Short Business News
(Mineweb)

- If Brazil's iron ore miner Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO) all-cash $17.6 billion offer is successful in defeating Phelps Dodge for the reluctant hand of Canadian nickel miner Inco, the combined CVRD/Inco would become the world's third largest mining company.

- Despite a fall in copper output year on year, Eurozinc Mining Corporation (AMEX: EZM) – Canadian-based but with its operational activities in Portugal – reported its best second quarter earnings yet.

- World's largest miner BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) - aluminium, copper, iron ore, nickel and natural gas - warns of cost pressures as production hits capacity constraints.