You can re-read the columns by clicking on the headlines.
Dryblower and the decade that wasn’t, November 16
Dryblower noted that metal prices – and BHP Billiton’s share price – were back at 2005 levels.
It posed the question: what China boom?
Dryblower and the corporate storm to follow BHP’s Brazilian dam burst, November 9
Only days after the Samarco tragedy, Dryblower pondered what this might mean for global giant BHP Billiton.
“Whatever the cause, seismic movement, poor construction or flooding beyond the capacity of the dams, there will be no escaping the worldwide blitz of criticism which will rain down on BHP Billiton and its Samarco joint venture partner, Vale,” he said.
Dryblower on Palmer’s problems, December 7
In a perfectly timed column, Dryblower wondered whether Australian businessman turned politician Clive Palmer was enjoying his current status as the nickel producer closest to the edge.
The piece came just as a war of words erupted between Palmer and the Queensland government over assistance for the troubled Yabulu refinery.
Dryblower on the Anglo American implosion, December 14
Dryblower spared a thought for Anglo American boss Mark Cutifani, who didn’t realise please anyone when he announced a radical restructure of the group earlier this month.
“Job losses at Anglo American could be the straw which breaks the South African economy, or it could trigger a fight back in South Africa which breaks Anglo American,” Dryblower wrote.
Dryblower and the accelerating meltdown of Glencore, October 12
Concerns over Glencore’s debt triggered a sell-off among global miners in late September, early October.
“A creature of the boom, Glencore is now the biggest victim of the bust, and talk of it ever rivalling the leaders of the mining industry will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history,” Dryblower wrote in his analysis of the crisis.
Dryblower and the dividend cut BHP has to have, November 23
BHP Billiton is yet to announce a formal change to its dividend policy, but the speculation is set to continue until it does.
“And if the directors of BHP Billiton aren’t thinking about a clarifying statement perhaps someone at the ASX is wondering whether it’s time to answer the dividend question,” Dryblower said.
Dryblower watches the money men for a guide to 2016, December 21
“As 2015 crawls to a close it is hard to imagine 2016 being worse and while many people directly-exposed to mining fear that the New Year might be a re-run of the old Dryblower has discovered that the money men have a different view, one that verges on the optimistic,” he wrote, only last week.
Dryblower noted cautiously optimistic reports from Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Macquarie and Goldman Sachs.
Dryblower and the growing diamond crisis, October 26
Dryblower described Rio Tinto’s decision to move ahead with the Argyle underground as a misjudgement.
He suspected it would be many years before Rio recovered the $2 billion it spent on the expansion it was advised not to develop.
Dryblower and the time in the cycle when big crushes small, October 19
Given weak commodity prices, Dryblower pondered the ability of smaller miners to survive.
He noted the big miners’ fight for market share, which had sent a shudder through smaller rivals.
Dryblower and the pleasure and pain of platinum, November 30
Dryblower pondered the impacts of the Volkswagen emissions scandal on platinum prices.
“How much of a dent VW puts in the platinum industry is uncertain. Some experts think it will do minimal harm. Others suspect it will put a lid on the platinum price for years,” he said.
*Please note, all of the stories are from the last quarter due to a dramatic increase in traffic as a result of the relaunch of MiningNews.net in early October.
