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MELBOURNE, Australia, October 11, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto’s vaccination hub at Perth Airport has opened today, enabling fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the mining industry to easily access COVID-19 vaccination when they touch down in Perth.

Rio Tinto and Western Australia’s Department of Health partnered to establish the new hub, which will operate at Perth Airport T2 and T3 and is specifically designed to be accessible for FIFO workers from the resources sector travelling through Perth Airport.

The hubs are part of Rio Tinto’s commitment to help boost vaccination rates across the State. Rio Tinto has made the facility available to vaccinate workers in the mining FIFO community, regardless of the company they work for.

The opening of the clinic follows the WA Government’s announcement that vaccination would be mandatory for FIFO and other resources sector employees.

In addition, Rio Tinto announced that vaccination will be a requirement for its entire WA workforce, including those who work in offices and other facilities in Perth.

The Perth Airport vaccination clinics will operate on weekdays from 10am to 8pm with appointment times aligned to flight arrival times. Bookings are essential to avoid delays. Walk-in opportunities are limited based on daily vaccine availability.

In September, Rio Tinto opened vaccination clinics in Tom Price and Paraburdoo and is working with the WA Government to establish similar clinics in Pannawonica, Cape Lambert and Dampier to assist with the vaccination rollout.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive, Simon Trott, urged all eligible FIFO workers from across the sector returning to Perth book an appointment as soon as possible.

"We encourage workers in our sector to take advantage of the Perth Airport clinics, which are open to all FIFO workers. We know how critically important it is to boost vaccination rates in WA and are pleased to be able to welcome workers to the clinic.

"Following the WA Government’s announcement that vaccination will be mandatory for FIFO and other workers in WA’s resources sector, it’s important that workers in the sector book an appointment as soon as possible, and the Perth Airport clinic makes the process easy.

"Rio Tinto is proud to work with the WA Government to deliver these clinics and will continue to assist with boosting vaccination rates across WA."

Further information and bookings can be made via rollup.wa.gov.au.

Category: Pilbara

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211010005077/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK

Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, Australia

Natalie Worley
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Traders operate in the Ring, the open trading floor of the new London Metal Exchange (LME) in central London on February 18, 2016.
The Ring has provided a transparent and robust price-discovery process for the global metals industry for 139 years. / AFP / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images) — London Metal Exchange, which was established in 1877, is the world’s oldest and largest market for industrial metals. Photo: Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images

London Metal Exchange (LME) has teamed up with Germany’s Metalshub to establish an online spot trading platform for base metals.

The collaboration will start with low carbon aluminium early next year in an attempt to boost its sustainability drive.

Over the coming months, the exchange will undertake focused market engagement with its industrial user groups globally in order to develop a suitable product pipeline.

LME, which was established in 1877, is the world’s oldest and largest market for industrial metals. It said on Monday that it is beginning with aluminium because power is a major component in the smelting process, often up to 40%.

However, aluminium is important for the energy transition, including in the automotive industry where it is valued for its lightweighting properties in electric vehicles (EVs), LME said.

Its primary aluminium contract has the highest volumes of any contract traded on the exchange, however due to the coronavirus pandemic overall volumes have declined.

The LME temporarily closed its floor for open outcry trading for 18-months amid the health crisis, reopening only last month with a new structure. During the pandemic, the bourse shifted to an electronic system to determine daily benchmark prices.

Metalshub currently focuses on the steel industry, providing an array of ferroalloys as well as various base and minor metal products via its marketplace. Its second most traded product is nickel, which is also traded on the LME.

The German bourse expects its turnover to more than triple this year to around €1bn (£850m, $1.16bn) after attracting big clients such as miner Anglo American (AAL.L).

“We are delighted to be working with Metalshub to develop and support the delivery of digital spot trading services to our global industrial user base,” Robin Martin, LME head of market development, said.

“Physical metals trading needs are increasingly being met with digital solutions, which offer benefits such as transparency, efficiency and easily evidenced compliance with procurement requirements.

“As the global centre for industrial metals futures trading, the LME is well-positioned to work with the outstanding Metalshub management team, to help expand the Metalshub product base and develop its direct connectivity with the physical market.”

Watch: Why the LME Backtracked on closing trading floor for good

The U.S. stock market fell on Monday, as higher commodity prices and bond yields weighed on stocks. Overall, “the move higher in global interest rates and commodity prices continues to be the focal point,” writes Michael Reinking, senior market strategist at New York Stock Exchange.

Yields of up to 15pc are on offer next year as FTSE 100 dividends return to record levels, rewarding investors who make early moves to capture 2022’s top payouts.

Total payments could reach £85.1bn, just behind the £85.2bn record paid out in 2018, according to the stockbroker AJ Bell, as profits and economies rebound after the pandemic.

Analysts are predicting British blue-chip stocks will build on a strong recovery in dividends this year. Payouts from FTSE 100 companies are forecast to reach £84.1bn in 2021, a rise of 37pc from £61.4bn in 2020.

Dividends from some of the London stock market’s biggest payers this year have sent their yields soaring.

Shares in miners Rio Tinto and Evraz yield almost 18pc, based on payouts for their 2021 financial year and current share prices, according to AJ Bell. Rival BHP Group yields 11.3pc.

While dividends from miners have ballooned, investors haven’t left it too late to cash in, according to experts. More than half of Rio Tinto’s 17.8pc yield is forecast to come from a bumper final dividend expected to be paid in April. Similarly, half of Evraz’s $1.48 dividend predicted for its 2021 financial year has yet to be paid.

The FTSE 100’s trio of top dividend payers are meanwhile forecast to continue to offer high payouts next year. Analysts have estimated 2022 yields of 14.9pc for Evraz, 12.4pc for Rio Tinto and 12.2pc for BHP.

Is this too good to be true? Ian Williams, the manager of the Charteris Premium Income fund, said he did not think so. Mr Williams, who holds around a third of his portfolio in mining stocks, said he expected double-digit yield forecasts to come good, despite a slump in the iron ore price from its summer high amid waning Chinese demand.

“Even if commodity prices fall, mining companies are so profitable they can still pay high dividends,” he said.

“Rio Tinto takes iron ore out of the ground for around $20 a ton. Prices have fallen by almost half since July to $118 a ton, so even after a crash it can still afford to pay shareholders.”

Mr Williams argued that miners could continue to raise their dividends in the future as they rode a wave of higher demand for metals as governments and companies pushed to decarbonise the economy.

“You can’t have decarbonisation without metals. Electric cars use four times as much copper as their petrol equivalents – demand for the metal could rise more in the next 10 years than it has done in the past 2,000,” he said.

“Rare earth” metals will also be in demand thanks to their use in the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars. Mr Williams highlighted Polymetal International, forecast to yield 9.8pc next year, as a major miner of these metals.

However, other investors warned that chasing the high yields offered by mining stocks was dangerous. Laura Foll of the fund group Janus Henderson said: “Be wary of relying solely on the yield to value shares.”

She added that Rio Tinto and BHP’s high forecast dividends depended on the prices of a narrow basket of metals.

Ms Foll highlighted shares in rival miner Anglo American, which she owns in her funds, as an alternative. Expected to yield 6.6pc next year, she argued that the stock’s dividend was more reliable as the company made money from a large basket of commodities, including copper, diamonds, iron ore and nickel.

Shares in banks also offered good dividend prospects, she said. Lenders have resumed payouts after the Bank of England scrapped restrictions imposed at the start of the pandemic, and their dividends are expected to grow. Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest, which Ms Foll owns, are forecast to yield 5.6pc and 4.7pc respectively next year.

Simon Gergel, manager of the £660m Merchants Trust, also cautioned on the outlook for miners’ dividends. He said payouts from Rio Tinto and BHP would fall next year should the iron ore price remain at its current level.

He recommended tobacco companies as an alternative source of dividends as their profits were more predictable. British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands are forecast to yield 8.5pc and 9.2pc next year, and the former has raised its payout in each of the past 23 years.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) closed the most recent trading day at $32.20, moving -1.56% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 1.05% gain on the day.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the mining company had lost 9.49% over the past month. This has lagged the Basic Materials sector's loss of 8.25% and the S&P 500's loss of 5.07% in that time.

FCX will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. On that day, FCX is projected to report earnings of $0.83 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 186.21%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $6.17 billion, up 60.3% from the prior-year quarter.

FCX's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $2.97 per share and revenue of $23.04 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +450% and +62.27%, respectively.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for FCX. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.42% higher. FCX is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Digging into valuation, FCX currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 11.02. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 12.39.

It is also worth noting that FCX currently has a PEG ratio of 0.33. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Mining – Non Ferrous industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 0.55 as of yesterday's close.

