
https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases

Australian mining and exploration sector embracing living statues and bodypainting for special events and VIP functions

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Financial Times

In economics, a commodity is an economic good or service that has full or substantial fungibility: that is, the market treats instances of the good as equivalent or nearly so with no regard to who produced them.

The price of a commodity good is typically determined as a function of its market as a whole: well-established physical commodities have actively traded spot and derivative markets. The wide availability of commodities typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (such as brand name) other than price.

Most commodities are raw materials, basic resources, agricultural, or mining products, such as iron ore, sugar, or grains like rice and wheat. Commodities can also be mass-produced unspecialized products such as chemicals and computer memory.

Hard and soft commodities

Soft commodities are goods that are grown, such as wheat, or rice.

Hard commodities are mined. Examples include gold ,silver, helium, and oil.

Energy commodities include electricity, gas, coal and oil. Electricity has the particular characteristic that it is usually uneconomical to store, and must therefore be consumed as soon as it is produced.

(Wikipedia)

Oil

Commodities News: Oil via Media Man and FxPro

June 3, 2024

Oil is probably setting up for a repeat of 2020 or 2014

Oil has lost 1.7% since the start of the day on Tuesday, in addition to a more than 3% drop the day before, clearly showing the market's reaction to the OPEC+ meeting over the weekend. The technical picture in oil has turned very bearish. OPEC+ agreed to an impressive extension of low production quotas, but markets are paying more attention to the short-term supply-demand balance and viewed the move as underwhelming.

In the middle of last week, WTI crude bounced off resistance in the form of the 200-day moving average and moved closer towards the lower end of the May trading range. Oil is also trading below its 50-day average, which is pointing downwards. All of this is evidence of an intensifying bearish medium and long-term trend.

Earlier, we also pointed out that the cartel, especially Saudi Arabia and Russia, is becoming hawkish, preferring to give active signals or cut production when the price gets close to the 200-week average. This curve reflects ultra-long-term trends, averaging the price over almost four years. Oil has been receiving impressive support after touching this line in 2019 and 2023. Since the beginning of this year, there have been new attempts to break below, which have so far resulted in strong upside momentum.

It very much looks like that situation has now changed. Oil is already more than 3% below its 200-week average, having been under sustained pressure since the start of the week. In addition, the intensified daily selling of oil in US trading since last Wednesday has contributed to this.

In 2020, the breakdown of this long-term support culminated in a hike in some oil contracts into negative territory. We saw just as much market drama in 2014 after a similar signal. It was perhaps only in 2018 that oil managed to turn to the upside, falling just 18% below its 200-week average.

Thus, we may be seeing the beginning of the formation of one of the significant downtrends in oil, capable of being on par with the 2014-2016 or 2020 sell-offs. In this case, the price may roll back to the $30 area—the price area where most oil production projects lose profitability.

However, the bulls still have a significant support area of around $65-$70 per barrel. This was the resistance area in 2019 and the support area in the last three years.

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Euro, Gold, Crypto and more via Media Man and FX Pro

A strong current account surplus may not help euro

The eurozone's current account surplus climbed to a six-month high of 31.9bn in December. Analysts, on average, had expected a decline to 20.3 bn from 22.5 bn the previous month. The current level was seen in the eurozone during the relatively benign pre-Covid period and sometime before Natural Gas prices spiked in the second half of 2021.

The normalisation of the surplus is good news for the single currency, as it means more net capital inflows into the region. But this growth has been fuelled by falling imports, which can be the result of lower commodity and energy prices (which is a very good thing), but also partly indicative of a slowdown in domestic demand. This threatens to translate into economic contraction in the coming months.

The euro area experienced periods of severe import contraction in late 2008 and early 2010, and in both cases, the economy experienced a severe downturn. Back in 2008, all this was accompanied by the collapse of the euro.

Gold

Gold rises but within a downward channel

Gold rallied for the fourth consecutive session to reach $2023, recovering almost all the losses suffered the week before on the back of the inflation report. Gold's ability to rally suggests continued domestic demand, as some investors are clearly rushing to buy back any losses.

At the same time, however, we note that since the beginning of the year, gold has been characterised by solid selloffs on the news, forming a smooth downtrend. In the context of this downtrend, a rise to $2040-2045, which is the upper boundary of the bearish range, looks quite acceptable.

