• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Financemining

These Mining Stocks Are Climbing as the Economy Rebounds

By
Jeff Bukhari
Jeff Bukhari
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jeff Bukhari
Jeff Bukhari
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 22, 2017, 12:57 PM ET
Mikheyevsky Ore Mining and Processing Works in Chelyabinsk Region
2823422 04/11/2016 A pit at Mikheyevsky mining and processing plant in Chelyabinsk Region, a member of the Russkaya Mednaya Kompaniya (Russian Copper Company, RMK). Pavel Lisitsyn/Sputnik via APPavel Lisitsyn Sputnik—AP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

After a rough go of it, two mining giants appear to have dug themselves out of trouble.

Two major players in the industry, BHP Billiton (BHP) and Anglo American (AAUKY) , reported stronger-than-expected earnings this week, thanks to rebounding commodities prices. BHP Billiton saw revenue roar back, with a profit of $3.2 billion for the second half of 2016, compared to a loss of $7.84 billion in the first half of the year. Anglo American, which is listed in London, reported a profit of $1.6 billion for the whole year, after taking a $5.6 billion loss the previous year.

The strong performances by the companies highlight the turnaround the mining industry has enjoyed over the last year. Over the previous few years, prices for commodities such as copper and iron ore had fallen so much that many industry players began taking cost-cutting measures, in anticipation of an extended period of financial hardship. Anglo American pledged to cut half of its employees, while BHP Billiton wrote down $11 billion in assets, in part to lessen its tax burden. (BHP also suffered financial losses related to a fatal dam disaster at an iron mine in Brazil.)

But since then, commodity prices have come back to life. The price of copper is up more than 30% over the last year, while iron ore jumped more than 80% in 2016. Thermal coal is up 66% over the last year. In response to the huge upswing, Anglo American scrapped part of its restructuring plan. The company had planned on jettisoning its coal and iron ore businesses to focus on copper, platinum, and diamonds, but thought better of the move once prices started to take off. Anglo American had also vowed to cut its 45 mining operations down to just 16, but it now expects that it will be able to keep about 30 of them.

For more on the stock market, watch this Fortune video.

 

The surge in demand can be linked to China, which has swallowed up large amounts of commodities since its government recently started an economic stimulus program. China consumes 40% of all copper mined, as well as huge quantities of iron ore and other commodities used for building, so any time demand from the country rises or falls, the effects are quickly felt.

Investors have taken notice. After hitting a low of $19.38 in late January last year, BHP Billiton’s stock has rebounded nicely, with shares of the company now trading at around $40. Anglo American’s London Stock Exchange listing is doing even better, jumping more than five-fold over the last year or so. But both stocks still trade far below their 2011 peaks, suggesting that they could have more room to run if the global economy keeps improving.

BHP Billiton did warn of potential problems down the road. Given the uncertainty of what President Trump has planned economically, the company forecast worldwide growth to be between 3% and 3.5% in 2017. Anything higher than that would be unlikely, the company said, due to the potential for a trade war. Trump has frequently talked about imposing tariffs on imports to the U.S., which would likely would be a drag on the global economy.

About the Author
By Jeff Bukhari
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

mr
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
America needs 3.8 million manufacturing workers. This CEO has a blueprint to find them
By Mark RayfieldJuly 1, 2026
18 minutes ago
OCBC rolls out its ‘avatar banking’ platform with ‘Wendy’ and ‘Wayne,’ two virtual financial advisors, as banks integrate AI into wealth management
AsiaSingapore
OCBC rolls out its ‘avatar banking’ platform with ‘Wendy’ and ‘Wayne,’ two virtual financial advisors, as banks integrate AI into wealth management
By Angelica AngJuly 1, 2026
21 minutes ago
Top CD rates today, July 1, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, July 1, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 1, 2026
47 minutes ago
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on July 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 1, 2026
47 minutes ago
Photo: Rocks balancing on driftwood, sea in background.
AIMarkets
Leveraged stock bets are ‘very concentrated in the AI ecosystem,’ Goldman Sachs warns
By Jim EdwardsJuly 1, 2026
1 hour ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 1, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
4 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
AI
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
By Catherina GioinoJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
Commentary
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
By Marc AndersenJune 30, 2026
23 hours ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.