The Mining – Non Ferrous industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 71, putting it in the top 28% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow FCX in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

FreeportMcMoRan Inc. (FCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 4, 2021) – Canterra Minerals Corporation (TSXV: CTM) (OTCQB: CTMCF) ("Canterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with NorZinc Ltd. ("NorZinc") and its affiliate NorZinc-Newfoundland Ltd. to acquire the mineral rights to four projects in central Newfoundland, adding 127km²to Canterra's central Newfoundland property position.

Of these four projects, three contain mineral resource estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and two contain grades greater than 1.0 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au"). Following the completion of this transaction, the Company's total property position in the central Newfoundland gold belt will be approximately 412km², allowing for expansion of exploration efforts across the central Newfoundland gold district. The Company will begin targeting work on the properties following completion of the Fall 2021 drilling program, which is currently underway at the Company's Wilding Property.

Highlights:

Underexplored property package in prolific volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") district, which hosts the past producing Duck Pond Mine (Teck Resources) and Buchans Mine (ASARCO)
Strong average gold grades greater than 1.0 g/t at the Lemarchant and Boomerang deposits
VMS systems defined on all projects with significant expansion potential and numerous untested targets

Table 1 – Mineral Resource Estimates at Various Effective Dates

Deposit	Category	Tonnes	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Zn (%)	Pb (%)	Cu (%)
Lemarchant⁽¹⁾	Indicated	2,420,000	1.22	64.00	6.15	1.60	0.68
	Inferred	560,000	1.06	44.70	4.68	1.08	0.45
Boomerang⁽²⁾	Indicated	1,364,600	1.66	110.43	7.09	3.00	0.51
	Inferred	278,100	1.29	96.53	6.72	2.88	0.44
Domino⁽²⁾	Inferred	411,200	0.60	94.00	6.30	2.80	0.40
Long Lake⁽³⁾	Indicated	407,000	0.57	49.00	7.82	1.58	0.97
	Inferred	78,000	0.48	34.00	5.77	1.24	0.70
			Au (K oz)	Ag (M oz)	Zn (M lbs)	Pb (M lbs)	Cu (M lbs)
Total Indicated			175	10	611	189	60
Total Inferred			40	2	166	58	13

(1) Based on a 4.0% ZnEq Cutoff from the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the Lemarchant Deposit South Tally Pond Property, Central Newfoundland, Canada" prepared for NorZinc Ltd., Report Date: October 22, 2018, Effective Date: September 20, 2018, as prepared by Michael Cullen, P.Geo., Matthew Harrington, P.Geo. and Michael J. Vande Guchte, P.Geo. All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates.
(2) Based on a 1.0% Zn Cutoff from the technical report entitled "Messina Minerals Inc.: Tulks South Property, Central Newfoundland, Canada Technical Report" prepared for Messina Minerals Inc., Report Date: August, 2007, as prepared by Snowden. All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates.
(3) Based on a 7.0% ZnEq Cutoff from the technical report entitled "Independent Technical Report for the Main Zone of the Long Lake Volcanic Massive Sulphide Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada" prepared for Messina Minerals Inc., Report Date: April 16, 2012, Effective Date: March 13, 2012, as prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates.

Chris Pennimpede, CEO & President of Canterra, commented, "Canterra's goal is to find mineral deposits in central Newfoundland. Purchasing these four assets from NorZinc will bolster our mineral rights position in the central Newfoundland corridor and will provide further opportunity to make a major discovery in the belt. Our current property position around the former Duck Pond Mine has provided us with VMS exploration opportunities in addition to our already established orogenic gold deposit opportunities. These new acquisitions further that VMS exploration potential. As the age-old industry saying goes, "the best place to look for deposits/mines is next to deposits/mines"; Canterra will now be positioned next to Marathon's Valentine Lake Deposits, Teck's Duck Pond Mine and will have a suite of deposits with significant exploration upside. With $4.5M in cash, and a 412km²land position covering mineral rights encompassing existing deposits, we expect to be well positioned to make the next mineral discovery in central Newfoundland."

The four properties to be acquired pursuant to the Agreement are the South Tally Pond property (hosting the Lemarchant deposit), the Tulks South property (hosting the Boomerang-Domino and Tulks East deposits), the Long Lake property (hosting the Long Lake "Main Zone" deposit) and the Victoria Mine property (host to a historical copper mine) (collectively, the "Properties"). The location of the Properties are shown on the map below:

Figure 1 –Location of NorZinc Properties

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8054/98424_e96f0e3d3457ba68_001full.jpg

South Tally Pond Project

The South Tally Pond property covers 9km² and is located ~ 20 km southwest of the past-producing Duck Pond Mine (operated by Teck Resources between 2007 and 2016), and is underlain by the volcano-sedimentary Victoria Lake Supergroup. The project contains the Lemarchant deposit, a VMS deposit within a 4km long, 700m wide sequence of altered volcanic rocks, similar to the Duck Pond Mine deposit. The Lemarchant deposit contains >1 g/t Au in both the indicated and inferred categories, with an estimated indicated mineral resource of 2,420,000 tonnes at a gold grade of 1.22 g/t giving ~95,000 oz Au (Table 2).

Table 2: Lemarchant Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate at 4.0% Zn Eq. Cutoff (Effective September 20, 2018)⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Category	Tonnes	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Zn (%)	Pb (%)	Cu (%)
Indicated	2,420,000	1.22	64.04	6.15	1.60	0.68
Inferred	560,000	1.06	44.67	4.68	1.08	0.45

The South Tally Pond property lies directly north of Canterra's Wilding Property, where a continuation of the gold-bearing Valentine Lake Shear Zone (VLSZ) has recently been identified and which is currently being drilled as part of Canterra's Fall drilling program.

Tulks South Project

The Tulks South project is located 48km west of the Duck Pond Mill complex (78km by road) and is comprised of mineral licences and a mining lease totaling 76km². The Tulks South project contains the Boomerang-Domino deposits which have a 2007 mineral resource estimate (Table 3). In addition, the project contains the Hurricane lens that is not included in the mineral resource estimate. Drill programs in 2014 and 2017 have expanded the known mineralization at Hurricane and Boomerang. The Boomerang-Domino deposits contain significant gold and silver, with ~73,000 ounces ("oz") of gold contained in the Indicated category at a grade of 1.66 g/t Au.

Table 3: 2007 Boomerang Domino Mineral Resource Estimate at 1% Zn Cut-off⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Deposit	Category	Tonnes	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Zn (%)	Pb (%)	Cu (%)
Boomerang	Indicated	1,364,600	1.66	110.2	7.07	3.00	0.51
Boomerang	Inferred	278,100	1.29	96.5	6.72	2.88	0.44
Domino	Inferred	411,200	0.60	94.0	6.30	2.80	0.40

(1) Based on a 1.0% Zn Cutoff from the technical report entitled "Messina Minerals Inc.: Tulks South Property, Central Newfoundland, Canada Technical Report" prepared for Messina Minerals Inc., Report Date: August, 2007, as prepared by Snowden.
(2) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

In addition to the Boomerang-Domino Deposit, the Tulks South Project contains the Tulks East Deposit, on which 118 drillholes (totaling 24,000m) have been drilled, and that contains a historical mineral resource estimate.

Long Lake Project

The Long Lake project lies 50 km southwest of the Duck Pond mine (90 km by road) and covers 40km², located immediately to the north of Marathon Gold's Victory Deposit. The Long Lake project is underlain by the volcanic Tulks Hill Group (Victoria Lake Supergroup) and contains the Long Lake "Main Zone" VMS deposit, hosted on the limb of an isoclinal syncline. The results of a 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Main Zone are shown below (Table 4), and mineralization has been extended by 2014 drilling (not included in the MRE).

Table 4: 2012 Long Lake Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate at 7.0% ZnEq. Cutoff (Effective March 13, 2012) ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Category	Tonnes	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Zn (%)	Pb (%)	Cu (%)
Indicated	407,000	0.57	49.0	7.82	1.58	0.97
Inferred	78,000	0.48	34.0	5.77	1.24	0.70

(1) Based on a 7.0% ZnEq Cutoff from the technical report entitled "Independent Technical Report for the Main Zone of the Long Lake Volcanic Massive Sulphide Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada" prepared for Messina Minerals Inc., Report Date: April 16, 2012, Effective Date: March 13, 2012, as prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.
(2) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Reported at a cut-off of 7.00 percent zinc equivalent based on an underground mining scenario, metallurgical recoveries of 80 percent zinc, 40 percent copper, 70 percent lead and 50 percent silver. Gold grades were not used in the metal equivalent calculation. Metal price assumptions of US$1.00/pound for zinc, US$4.00/pound for copper, US$1.20/pound for lead and US$40.00/troy ounce silver.