The area around $2035 - the highs of two weeks ago - also appears to be a crucial intermediate level. Confident buying from this level would be the first important signal that the recent correction is over and that gold is ready to make a fresh assault on the highs.

Much more important, however, will be the behaviour of gold as it approaches the $2050 level, where the reversal of the decline in late January took place.

Consolidation at this level would confirm the breakdown of the downtrend and set the stage for a move towards $2100 and the subsequent renewal of historic highs.

However, as long as gold is trading within the downtrend, there is a greater chance of a breakdown or even an acceleration of the downtrend.

Among the fundamental factors, the potential for growth could be provided by the fall in the dollar if Fed officials show a softening of their position, bringing the start of interest rate cuts closer.

On the bearish side, equities could come under pressure following the optimistic rally in the tech giants and the news of a sharp slowdown in economic activity. We also do not rule out the possibility that the recent support measures for the Chinese stock market and property sector will cool demand for gold as a safe-haven for investors from that part of the world.

Cryptocurrency

Crypto market growth halted amid capital inflows

Market picture

The crypto market has corrected 0.46% in the last 24 hours, fluctuating within a narrow range without a clear direction. Bitcoin is down 1% but up 3.7% over seven days, Ethereum is flat for the day but up 10.6% over the week. The top coins are mixed with BNB +2% and Solana -2.5%.

Bitcoin is currently drawing its fourth daily candle with opening and closing levels close to each other. Such sideways consolidations are characteristic of strong bull markets, as opposed to corrective pullbacks on smoother rallies.

Ethereum hit local highs on rumours of a positive regulatory decision before the end of March. Bloomberg analyst James Seyffarth bet 4 ETH that the SEC will not approve a spot Ethereum ETF next month.

According to data from CoinShares, investment in crypto funds rose by a record $2.452 billion last week, following inflows of $1.116 billion the previous week.
Bitcoin investments increased by $2.424 billion, Ethereum by $21 million, Cardano lost $6 million, and Solana lost $1.6 million.

Since the beginning of the year, crypto funds have seen inflows of an impressive $5.2 billion, with total AUM rising to $67 billion, the highest since December 2021.

News background

Bitcoin will see institutional support in the next three to six months, according to Coinbase. Bitcoin ETFs could eventually become a major competitor to gold funds.
According to IntoTheBlock, there is an 85% chance that Bitcoin will reach a new all-time high within the next six months. Five factors could contribute to this: the halving of the price, ETFs, monetary easing, the US election, and companies accumulating BTC as part of their treasuries.

Former CIA contractor Edward Snowden, who has been living in Russia since 2013, called bitcoin the most significant achievement of the financial system in the entire existence of money and means of exchange.

Amberdata admitted that Ethereum will outpace Bitcoin in terms of growth due to more constructive deflationary policies. The supply of ETH has been decreasing since September 2022, thanks to the update of The Merge, as well as the implementation of a mechanism to burn part of the commissions. During this time, around 0.36 million ETH, or 0.3% of the total supply of 120 million coins, have been removed from circulation.

Via Roy Morgan Research and Media Man social media

Copper, gold, and Bitcoin rise; Iron ore and oil fall; ASX to fall in response to selling on Wall Street; US vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution demanding ceasefire in Gaza; Assange's lawyers warn that he risks 'flagrant denial of justice' if he is tried in US

Latest updates on Key Economic Indicators

21 February 2024

Roy Morgan Summary

Australian Dollar: $0.6550 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore Mar Spot Price (SGX): $120.85 USD (down $6.40 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $78.27 USD (down $1.02 USD)

Gold Price: $2,024.37 USD (up $6.43 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $3.8595 (up $0.0465 USD)

Bitcoin: $52,059.35 (up 0.35% in last 24 hours)

New report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading data companies - with in-depth information on millions of Australians based on their Helix Personas

Market Research Update

20 February 2024

Roy Morgan Summary

Roy Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan about the role the company plays in compiling data and building profiles of different Australians. One of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which profiles people under headings such as "young and platinum", "smart money", "cautious conservatives", "fair go", "working hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example, the "young and platinum" group love their mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for the shiny, new and cool" and "making the rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year mark and they can often be found "living a conventional life centred around family".

