If only...
BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) is an Anglo-American mining, metals and petroleum company headquartered in Australia. Its share price has more than doubled since the beginning of 2016. In August last year, the firm reported a surge in annual profits, up from $1.2bn to $6.7bn, as it benefited from a 32% rise in iron ore prices, as a result of greater demand from Chinese steelmakers. It also slashed net debt by nearly $10bn from $16.3bn. Earlier this year, the mining giant reported a 25% rise in underlying half-year profit to $4.05bn, and handed an extra $800m to shareholders.
Be glad you didn't buy...
Medica Group (LSE: MGP) provides radiology services in the UK. Its share price plunged at the start of the year as it warned that full-year results would be "slightly behind market expectations", which it partly blamed on capacity constraints. Despite positive annual results since, the shares have not recovered. For 2017, Medica reported an 18.2% rise in group revenue, as its NightHawk out-of-hours remote radiologist service delivered sales growth of 24.1%. This contributed to a 51% jump in adjusted profit after tax to £7.52m, up from £4.98m for 2016.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
UK-US trade deal announced: US cuts tariffs on UK car imports to 10%Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have announced a UK-US trade deal, but the US president has refused to lift baseline tariffs on most UK goods. What does it mean for the UK?
-
How to use mid-caps to diversify from the USMedium sized companies are overlooked by investors but could offer an attractive ‘sweet spot’. We consider the case for mid-caps amid market volatility.
-
No one cares about the oil market – that’s why it’s a good time to investFeatures The best time to invest in a market is when things are quiet. And right now, there’s no market quieter than oil. Dominic Frisby picks the best way to buy in.
-
BHP Billiton struggles with the dietFeatures The mining giant navigated a commodities slide by shedding baggage. Is it in good enough shape for the uphill climb to come? Alice Gråhns reports.
-
BHP Billiton doubles down on its mining strategyFeatures As commodities prices rise, the giant miner is ramping up production. Is that the right strategy, asks Alex Williams.
-
Painful changes at the minersNews Mining company Anglo American scrapped its dividend after overtaking commodities giant Glencore as the worst-performing stock in the FTSE 100 this year.
-
BHP Billiton hit by disaster in BrazilNews Shares in BHP Billiton plunged after a collapse in a mine in Brazil left four dead and 22 missing.
-
Is the gloom overdone on mining stocks?News As China-related panic spread this week, the mining sector slid. BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Glencore all fell by more than 7% on Monday.
-
BHP dismantles the empire
News Mining giant BHP Billiton is to spin off some assets into a separate company, allowing it to focus on its most profitable businesses.
-
Shares in focus: Should you buy this mining behemoth?Features Investors have rightly been nervous of miners. Is BHP Billiton different? Phil Oakley investigates.