Victoria Mine

The Victoria Mine property includes a copper mine operated around the turn of the nineteenth century, which was explored by both Noranda in the 1990s and Celtic Minerals Ltd. between 1999 and 2007.

Terms of the Agreement

The Agreement provides for the acquisition of the Properties for $250,000 in cash and 6,625,000 common shares (the "Consideration Shares") of Canterra (the "Acquisition"), representing an approximate 9.1% ownership interest, together representing a total consideration value of approximately $2,237,500 based on a closing price of $0.30 per share.

The Consideration Shares issued to NorZinc will be subject to contractual lock-up requirements pursuant to which, except in certain circumstances, 3,000,000 Consideration Shares may not be transferred until the date that is six months following closing and the remaining 3,625,000 Consideration Shares may not be transferred until the date that is 12 months following closing. The Consideration Shares will also be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the closing.

Completion of the Acquisition is expected to occur in mid-November 2021 and remains subject to customary conditions for transactions of this nature, including third party consents and waivers, and the acceptance of the Acquisition by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Canterra Minerals

Canterra is earning a 100% interest in the Wilding and Noel Paul Gold Projects, located 50km south, by logging road, from Millertown and directly northeast of Marathon Gold's Valentine Lake Gold Project in Central Newfoundland. The 285km² property package includes 50km of the northeastern strike-extension of the Rogerson Lake Structural Corridor, which hosts Marathon Gold's Valentine Lake deposits, Matador Mining's Cape Ray deposit, Sokoman's Moosehead discovery and TRU Precious Metals' Golden Rose and Twilight discoveries. A $2.75 million exploration program is underway, focusing on drilling and surface exploration on the Wilding Gold Project. This program will include additional diamond drilling on the existing zones and follow up trenching and diamond drilling on numerous targets identified from previous soil geochemistry sampling. Canterra's team has more than 100 years of experience searching for gold and diamonds in Canada and has been involved in the discovery of the Snap Lake diamond mine, in addition to the discovery of the Blackwater Gold deposit in British Columbia, Canada.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Christopher Pennimpede, P.Geo., President & CEO of Canterra. Mr. Pennimpede is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CANTERRA MINERALS CORPORATION
Chris Pennimpede
President & CEO

Additional information about the Company is available at www.canterraminerals.com.
For further information, please contact: +1 (604) 687-6644.
Email: info@canterraminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, and include statements with respect to the anticipated timing for closing of the Acquisition, statements with respect to the estimates of mineral resources on the properties to be acquired by the Company, statements with respect to the Company having a suite of deposits with significant exploration upside and statements with respect to the Company's expectation to be well positioned to make that next mineral discovery in central Newfoundland. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the failure to complete the terms of the Agreement, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects.; the business and operations of the Company; unprecedented market and economic risks associated with current unprecedented market and economic circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/98424

Looking at Astro Resources NL's (ASX:ARO ) insider transactions over the last year, we can see that insiders were net buyers. That is, there were more number of shares purchased by insiders than there were sold.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Astro Resources

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Astro Resources

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Chairman Jacob Khouri bought AU$103k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.0052 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$0.005 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Jacob Khouri was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does Astro Resources Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that Astro Resources insiders own 33% of the company, worth about AU$6.3m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Astro Resources Insider Transactions Indicate?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months — that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in Astro Resources and their transactions don't cause us concern. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To help with this, we've discovered 4 warning signs (3 are a bit unpleasant!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Astro Resources.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

MELBOURNE, October 02, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto is supporting iron ore rail car manufacturing in Western Australia with a commitment to use local suppliers to build ore rail cars for its Pilbara mining operations.

A tender will soon be released to the local market for an initial purchase of 50 ore rail cars, followed by an ongoing commitment of 10 ore cars a year for the next five years.

The tender will be released through the Rio Tinto Buy Local portal, a resource dedicated to making local suppliers aware of opportunities to partner with Rio Tinto and be part of our supply chain.

Western Australia has been an important part of Rio Tinto’s history for more than 50 years as the company built a world-class iron ore business. In 2020, the company spent AUD$7.5 billion with more than 2,000 local businesses based in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto is also part of the WA Government’s iron ore rail car action group, launched as part of the WA Recovery Plan to develop a competitive iron ore rail car manufacturing industry in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto’s commitment to bring ore rail car manufacturing back to WA supports the action group’s vision to develop WA’s ore rail car manufacturing capability and support the State’s economic recovery.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said: "Building Rio Tinto’s ore rail cars here in WA will support local manufacturing and create jobs for West Australians.

"Rio Tinto is proud to lead the way in building iron ore rail cars in WA, in line with the vision of State Government’s iron ore rail car action group.

"I look forward to partnering with local businesses to support and grow the local manufacturing industry in WA.

"Ore cars are a critical part of our mining operations and building capacity to manufacture ore cars locally in WA will deliver significant benefits for Rio Tinto and the WA economy."

Premier Mark McGowan said: "This is a pleasing outcome and I commend Rio Tinto for taking the first step and committing to our local steel manufacturing industry which will support more jobs for Western Australians.

"Rio Tinto’s commitment is a positive result off the back of the State Government’s independent pre-feasibility study, which identified initiatives for the manufacture, refurbishment and maintenance of iron ore railcar wagons.

"This was about securing an ongoing pipeline of work for the long term manufacture of iron ore wagons and critical rail wagon parts, which will deliver jobs and economic benefit for the State into the future.

"Rio Tinto’s purchase of Western Australian made railcars that will be used right here in our State is something I encourage other iron ore companies operating in WA to get on board with and increase local content and local jobs."

riotinto.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211002005001/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to Media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Jamie Macdonald
M +61 467 725 51

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: Pilbara

TORONTO, Oct. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Pine Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: RPX) (“Red Pine” or the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors has granted an aggregate 100,000 stock options to Rachel Goldman, a recently appointed director of the Company. Each stock option is exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.61 CAD per common share, with vesting over 36 months, and exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant. The options are granted pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan and will be subject to applicable regulatory hold periods.

About Red Pine Exploration Inc.

Red Pine Exploration Inc. is a gold exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RPX".

The Wawa Gold Project is in the Michipicoten greenstone belt of Ontario, a region that has seen major investment by several producers in the last five years. Its land package hosts numerous historic gold mines and is over 6,800 hectares in size. The Company’s Chairman of the Board is Paul Martin, the former CEO of Detour Gold. The Board has extensive and diverse experience at such entities as Alamos, Barrick, Generation Mining, Detour Gold, in addition to recently appointed Rachel Goldman who holds capital markets expertise and is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Led by Quentin Yarie, CEO, who has over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration, Red Pine is strengthening its position as a major mineral exploration and development player in the Michipicoten region.

For more information about the Company, visit www.redpineexp.com

Or contact:

Quentin Yarie, President and CEO, (416) 364-7024, qyarie@redpineexp.com

Tara Asfour, Investor Relations Manager, (514) 833-1957 tasfour@redpineexp.com

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

After charging to $80 per barrel on Tuesday, oil prices fell back on news of inventory builds and extra supply, and now markets are nervously waiting for the OPEC+ meeting

Oil Prices Today, Friday, October 1st, 2021

As OPEC+ meets once again next Monday, speculation has been rife regarding the oil group’s intentions to bring more crude into the market. Whilst prices are still close to the $80 per barrel mark, with Brent trading around $78 per barrel and WTI trending around $74.5 per barrel, the first US inventory stock build since late July and news of OPEC+ laggards (Russia and Kazakhstan) ramping up supply has provided some downside for prices. At the same time, exorbitantly high gas prices driving gas-to-oil switching in Asia and the US dollar weakening are largely offsetting those factors.

Spot LNG Price Surge Continues.

Increasing purchasing activity in East Asia amid China’s power demand crunch and continuing supply tightness have pushed spot LNG prices to $34.5 per mmBtu in Asia, the highest on record.

Germany Merges Gas Trading Hubs.

Germany launched a nationwide gas trading hub called THE (Trading Hub Europe), having merged two of its hubs – Gaspool and NetConnect – to be able to compete with the Dutch TTF and British NBP.

Embattled and indebted, PEMEX Raises Oilmen Salaries.

Following a series of negotiations with its oil workers union (to which most PEMEX employees belong), the Mexican national oil company indicated it agreed to increase oil workers’ wages by 3.4% and their benefits by 1.76%, despite its debt spiraling out of control.

Albemarle Buys into China’s Processing.

US-based lithium producer Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) agreed to buy China’s Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials for $200 million, a lithium converter that is on the verge of launching its 25,000 tons per annum processing plant, in a bid to increase its foothold in the world’s largest demand center.