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments are based on statistical information, not data from individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele Levine, said.: 38,582.12 at 3.22pm NY time (down 45.87 points on Friday's close)

Roy Morgan wins three-year contract to deliver domestic tourism statistics for Austrade

21 February 2024

Roy Morgan Summary

From 2025, Roy Morgan will provide Austrade with the world's best practice survey methodology, big data integration and modelling techniques to deliver accurate domestic tourism statistics. Roy Morgan has reimagined the future of domestic tourism statistics to move Austrade and its stakeholders to the forefront of tourism intelligence with a new platform that will drive the future of Australia's tourism industry, which is estimated to be worth in excess of $160 billion. Portia Morgan, the Head of Client Services at Roy Morgan, says that using face-to-face interviewing, which is the gold-standard for surveying the population, enhanced with big data and cutting-edge data science techniques, Roy Morgan will be delivering a future-proofed system that will be cost effective, reliable, and accurate. She adds that Roy Morgan has been delivering survey-based tourism insights via its Holiday Tracking Survey for 20+ years and the company is thrilled to be working with Austrade and the broader industry to provide a deeper of understanding of how many people are travelling, where they go, what they do and how they spend their valuable tourism dollars.

Anti-mining PM pushes BHP's cash offshore

Roy Morgan Summary

It is somewhat hypocritical of the federal government to flag possible support for Australia's nickel industry, given that Labor's anti-mining legislation may jeopardise the expansion of BHP's copper operations in South Australia. BHP is still likely to proceed with an expansion, but the previously touted investment of between $10bn and $15bn is now only a 50 per cent chance. The new labour laws in the government's industrial relations reforms mean that BHP is now more likely to redirect much of this capital investment to its criticals minerals projects in other countries; rival miner Rio Tinto is already doing this.

More than 2.7 million New Zealanders now read newspapers and magazine audiences surge to over 1.7 million

21 February 2024

Roy Morgan has released its readership results for New Zealand's newspapers and magazines for the 12 months to December 2023. The data shows that 2.73 million New Zealanders aged 14+ (64.4%) now read or access newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or online (website or app) platforms. In addition, 1.71 million New Zealanders aged 14+ (40.3%) read magazines, whether in print or online either via the web or an app. The New Zealand Herald is still the nation's most widely-read publication, with a total cross-platform audience of 1,720,000 in the 12 months to June 2023 - almost five times as many as the second placed Dominion Post with a readership of 341,000. Meanwhile, New Zealand's most widely read magazine is still the driving magazine AA Directions, which had an average issue readership of 379,000 during the year to December (an increase of 63,000 on a year ago).

These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand Single Source survey of 6,254 New Zealanders aged 14+ over the 12 months to December 2023.

New report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading data companies - with in-depth information on millions of Australians based on their Helix Personas

Market Research Update

20 February 2024

Roy Morgan Summary

(Credit: Roy Morgan Research)

Roy Morgan Summary

One of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which profiles people under headings such as "young and platinum", "smart money", "cautious conservatives", "fair go", "working hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example, the "young and platinum" group love their mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for the shiny, new and cool" and "making the rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year mark and they can often be found "living a conventional life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments are based on statistical information, not data from individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele Levine, said.

(Credit: Roy Morgan Research)

Media Man

Warrner Bros

Profile

In 2010, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group broke the all-time industry worldwide box office record with receipts of $4.814 billion, which surpassed the prior record of $4.010 billion (set by the Studio in 2009). Warner Bros. also established a new industry benchmark for the international box office with a total of $2.93 billion (marking a record third time of crossing the $2 billion threshold) and retained its leading domestic box office ranking with receipts of $1.884 billion. 2010 also marked the 10th consecutive year Warner Bros. Pictures passed the billion dollar mark at both the domestic and international box offices. Warner Home Video was, once again, the industry’s leader, with an overall 20.6 percent marketshare in total DVD and Blu-ray sales. The companies comprising the Warner Bros. Television Group and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group remain category leaders, working across all platforms and outlets, and are trendsetters in the digital realm with video-on-demand (transaction and ad-supported), branded channels, original content, anti-piracy technology and broadband and wireless destinations.