Russia’s LUKOIL Wants More Azerbaijan.

Longtime interested in expanding within Azerbaijan, Russia’s largest private oil producer LUKOIL (MCX:LKOH) agreed to buy a 25% stake in the Shallow Water Absheron Peninsula (SWAP) project from BP, only several weeks after the UK-based firm spudded its first exploration well at North Khali.

Wind Blows Again in the North Sea.

Despite European gas prices hitting several consecutive all-time highs and nearing €100 per MWh, coal-fired generation has decreased w-o-w in Germany as wind generation moved back into its normal range, averaging 11 GWh so far this week, a 10% increase year-on-year.

CNOOC to Boost Ownership of Buzios Field.

Brazil’s national oil companyPetrobras (NYSE:PBR) is in talks with China’s CNOOC (HK:0883) for a deal that would see the Chinese firm buy another 5% stake in the Latin American country’s second-largest Buzios field for $2.08 billion.

Guyana Court Sets Exxon Hearing Date.

Guyana’s High court has scheduled a June 2022 hearing dealing with the environmental impact of ExxonMobil’s (NYSE:XOM) production offshore Guyana, with local NGOs claiming the oil industry threatens the rights of locals to a clean environment.

Saudi Aramco Gets Footing in India’s Largest Private Refiner.

Reliance Industries (NSE:RELIANCE), operator of the world’s largest refinery in Jamnagar, India, stated the candidature of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Saudi Aramco, meets all regulatory criteria to become independent director, in a move that is seen as a harbinger of Aramco’s buying-in into the Indian firm’s oil-to-chemicals business.

Malaysian LNG Disrupted Again by Fire.

Malaysia’s LNG terminal in Bintulu, wielding 30 million tons of LNG per annum capacity, caught fire this week however the operator Petronas claimed operations were unaffected.

China Asks for More Russian Electricity.

Attesting to China’s ongoing issues with nationwide power cuts, Russian state-owned power company Inter RAO (MCX:IRAO) claimed it had received a request from Chinese authorities to ramp up electricity exports. The current transmission lines could be delivering up to 7 billion KWh.

Rio Tinto Still Not Progressing with Resolution Copper.

The controversial Resolution Project, a prospective copper mine in Arizona to be operated by Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) that could meet 25% of the United States’ total demand for the red metal, has still seen no progress after the company’s CEO failed to meet the head of the San Carlos Apache tribe that opposes it.

BP and ENI Seek $2 Billion for Angola JV.

UK major BP (NYSE:BP) and Italian firm ENI (ETS:ENI) are seeking to raise $2 billion for their oil and gas joint venture in Angola, as both companies seek to spin off carbon-emitting subsidiaries into separate entities.

China Wants More Term LNG Deals with Qatar.

CNOOC (HKG:0883) signed a new supply deal with Qatar’s QP for a period of 15 years starting from January 2022, adding 3.5mtpa LNG to the country’s aggregate contracted volumes

Jamaica Alumina Refinery Out For At Least One Year.

The Jamalco alumina refinery, operated by Noble Group with a production capacity of 1.4 million tons per annum, will not be back until September 2022 on the back of a fire last month, putting additional pressure on aluminum prices.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com

Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. But as Warren Buffett has mused, 'If you've been playing poker for half an hour and you still don't know who the patsy is, you're the patsy.' When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy.

If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Anglo American (LON:AAL). Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital – but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

View our latest analysis for Anglo American

How Quickly Is Anglo American Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price will eventually follow. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. It certainly is nice to see that Anglo American has managed to grow EPS by 32% per year over three years. As a general rule, we'd say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be smiling.

I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Anglo American shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 18% to 36%, and revenue is growing. That's great to see, on both counts.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Anglo American's forecast profits?

Are Anglo American Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Like standing at the lookout, surveying the horizon at sunrise, insider buying, for some investors, sparks joy. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, small purchases are not always indicative of conviction, and insiders don't always get it right.

It's good to see Anglo American insiders walking the walk, by spending US$153k on shares in just twelve months. And when you consider that there was no insider selling, you can understand why shareholders might believe that lady luck will grace this business. Zooming in, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by James Rutherford for UK£144k worth of shares, at about UK£24.30 per share.

The good news, alongside the insider buying, for Anglo American bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. Notably, they have an enormous stake in the company, worth US$92m. This suggests to me that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!

Does Anglo American Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

For growth investors like me, Anglo American's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. On top of that, insiders own a significant stake in the company and have been buying more shares. So it's fair to say I think this stock may well deserve a spot on your watchlist. We should say that we've discovered 3 warning signs for Anglo American (1 is a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

As a growth investor I do like to see insider buying. But Anglo American isn't the only one. You can see a a free list of them here.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

Lundin Mining Corporation logo (CNW Group/Lundin Mining Corporation)

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2021 /CNW/ – (TSX: LUN) (Nasdaq Stockholm: LUMI) Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") reports the following updated share capital and voting rights, in accordance with the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act:

The number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company has decreased by 921,491 to 735,475,804 common shares with voting rights as at September 30, 2021. The decrease in the number of issued and outstanding shares from September 1, 2021 to date is a result of the Company purchasing share under the existing normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB"), partially offset by the exercise of employee stock options or the vesting of employee share units. All shares purchased under the NCIB were cancelled.

About Lundin Mining

Lundin Mining is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Sweden and the United States of America, primarily producing copper, zinc, gold and nickel.

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Mining under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below on September 30, 2021 at 17:00 Eastern Time.

Lundin Mining Announces Updated Share Capital and Voting Rights (CNW Group/Lundin Mining Corporation)

SOURCE Lundin Mining Corporation

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2021/30/c2285.html

MELBOURNE, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Rio Tinto Plc has declared force majeure on some copper cathode contracts after shutting the smelter at its Kennecott mine in the United States following an accident on last week, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

"The work needed to safely restart operations at the smelter is currently being assessed. We are working closely with our customers to minimise any impacts," the spokesperson said in emailed comments.

Rio Tinto said it had declared force majeure on some contracts for copper cathode and acid after the Kennecott smelter was shut due to a release of molten copper on Sept. 21.

Force majeure is triggered when a company cannot meet its contract obligations due to unforeseen circumstances.

Kennecott, in Utah, produced 82,100 tonnes of refined copper in the first half of 2021. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

MELBOURNE, September 29, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto has published its first report on progress in improving Communities and Social Performance (CSP) practices, as the company works to rebuild trust and relationships with Traditional Owners following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters in Western Australia.

As part of efforts to increase transparency in its approach to cultural heritage protection, Rio Tinto has engaged with investors to develop reporting that details the company’s work to improve its CSP practices and outcomes.

The report details progress made to 30 July 2021 in areas such as Traditional Owner partnerships and agreement modernisation in Western Australia; the introduction of new CSP structures and practices across the company; improved governance; and increasing social expertise within the business.

Importantly, it includes direct feedback from Traditional Owner groups regarding commitments made by the company as part of the Board Review of Cultural Heritage Management in August 2020.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said "We are working hard to rebuild trust and meaningful relationships with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people and other Traditional Owners across Australia. We understand this will take time and consistent effort, but our absolute focus is on improving our engagement with Indigenous Peoples and host communities so that we can better understand their priorities and concerns, minimise our impacts, and responsibly manage cultural heritage.

"We thank those Traditional Owners who generously shared their feedback and perspectives. While their insights confirm we have much more to do, feedback like this is vital to shaping relationships that are respectful, genuine and inclusive.

"We know that we cannot change the past. But we can continue to seek out, listen to and respect different voices and perspectives, to ensure that in the future, cultural heritage sites of significance are treated with the care they deserve. And the changes we make should improve, over time, our engagement with Indigenous and First Nations communities in every region where we operate worldwide."

Some of the actions outlined in the report include:

Ongoing remediation work of the Juukan Gorge in consultation with the PKKP people.
The commencement of agreement modernisation discussions with ten Pilbara Traditional Owner groups and their representatives.
A detailed review of heritage sites that Rio Tinto manages in the Pilbara to ensure there are no other sites of exceptional cultural significance within the company’s existing mine plans.
Building social performance capacity, capability and governance across the company. There are now more than 300 Communities and Social Performance professionals working on 60 sites in 35 countries, up from 250 professionals in 2020.
Important steps to grow Indigenous leadership to help better understand host communities in the future. This includes a $50 million investment to retain, attract and grow Indigenous professionals and leaders in our Australian business.
Enhancing cultural awareness training, with all frontline staff undertaking e-learning or face-to-face training with Indigenous Australians.
Progressing the establishment of an Australian Advisory Group to help better manage policies and positions that are important to Indigenous Australians and the business; and
A commitment to work with Traditional Owner groups to co-design and implement leading practice cultural heritage management.

Rio Tinto will integrate further reporting into its full-year reporting suite, complemented by additional disclosures where appropriate. Further consultation with a broad range of investors and other stakeholders will continue to assist in developing these disclosures.

The full report is available here https://www.riotinto.com/invest/reports.

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

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210929005992/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to
media.enquiries@riotinto.com
Media Relations, UK
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Investor Relations, UK
Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, Australia
Natalie Worley
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: GENERAL

(Adds details from interview)

By Ernest Scheyder

Sept 29 (Reuters) – A key Native American leader in Arizona declined to meet Rio Tinto Plc's chief executive this week, the latest roadblock in the mining giant's search for a "win-win" compromise to build its controversial Resolution Copper project.

The visit from Rio's Jakob Stausholm to the state underscores Resolution's importance to the Anglo-Australian company, which has spent more than $2 billion on the project in the past decade but has yet to produce any copper, the red metal used in electric vehicles and other electronics.

Rio hopes the mine will eventually produce more than 40 billion pounds of copper. First, it must win approval from the San Carlos Apache tribe, an unlikely prospect as Chairman Terry Rambler and other tribal leaders have long signaled that their opposition centers on religious concerns and cannot be assuaged by economic incentives.

Stausholm, in his first visit to Arizona since becoming CEO in January, said he is hopeful the two sides can reach an agreement that will allow the project to go ahead.

"We're trying to find a win-win. I do think that's in everyone's interest. But I reckon that we still have work to do," Stausholm told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday from Phoenix, the state's capital.

"If we haven't explained ourselves well enough, then we need to explain ourselves better."

The complex debate is a harbinger of land battles to come as the United States aims to build more EVs, which use twice as much copper as vehicles with internal combustion engines. The Resolution mine could meet about 25% of projected U.S. demand for the metal.

The Arizona dispute centers on Oak Flat Campground, which the San Carlos Apache consider home to deities. The underground mine would cause a crater that would swallow the site.

U.S. President Joe Biden – who received a critical endorsement from the San Carlos Apache during his presidential bid – put the project temporarily on hold in March.

A bill under consideration in the U.S. Congress would undo 2014 legislation that approved a land transfer to give Rio access to the copper deposit.

Stausholm said he tried unsuccessfully to meet with Rambler during his Arizona visit. Rambler told Reuters he would rather spend his time lobbying Congress to block the land transfer.

"If they wanted to meet they should have met way before anything was done" in 2014, Rambler said. "My focus now is on changing that law."

WHEN TO TALK?

The two sides disagree about how and when to negotiate. Whereas Rambler and other Native American leaders said the proper time for consultation was in 2014, Stausholm said he sees that process just beginning.

"You can only get communities comfortable if they really understand, if they feel we're transparent," said Stausholm, an accountant by training from Denmark who previously worked for shipping giant Maersk and Royal Dutch Shell .

Stausholm declined to say whether Rio could eventually walk away from the project, though he acknowledged the company wants tribal consent.

"The first stage is dialogue, and that's why I'm putting myself here in Arizona," he said. "You can't conclude anything at this point in time."

Stausholm hinted that changes were possible to the mine's design plan that might make it palatable to Native Americans, though he declined to be specific. "We have to get through the dialogue and find out what the pressure points are," he said.

Stausholm added that Rio would smelt any copper produced at the mine inside the United States. Opponents have said they fear Rio would export the copper for use by China or another nation.

BHP, which is a minority partner in the project, was not immediately available to comment.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston; additional reporting by Clara Denina in London and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 29, 2021 / Diamcor Mining Inc. (TSXV:DMI)(OTCQB:DMIFF)(FRA:DC3A), ("Diamcor" or, the "Company") announced today that its Phase one upgrade objective, completed ahead of schedule, is demonstrating its ability to achieve the targeted 100% increase in processing volumes at the Company's Krone Endora at Venetia Project (the "Project"). The upgrades are also expected to achieve the added benefit of reducing operating costs on a per ton basis through a reduction in plant consumables and maintenance. Further refinements are expected to continue over the coming weeks to ensure the full potential of these new upgrades is realized. The Company sees the completion of this initial phase as an important milestone which was required to enable it to achieve its long-term growth objectives. With Phase one complete, the focus will now be on advancing a larger Phase two upgrade, which is aimed at supporting the Company's additional growth plans.

Expansion Phases and Growth Objectives:

Phase One Upgrade – The initial phase completed at the Project's current Main Treatment Plant (MTP) included upgrades to the plant's material handling systems, diamond concentration systems, and electronic diamond x-ray equipment. In addition, various elements were streamlined to reduce water and power consumption, thus lowering the MTP's carbon footprint. The Company's stated objectives for this initial phase was to provide the Company with the potential to increase historical processing volumes by up to 100%, whilst lowering operating costs on a per ton basis. The successful implementation of this first phase was designed to provide the Company with the ability to generate additional rough diamond recoveries and revenues to support the funding and advancement of the planned, larger, second phase of upgrades.
Phase Two Upgrade – With the completion of phase one, the Company will now shift its focus to Phase two of its expansion plans. This larger growth effort was originally targeted to be completed in one phase and begin in 2020 as part of the Company's pre-COVID plan to establish larger processing facilities to support the long-term objectives of the Project. Despite having to delay these efforts as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company revised and completed significant planning to adjust these efforts into two-stages in anticipation of the eventual resumption of operations. The Phase two upgrades will include the addition of high throughput X-ray technology and target further increase in processing capability of up to 100% over those achieved in the Phase one upgrades. In addition, the upgrades will significantly reduce the overall plant footprint size by co-location of the current In-Field Screening plant (IFS) and MTP, while further reducing the consumption of water, power, and other consumables on a per ton basis. The design of this planned layout is also expected to reduce the costs of operating the mining fleet. This second, larger upgrade is not expected to impact ongoing processing at the Project's current facilities during its implementation. The Company plans to begin advancing the Phase two expansion efforts prior to the end of 2021, with its completion targeted for the end of H1, 2022.
Exploration – In addition to the upgrades and further expansion of the Project's processing capabilities, the Company plans to initiate exploration on the larger surrounding areas of the Project in 2022. Past exploration and trial mining exercises to date have only focused on +/-300 ha of the Project's total 5,888 ha to date. Through these additional exploration efforts, the Company hopes to better determine the potential and location of the known displacement and erosion from the adjacent De Beers flagship Venetia diamond mine. The initial exploration plans will include additional drilling and bulk sampling and is expected to be followed by an update of the Project's NI43-101 report in due course. The results of the exploration work will be used to aid the Company in arriving at initial production decisions for the Project.

"The completion of this first phase of upgrades provides us with the potential to now increase rough diamond recoveries and revenues to support the advancement of the second larger phase", stated Mr. Dean Taylor, Diamcor CEO. "After the significant delays associated with COVID-19, our entire team is now looking forward to increasing processing volumes, recoveries, and revenues, as well as to the exploration efforts on the larger areas of the Project."

About Diamcor Mining Inc.
Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded junior diamond mining company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol V.DMI, the OTCQB International under the symbol DMIFF, and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol DC3A. The Company has a well-established operation in South Africa with a proven history of supplying rough diamonds to the world market. Diamcor has established a long-term strategic alliance with world famous luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. and is now in the final stages of developing the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project co-located with De Beer's flagship Venetia mine.

About the Tiffany & Co. Alliance
The Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at then current prices to be determined by the parties on an ongoing basis. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing to advance the Project. Tiffany & Co. is owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), a publicly traded company which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext) under the symbol LVMH and on the OTC under the symbol LVMHF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com.

About Krone-Endora at Venetia
In February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. On September 11, 2014, the Company announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur in two layers with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine.