The Warner Bros. Pictures Group brings together the Studio’s motion picture production, marketing and distribution operations into a single entity. The Group, which includes Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures International, was formed to streamline the Studio’s film production process and bring those businesses’ organizational structures in line with Warner Bros.’ television and home entertainment operations.

Warner Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances or co-finances the films it produces and maintains worldwide distribution rights. It also monetizes its distribution and marketing operations by distributing films that are totally financed and produced by third-parties. The Studio’s 2011 slate includes “Sucker Punch,” “The Hangover Part II,” “Green Lantern,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” “Happy Feet 2” and “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

Warner Bros. Pictures International is a global leader in the marketing and distribution of feature films, operating offices in more than 30 countries and releasing films in over 120 international territories, either directly to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies and co-ventures.

New Line Cinema, part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since 2008, coordinates its development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs activities with Warner Bros. Pictures to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies. Highlights of New Line’s 2011 release slate, distributed by Warner Bros., include “Horrible Bosses,” “Final Destination 5,” “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” and “New Year’s Eve.”

The Warner Bros. Television Group oversees and grows the entire portfolio of Warner Bros.’ television businesses, including worldwide production, traditional and digital distribution, and broadcasting. In the traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime and cable (Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon Television), first-run syndication (Telepictures Productions) and animated (Warner Bros. Animation) programming, which is distributed worldwide by two category-leading distribution arms/operations (Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution).

Among the primetime series produced by divisions of the Warner Bros. Television Group are “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Mentalist,” “Mike & Molly,” “Fringe,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Nikita,” “The Middle,” “Southland,” “The Closer,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Supernatural,” “The Bachelor,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” and many more. Also produced by the company are first-run syndicated programs such as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “TMZ” and “Extra,” among others, as well as animated shows “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” and “Young Justice.”

WBTVG is an innovative leader in developing new business models for the evolving television landscape, including ad-supported video-on-demand, broadband and wireless, and has digital distribution agreements in place with all of the broadcast networks. Internationally, the Studio is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the worldwide television marketplace, licensing some 50,000 hours of television programming, including more than 6,000 feature films and 50 current series, dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.

WBTVG provides original shortform programming for the broadband and wireless marketplace through its Studio 2.0 digital venture, and its digital media sales unit is devoted specifically to multiplatform domestic advertiser sales for both broadband and wireless. WBTVG continues its strategic expansion into digital production and distribution with the launch of several advertiser-supported entertainment destinations, including TheWB.com, a premium, video-on-demand interactive and personalized network and KidsWB.com, a premium destination built around youth-oriented immersive entertainment.

The final component of WBTVG is broadcasting: The CW Television Network, launched (in partnership with CBS) in September 2006 with quality, diverse programming, is targeted to the 18–34 audience.

Warner Bros. Animation’s combined classic and contemporary library currently boasts 14,000 animated episodes and shorts which air on domestic broadcast networks, as well as cable networks and in direct-to-video releases around the world. The classic library includes such brands as Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears as well as such beloved characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Taz, Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Batman, Superman, the Flintstones, the Jetsons and Scooby-Doo.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video (Warner Home Video), digital distribution (Warner Bros. Digital Distribution), interactive entertainment/videogames (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), direct-to-consumer production (Warner Premiere), technical operations (Warner Bros. Technical Operations) and anti-piracy (Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations) businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and transactional VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels. It is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

In 2010, Warner Home Video dominated the U.S. market as the number one company in total sell-through video (DVD and Blu-ray combined) with 20.6% marketshare, theatrical catalog, TV on DVD, non-theatrical family and animation, Blu-ray and VOD. WHV has been the number one studio in overall DVD sales 14 consecutive years, and is also the leading studio in the international home video space.

With more than 3,700 active licensees worldwide, Warner Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names, likenesses and logos for all of the intellectual properties in Warner Bros. Entertainment’s vast film and television library. With a global network of offices and agents in key regions throughout the world, including North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe, WBCP maintains an ongoing commitment to expand and build the power of its core brands’ recognition in the international marketplace through strong and creative merchandising, promotional marketing and retail programs.