Qualified Person Statement:
Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
Mr. Dean H. Taylor
President & CEO
Diamcor Mining Inc.
www.diamcormining.com

For further information contact:
Mr. Dean H. Taylor
Diamcor Mining Inc
DeanT@Diamcor.com
+1 250 862-3212

Mr. Rich Matthews
Integrous Communications
rmatthews@integcom.us
+1 (604) 355-7179

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Further, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Diamcor Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/666024/Diamcor-Announces-Continued-Progress-on-Growth-Objectives

Expansion Phases and Growth Objectives:

Phase One Upgrade – The initial phase completed at the Project's current Main Treatment Plant (MTP) included upgrades to the plant's material handling systems, diamond concentration systems, and electronic diamond x-ray equipment. In addition, various elements were streamlined to reduce water and power consumption, thus lowering the MTP's carbon footprint. The Company's stated objectives for this initial phase was to provide the Company with the potential to increase historical processing volumes by up to 100%, whilst lowering operating costs on a per ton basis. The successful implementation of this first phase was designed to provide the Company with the ability to generate additional rough diamond recoveries and revenues to support the funding and advancement of the planned, larger, second phase of upgrades.
Phase Two Upgrade – With the completion of phase one, the Company will now shift its focus to Phase two of its expansion plans. This larger growth effort was originally targeted to be completed in one phase and begin in 2020 as part of the Company's pre-COVID plan to establish larger processing facilities to support the long-term objectives of the Project. Despite having to delay these efforts as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company revised and completed significant planning to adjust these efforts into two-stages in anticipation of the eventual resumption of operations. The Phase two upgrades will include the addition of high throughput X-ray technology and target further increase in processing capability of up to 100% over those achieved in the Phase one upgrades. In addition, the upgrades will significantly reduce the overall plant footprint size by co-location of the current In-Field Screening plant (IFS) and MTP, while further reducing the consumption of water, power, and other consumables on a per ton basis. The design of this planned layout is also expected to reduce the costs of operating the mining fleet. This second, larger upgrade is not expected to impact ongoing processing at the Project's current facilities during its implementation. The Company plans to begin advancing the Phase two expansion efforts prior to the end of 2021, with its completion targeted for the end of H1, 2022.
Exploration – In addition to the upgrades and further expansion of the Project's processing capabilities, the Company plans to initiate exploration on the larger surrounding areas of the Project in 2022. Past exploration and trial mining exercises to date have only focused on +/-300 ha of the Project's total 5,888 ha to date. Through these additional exploration efforts, the Company hopes to better determine the potential and location of the known displacement and erosion from the adjacent De Beers flagship Venetia diamond mine. The initial exploration plans will include additional drilling and bulk sampling and is expected to be followed by an update of the Project's NI43-101 report in due course. The results of the exploration work will be used to aid the Company in arriving at initial production decisions for the Project.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
Mr. Dean H. Taylor
President & CEO
Diamcor Mining Inc.
www.diamcormining.com

For further information contact:
Mr. Dean H. Taylor
Diamcor Mining Inc
DeanT@Diamcor.com
+1 250 862-3212

Mr. Rich Matthews
Integrous Communications
rmatthews@integcom.us
+1 (604) 355-7179

WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR

SOURCE: Diamcor Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/666024/Diamcor-Announces-Continued-Progress-on-Growth-Objectives

Loading Q1-4 sample bags on the sea lift, Naujaat Diamond Project

2500 hundred mega bags containing 2000 tonnes of the Q1-4 kimberlite being loaded on the Desgagnés Transarctik inc. sea lift headed for Montreal from Naujaat, NU.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North Arrow Minerals Inc. (TSXV-NAR) (“North Arrow”) reports that a 2,000-tonne bulk sample collected from its Naujaat Diamond Project, NU has been loaded onto a sealift and is now making its way to the processing laboratory in Saskatoon, SK. The sample consists of 2,500 bulk sample bags collected from the Q1-4 kimberlite in July and August, and delivered to North Arrow’s laydown near the community of Naujaat (Please see North Arrow news release dated August 19, 2021 for details).

Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow commented, “Over the last couple of weeks, North Arrow crews have worked with our transportation contractors to move 2,500 bulk sample bags of kimberlite from our project laydown to the beach loading zone in the community of Naujaat, and from there onto the annual sealift. The sealift has left Naujaat and is scheduled to arrive in Montreal in early October. From Montreal, the sample bags will be shipped to the processing laboratory in Saskatchewan and the overall project remains on schedule for the start of sample processing in mid-October.”

A time lapse video of moving the sample bags from North Arrow’s laydown can be found here.

Mr. Armstrong continued, “The 2021 bulk sample is an important step in the evaluation of the Q1-4 diamond deposit. Diamonds recovered from the sample are intended to confirm the size distribution and character of an important population of potentially high-value, fancy yellow to orange yellow diamonds. We believe these fancy-coloured diamonds will be a key value driver for potential future development of the Q1-4 deposit.”

The $5.6M bulk sample program is funded by partner Burgundy Diamond Mines (ASX-BDM), as part of a June 1, 2020 option agreement under which Burgundy may earn a 40% interest in the Naujaat Project by funding the current bulk sample program.

About the Naujaat Project

The Naujaat Project is located near the community of Naujaat, Nunavut. A total of eight kimberlite pipes have been identified within the Project as well as several laterally extensive kimberlite dyke systems. The Q1-4 kimberlite, located just 7 km from the Company’s laydown near the community, is the largest and most diamondiferous of the kimberlites discovered to date and hosts an important, potentially high-value, population of Type IaA – Ib fancy coloured, yellow to orange yellow, diamonds. At 12.5 ha in surface area, Q1-4 hosts an estimated inferred mineral resource of 26.1 million carats total diamond content in 48.8 million tonnes of kimberlite with average +1 DTC total diamond content of 53.6 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) extending from surface to a depth of 205m. Delineation drilling of Q1-4 suggests significant potential to expand the resource at depth with the deepest drill hole terminating in kimberlite at a depth of 376m. The reader is cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Details on data verification and resource estimation procedures can be found in the May 2013 technical report filed on www.sedar.com as well as posted on North Arrow’s website along with details on subsequent exploration efforts on the Project [here].

The Naujaat Diamond Project exploration program is being conducted under the direction of Kenneth Armstrong, P.Geo. (NWT/NU and ON), President and CEO of North Arrow and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Armstrong has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.

About North Arrow Minerals

North Arrow is a Canadian based exploration company focused on the identification and evaluation of diamond exploration opportunities in Canada. North Arrow’s management, board of directors and advisors have significant successful experience in the global diamond industry. North Arrow’s most advanced diamond project is the Q1-4 diamond deposit at the Naujaat Project (NU), where a $5.6M 2,000 tonne bulk sample is underway. The Company has also discovered and is evaluating diamond bearing kimberlites at the Pikoo (SK), Mel (NU), Loki (NWT) and LDG JV Projects (NWT). The Company also maintains a 100% interest in the Hope Bay Oro Gold Project (NU), located approximately 3 km north of Agnico Eagle’s Doris Gold Mine.

North Arrow Minerals Inc.

/s/ “Kenneth A. Armstrong”
Kenneth Armstrong
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:
Ken Armstrong
Tel: 604-668-8355 or 604-668-8354
Website: www.northarrowminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to statements with respect to North Arrow’s plans, the estimation of a mineral resource and the success of exploration activities. Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to general economic and market conditions; closing of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in mineral resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. Although North Arrow has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. North Arrow undertakes no obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/230d256c-9a61-4afa-9e25-471c8675f86b

In this article, we discuss the 10 best international stocks in 2021. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to the 5 Best International Stocks in 2021.

Diversifying your stock portfolio by increasing exposure to international companies working in high-growth areas is perhaps one of the best ways to hedge against risks, according to analysts. According to a study by consulting firm McKinsey & Company published in March 2021, the Mega 25 companies generated a collective market-capitalization growth of over $5.8 trillion. The Mega 25 includes international stocks such as Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE: TSM), and Sea Limited (NYSE: SE).

Furthermore, during the fourth quarter of 2020, international stocks began to gain traction in the global stock market propelled by anticipation for COVID-19 vaccinations. The international vaccine-manufacturing stocks are likely to have benefited most from the fast-growing biotech sector. German biotech firm BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) has gained 258%, year-to-date. On the other hand, shares of British vaccine maker AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ: AZN) increased 16% year-to-date.

Our Methodology

With this context in mind, here is our list of the 10 best international stocks in 2021. Most of these companies are headquartered outside of the United States and operate internationally. These stocks were selected based on their basic business fundamentals, hedge fund sentiment, and analyst ratings. The stocks were chosen and ranked based on the number of hedge fund holdings as of the end of the second quarter of 2021, based on our data of 873 hedge funds.

Why use hedge fund sentiment to choose stocks? Insider Monkey’s research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs. Between March 2017 and July 2021, our monthly newsletter’s stock picks returned 186.1%, vs. 100.1% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 86 percentage points (see the details here). That’s why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox.

Best International Stocks in 2021

10. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) is a Japan-based multinational automotive manufacturer that produces vehicles under five brands, namely Lexus, Ranz, Hino, Daihatsu, and Toyota. Toyota ranks tenth on the list of the best international stocks in 2021.

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) markets vehicles in over 170 countries worldwide with manufacturing plants located in Europe, Africa, Asia & Middle East, Oceania, North America, and Japan. The company was founded in 1937 and started publicly trading in the NYSE in September 1999.