DC Entertainment’s DC Comics has been in continuous publication for more than 60 years, and is the leading comic book publisher in the industry and the creator of some of the world’s most recognized icons. DC’s characters continue to headline blockbuster feature films, live-action and animated television series, direct-to-video releases, collectors’ books, online entertainment, digital publishing, countless licensing and marketing arrangements and, most recently, graphic novels. DC continues to attract new readers and fans all over the world with its signature characters Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Justice League leading the way.

Warner Bros. International Cinemas provides a true state-of-the-art movie experience to audiences in Japan with more than 60 multiplex cinemas and more than 600 screens internationally. One of the pioneers in multiplex development for the international marketplace, WBIC is continually exploring new markets for expansion. (Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment)

Press Release

09 August 2010

MICROGAMING SET TO LAUNCH THE LORD OF THE RINGS™: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING ONLINE VIDEO SLOT GAME

First Title to Utilize Proprietary Cinematic Spins™ Technology Allowing Players to Experience the Film with Every Spin

ISLE OF MAN – Microgaming today announced the imminent launch of a new flagship game, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Online Video Slot Game. This slot game is the first to utilise Microgaming’s new Cinematic Spins™ technology, allowing gamers to see clips from the films with every spin.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a new online slot game that is part of a multi-year licensing agreement Microgaming signed with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution in 2009. The company is developing a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich video slots based on this popular movie trilogy and will use animation material, themes, and characters, from the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings™ motion pictures that include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. These online slot games will be available to adults only in countries where online gaming is permitted.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first online video slot to use Microgaming’s Cinematic Spins™ state-of-the-art gaming technology. This allows movie clips to act as moving backgrounds behind the reels during spins providing players an unprecedented level of excitement and immersion.

Win sequences and expanding wilds also use cinematic clips, instead of traditional animated graphics. The slots feature famous scenes from the film including Ringwraiths during the attack at Weathertop, Balrog in the Mines of Moria, and Uruk-hai in the woods of Middle-earth. Players will also enjoy seeing characters from the films that include Frodo, Aragorn, Saruman and the deadly Black Riders.

Roger Raatgever, CEO Microgaming comments: “Microgaming has always been ahead of the curve with innovative offerings, but this game really does push the boundaries of what an online slot can do. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring looks and feels like an extension of the big screen film experience and we’re confident that our operators will see a great deal of demand from their players, when the game is released. This is an important deal for Microgaming and highlights our commitment to partner with the right brands, at the right time. The Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful and well loved brands on the planet and we are excited about combining this widespread appeal with Microgaming’s groundbreaking software.”

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy generated $3 billion in worldwide box office receipts and was nominated for a total of 30 Academy Awards®; of which they won 17, including Best Picture.

- Ends -
Notes to editors:
*Cinematic Spins is a trademark held by Microgaming

© 2010 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.

For further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Laura Moss/ Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
DuncanS@lansons.com / LauraM@lansons.com / LyndsayH@lansons.com
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Peter Binazeski
818-977-5701
peter.binazeski@warnerbros.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme, that averages 60 games per year and a unique ‘partnership’ approach to working with operators; Microgaming software powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The company’s front and back-end software supports multi-player, multi-language games - over 500 of them, all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the world’s largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out over €265million. In May 2009 it created the biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment win of €6.37m.

As a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the forefront of an initiative focused on setting the highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been awarded eCOGRA’s Certified Software Seal following a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development, implementation and maintenance of the software is representative of industry best practice standards Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.

About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group's (WBHEG) electronic distribution over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG's worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

News

2009

With Time Warner sitting on $7 billion in cash, the Marvel deal has ignited rumours of a second wave of consolidation in the media industry. Dream Works Animation, home of Shrek, is seen as a potential takeover candidate, as is MGM with its huge library of classic films. The games firms Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive, with its Grand Theft Auto franchise, are also being touted as potential buys.

Profile

Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Warner Bros. Pictures, or simply Warner Bros.) is one of the world's largest producers of film and television entertainment.

It is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank, California and New York City. Warner Bros. has several subsidiary companies, including Warner Bros. Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, TheWB.com and DC Comics. Warner owns half of The CW Television Network.

Founded in 1918 by Jewish immigrants from Poland, Warner Bros. is the third-oldest American movie studio in continuous operation, after Paramount Pictures, founded in 1912 as Famous Players, and Universal Studios, also founded in 1912.