In April 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) signed a definitive agreement to acquire the self-driving division of ride-hailing company Lyft for $550 million. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

On March 30th, Citi analyst Arifumi Yoshida resumed coverage on Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) with a Buy rating. The analyst mentioned the company can deliver a 10% operating margin over fiscal 2022.

The company has a market cap of $278.79 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 2.58%. In the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) reported revenue of $69.44 billion.

Just like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX), AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ:AZN), and Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) is one of the best international stocks in 2021.

9. BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) markets active immunotherapies for the treatment of diseases and it ranks ninth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021.

On August 31, the price target of BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) was raised to $300 from $111 with a Neutral rating from UBS analyst Eliana Merle. The analyst believes BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) plays a key role in the rollout of COVID vaccines.

The company has a market cap of $83.67 billion. In the second quarter of 2021, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) reported an adjusted EPS of $12.64, beating estimates by $3.68. The company’s revenue in the second quarter of 2021 came in at $6.23 billion, beating estimates by $2.35 billion.

Baron Funds mentioned BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“BioNTech SE is a leader in the emerging field of mRNA drugs, with additional programs in engineered cell therapies, antibodies, and immunomodulators. Shares performed well for the quarter as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout progressed, and we believe the pandemic has been a strong proof point of the speed and efficacy of the mRNA platform. Beyond vaccines, we think BioNTech has potential to disrupt the biopharmaceutical space with a pipeline spanning oncology, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.”

8. Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) is an Australian metals and mining corporation based in London that ranks eighth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021. The global mining giant operates in over 35 countries worldwide with most of its assets strategically located in Australia, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

This August, Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly upgraded Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) to a Buy rating from a Neutral rating with a $105.77 per share price target. Kelly believes that RIO has a compelling FCF outlook.

The company has a market cap of $122.21 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 9.01%.

Just like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX), AstraZeneca PLS (NASDAQ:AZN), and Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO) is one of the best international stocks in 2021.

7. Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26

Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) is a multinational consumer electronics manufacturer based in Finland. The company specializes in telecommunications, information technology, and electronics. Nokia Corporation has operations in over 130 countries. Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) ranks seventh on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021.

Recently, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) released its Nokia 5.3, an Android phone made in India. The smartphone has a 64MP quad-camera and provides 2 days of battery life with one charge.

On August 3, Societe Generale analyst Aleksander Peterc raised the price target of Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) to $7.81 from $6.27 per share and kept His Buy rating on the stock.

The company has a market cap of $29.33 billion. In the second quarter of 2021, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) reported an EPS of $0.11, beating estimated by $0.05. The company reported second-quarter revenue of $6.32 billion, beating estimates by $193.68 million.

6. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a hydrocarbon exploration company based in Canada and it ranks sixth on the list of 10 best international stocks in 2021. The company is the largest producer of oil and gas in Alberta with reserves in the Arctic and off the East Coast.

This August 6, TD Securities raised the price target of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) to $43.71 per share from $41.33 per share and kept its Buy rating on the stock.

The company has a market cap of $39.49 billion and currently offers a dividend yield of 4.51%. In the second quarter of 2021, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) reported an EPS of $0.99, beating estimates by $0.23. Following solid quarterly results, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) reported its expected FY2021 capital of $3.2 billion with a 1,225,000 BOD/d production.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best International Stocks In 2021.

1. Rio Tinto (RIO)

Office building of Rio Tinto, one of the biggest mining companies in the world, with regional headquarter in Perth, Western Australia. — Rob Bayer/Shutterstock

Rio Tinto, despite its stock being down almost 30% since the end of July, may be the most intriguing option out there. As one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore, Rio’s shares may be the ones most likely to benefit from an eventual rebound.

In addition to the 16 mines Rio operates in Australia, it also has projects in Serbia, Canada, Mongolia, Guinea and the U.S.

Rio Tinto is not solely an iron play. The company produces a variety of products — copper, diamonds, titanium, aluminum — that the world needs a continual supply of.

Its extensive reach has led to some serious profits: Earnings over the first half of 2021 were $12.2 billion, leading to an interim dividend of $5.61 per share.

Rio Tinto currently trades at just under $70 per share. But you can get a piece of Rio Tinto using a popular stock trading app that allows you to buy fractions of shares with as much money as you’re willing to spend.

2. Vale SA (VALE)

IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock

Shares in Brazil’s Vale SA have lost about 13% of their value in the last month, but a massive first six months of 2021 led the company to announce $7.6 billion in first-half dividends.

That’s the largest payout to investors since 2019.

Vale says it is the world’s largest producer of iron ore and iron pellets. Its biggest operation is its iron ore mine in Carajas, Brazil, one of the richest iron deposits in the world, but it also runs a plant in Oman and has various stakes in joint ventures in China.

In the most recent quarter, Vale posted earnings of $7.6 billion, up more than 600% year-over-year. To be sure, those results were helped by higher iron ore prices at the time.

But with the company on track to hit 2021 guidance of between 315 and 335 million tons of ore production, Vale remains a potent bet on the steelmaking metal.

3. BHP Group (BHP)

T. Schneider/Shutterstock

Australia’s BHP Group has fared even worse than its competitors over the last two months, with its stock losing more than 40% of its value since July 29.

Like Rio Tinto, BHP is involved in more than just iron ore mining. It also has its fingers in petroleum, coal and copper, which makes it a somewhat diversified play.

BHP has been receiving lukewarm assessments from analysts. Zacks, Berenberg Bank and Deutsche Bank all recently rated the company a “hold”, while Liberium Capital downgraded BHG from “hold” to “sell” in July.

The company reported profits of $25.9 billion for the financial year ending June 30. And with BHP having generated $19.3 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months, it should have some cushion to weather the current storm afflicting iron ore.

If you're still cautious about buying into BHP, some investing apps will give you a free share of BHP just for signing up.

4. VanEck Vectors Steel ETF (SLX)

Packed rolls of steel sheet, Cold rolled steel coils — PhotoStock10/Shutterstock

The VanEck Vectors Steel ETF was riding high from May to August, as rising iron ore prices lifted the fund to its highest value since July of 2011.

The last month has seen the price of SLX shares shrink by about 11%, but compared to the individual companies featured here, that’s not so bad.

SLX tracks the performance of some of the world’s biggest ore producers, including Rio Tinto and Vale, but it also holds large steelmakers including Arcelormittal, Nucor, and U.S. Steel. This bit of diversification should help spread some of your risks around in the event iron ore hits the skids once again.

As of Sept. 21, shares in SLX were selling for around $54.53. The most recent dividend paid out was $0.83 a share in December of 2020.

A quieter commodity play

If the volatility in iron ore markets has you questioning your future as an iron/steel investor, there’s another asset that also provides exposure to rising commodity prices: U.S. farmland.

An investment in farmland allows you to profit from both rising food prices, which should only keep increasing as the global demand for food intensifies, and a rapidly decreasing amount of arable land.

An investment in farmland can also be considered an investment in sustainability.

It’s become a hot topic among ESG investors, and will only continue to grow in prominence now that it’s so easy to invest in.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Rio Tinto Plc RIO recently announced that it has partnered with leading global energy producer, EDL. Per the deal, EDL will expand an existing solar installation at Rio Tinto’s Weipa mine in Queensland. Australia. EDL will add a 4 MW solar power generating capacity and 4 MW/4 MWh of battery storage, which will effectively triple the supply of clean, reliable energy to Rio Tinto’s bauxite mine operations in Weipa and the remote township. This move is in sync with Rio Tinto’s focus on lowering its carbon footprint across its operations and marks a step toward its goal of attaining net zero emissions by 2050.

Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations includes three bauxite mines (East Weipa, Andoom and Amrun), processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. The development of Amrun, its newest mine that was completed in 2018, has extended the life of the Weipa bauxite operations by several decades.

In 2015, Rio Tinto had announced the launch of the Weipa Solar plant, which was the largest solar facility at an off-grid Australian mine site at that time. It was a pathbreaking project, which exhibited the viability of renewable energy systems in remote locations. EDL will now build, own and operate a new 4 MW solar plant and 4 MW/4 MWh of battery storage at Weipa that will complement the existing 1.6 MW solar farm. Work on the project is expected to be completed by late next year.

Once operational, the combined 4 MW solar capacity and 4 MW/4 MWh battery will have an annual capacity of 11 gigawatt hours of energy. Combined with upgrades to the existing Weipa power generation network, it will effectively cut down Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by around 7 million litres per year. It will also help lower its annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 20,000 tons — the equivalent of taking more than 3,750 cars off the road.

Rio Tinto has earmarked approximately $1 billion in investments over the next five years to get its operations down to net zero emissions by 2050. Earlier this month, the company announced that it has teamed up with Caterpillar, Inc. CAT to develop zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks for use at Gudai-Darri, which is Rio Tinto’s most technically advanced iron ore mine in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Earlier in June, the company announced that it will deploy the world’s first fully autonomous water truck at its Gudai-Darri mine also in partnership with Caterpillar.

Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past year, shares of Rio Tinto have gained 7.5%, compared with the industry’s growth of 9.0%.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Rio Tinto currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE and The Chemours Company CC.

Nucor has a projected earnings growth rate of around 508% for the current year. The company’s shares have soared 112% in a year. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Chemours has an expected earnings growth rate of around 86.4% for the current year. The company’s shares have gained 39% in the past year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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Rio Tinto PLC (RIO): Free Stock Analysis Report

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The Chemours Company (CC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Zacks Investment Research

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 21, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Rio Tinto plc RIO, BHP Group BHP, Vale S.A. VALE and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. FSUGY.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Iron Ore Prices Fall Below $100 per Ton on Weak China Demand

Iron ore prices have plunged below $100 a ton for the first time since July 2020, as China — the world’s biggest steelmaker — intensified curbs on steel production to lower carbon emissions. Signs of a slowdown across China’s property sector have also acted as a drag on the main steel-making ingredient. Iron ore prices have more than halved from the record $230 per ton attained in May this year. It has lost 34% so far in 2021.

China’s Curb on Steel Output Weighs on Iron

The slump in iron ore makes it one of the worst-performing major commodities this year. This is in sharp contrast to the solid run it had last year, logging a solid gain of 80%. A combination of China’s massive infrastructure stimulus to recover from the pandemic-induced slump, which fueled demand for iron ore, and supply concerns in Brazil due to the coronavirus pandemic drove the prices up. After hitting the record high of $230 earlier this year, iron ore prices started losing steam as China clamped down on the steel industry, which given its high energy consumption and outdated technology and equipment, is one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the country. China has thus repeatedly urged steel mills to reduce output this year to curb carbon emissions.

China remains committed to its pledge reach carbon neutrality by 2060. The country intends to step up its production curbs in a bid to reduce pollution and ensure clearer air for the Winter Olympics coming up in February 2022. This is going to weigh on iron ore demand for the balance of the year.

Per the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the monthly crude steel production in the country was down 13.2% year over year, slipping for the third straight month to 83.24 million tons in August. Average daily output is at the lowest since March 2020. This reflects the impact of the implementation of production restrictions at steel mills.

China’s Property Sector Slowdown Hurts Further

Signs of a slowdown across China’s property sector have hit iron ore prices. The country’s property investment in August rose a meager 0.3% from a year ago — the slowest pace in 18 months.

It is lower than the rise of 1.4% in July, reflecting the tighter financing conditions. China's new home prices rose at their slowest pace in months, as authorities tried to rein in a red-hot property market, and cooling measures were expected to limit home price growth going forward.

China's property market is also grappling with problems at its second-largest property developer, Evergrande Group. It is currently the world's most indebted property developer, owing more than $300 billion in liabilities and nearing a possible default for an interest payment this week.

China Evergrande’s Hong Kong-listed shares fell 10.24% on Sep 17, which underscored concerns about the broader health of China’s real estate sector and triggered a wider sell-off.

Owing to the plunge in iron ore prices, iron ore producers including Rio Tinto, BHP Group, Vale and Fortescue Metals Group have seen their shares tumble 6.8% 13.8%, 8.9% and 22.9%, respectively, over the past month. All of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) currently. Lower iron ore prices are expected to impact their results in the ongoing quarter.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

Neverthless, these miners will benefit from demand in rest of the world. The steel industry is showing promise as demand remains robust across construction and manufacturing sectors across rest of the world. Steel prices continue to race ahead, buoyed by an upturn in demand across key markets, tight supply conditions and low steel inventory throughout the supply chain.

The World Steel Association projects steel demand to grow 5.8% in 2021 and reach 1,874 million. In 2022, steel demand is expected to go up 2.7% to reach 1,924.6 Mt. In China, steel demand is expected to grow 3.0% in 2021 but will decline 1% in 2022 due to the intensified environmental push.

Meanwhile, steel demand will go up 8.2% and 4.2% in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in advanced economies. The ongoing recovery in automotive and construction sectors worldwide will drive demand for steel. In the United States, massive government spending to rebuild infrastructure including railroads, highways and bridges will significantly boost steel demand, thus fueling the need for iron ore.

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Zacks Investment Research

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (BHP) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Zacks Investment Research

(Bloomberg) — Australia’s top three iron ore miners have shed a combined $109 billion in share value in less than two months — roughly equivalent to the market cap of General Electric Co. — following a record-breaking price rout.

It’s a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Rio Tinto Group, BHP Group and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., which only last month were showering record dividends on shareholders after prices of the steel-making ingredient surged to an all-time high above $230 a ton in May. They’ve since plunged to near $90 as China stepped up curbs on steel production to meet environmental goals.

Rio Tinto, the world’s biggest ore producer, has retreated 29% from July 29, BHP is down 30% and Fortescue has plunged 44%. That adds up to value destruction of A$150 billion ($109 billion), Bloomberg calculations show. The three miners together account for more than 8% of Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 share index, which has slipped 2% over the period.

See also: Iron Ore’s Rout Keeps Rolling as China Imposes More Steel Curbs

There could be more weakness — both in iron ore and the miners’ shares — to come as Beijing doubles down on efforts to cut pollution before it hosts the Winter Olympics next February. The price rout has seen analysts scurrying to their spreadsheets to downgrade earnings forecasts for the big miners. Morgans Financial Ltd. slashed its share price target for Fortescue by more than a quarter to A$14.15 late last week and also trimmed targets for BHP and Rio.

“Despite trading back at lower levels, we remain cautious on our big miners, expecting more short-term weakness in iron ore to unfold,” Adrian Prendergast, resources analyst at Morgans, said in a note. BHP and Rio are “trading around accumulate territory, but again we remain cautious given the poor state of their largest exposure,” he said.

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Rio Tinto Group (LSE:RIO) investors are taken on a rollercoaster ride with the high success in the last 12 months, followed by the recent downfall of Iron Ore prices. Dividend yields for investors reached some 14%, however, the seemingly attractive yield may not be sustainable in light of the changing macro situation. We are going to overview the dividend policy and earnings potential for Rio Tinto, in order to see if the recent market volatility represents an opportunity or a convergence to true value.

Rio Tinto Group likely looks attractive to investors for the dividends, given its high dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years.

Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Rio Tinto Group for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Rio Tinto Group!

Payout ratios

Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable.

Rio Tinto Group paid out 60% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is a healthy payout ratio, and also gives the company some earnings to fund sustainable growth.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend.

Rio Tinto Group paid out a conservative 44% of its free cash flow as dividends last year. It's positive to see that Rio Tinto Group's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable.

While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Rio Tinto Group's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Rio Tinto Group's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Sustainability Factors

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. With recent, rapid earnings per share growth and a payout ratio of 60%, this business looks like an interesting prospect if earnings are reinvested effectively.

However, the company is massively dependent on iron ore prices, and their spike in the recent year has accounted for a large portion of their profit growth.

This scenario is unlikely to repeat, as Iron Ore prices are plummeting because of reduced demand in China. In the graph below, you can see the extent of the fall.

In their risk-factor outline (page 6), the company outlines "Credit conditions, cooling exports and softer housing market in China main risks to demand", which unfortunately seems to be currently materializing with the decline in demand from China, and the slowdown of the Chinese housing market stemming from Evergrande's financial distress.

With all that in mind, Rio Tinto is a great stock to watch and look for recovery points, since the company is using last year's great performance to stabilize debt and invest in growth projects with US$3.3b in CapEx.

Conclusion

To summarize, shareholders should always check that Rio Tinto Group's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. While the last 12 months were immensely successful to the point of the company declaring a special dividend, we see trouble on the horizon and Rio Tinto will have to cut back in order to stabilize.

The company is in great shape, working down its debt, financing new growth projects and finding sustainable replacements for expiring excavation sites.

Considering the dividends, Rio Tinto Group has an acceptable payout ratio and its dividend is well covered by cashflow, and while current investors were positively surprised, future investors will need to keep an eye out for any potential changes in the dividend payout.

Additionally, we've come across 3 warning signs for Rio Tinto Group you should be aware of, and 1 of them is a bit unpleasant.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

Simply Wall St analyst Goran Damchevski and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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For Immediate Release

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Iron Ore Prices Fall Below $100 per Ton on Weak China Demand

China’s Curb on Steel Output Weighs on Iron

China’s Property Sector Slowdown Hurts Further

Payout ratios

Dividend Sustainability Factors

Conclusion

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