Xstrata is a major global diversified mining group. Xstrata maintains a meaningful position in six major international commodity markets: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, vanadium and zinc, with additional exposures to gold, lead and silver. The Groups operations and projects span four continents and seven countries: Australia, South Africa, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Peru and the UK.

            Red = 25 day moving average.           Green = 200 day moving average.

SALES PER ACTIVITY (Data as of 31/12/2005)

Coal:       42%
Copper:    25%
Zinc:       18%
Chrome:   10%
Vanadium: 4%
Others:     1%

5000 is wildly optimistic ..... Vale started at 4000 and were then persuaded to 4500, but ..... no one else currently in the frame

bugger .....

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce said late Tuesday it has halted negotiations to buy rival mining company Xstrata Plc.

The Brazilian company said it put forward a cash-and-shares offer for Xstrata which it believes would have created 'significant value for both sets of shareholders.'

'Given that an agreement was not reached, discussions between the parties have been discontinued,' the company said in a release.

Bit of a bore, as you say Cynic....

advised that opening forecast to be down 4.00 at 33.00

bit the bullet at 3350 .... could have been far worse .... thank goodness i only had a fairly sensibly sized holding

i would not be surprised to see XTA continue to fall, for though sp has taken a big whack, it is very possible there will be some heavy players now being forced to sell ...... this could also impact the market in general

I hate Chinese and Indian companies. They buy British assets at low prices. Clear expamples are Corus, Rover (1), Invensys assets (1), and now Jaguar and LandRover.
The Invensys assets (CompAir) is being sold at 200mln after five years. They certainly laugh at ISYS shareholders and praise the City Analysts.

What has that got to do with XTA, VALE or the mining sector?

XTA worth more than the offer.... should get there on its own. IMO

Cynic, if you are holding XTA again, this might cheer you (from a MAM general FSTE update):

"Xstrata bucked the trend that saw commodities stocks moving lower, taking on 14p at 3,488p, after the CEO of its Brazilian suitor, Vale, said at a news conference that negotiations could resume between the two companies.

Xstrata was also helped by Citigroup resuming coverage of the mining group at 'buy' and lifting its price target to 4,500p from 4,000p, saying it believes a future tie-up between the two groups remains a distinct possibility, but even without a deal it sees underlying value in Xstrata."

i took a profit this morning .... having been whacked by IEC's jolly news, i thought a little defensive action sensible

A bit surprised you sold XTA this morning. Sp is approaching the 200 DMA, which has shown good support in the past. A few of the earlier peaks have been due to M&A rumour, but if it does bounce off the 200 DMA then I would hope to see it achieve 3600p, particularly if Toya is right.

i bought yesterday merely on spec and to take a quick turn ..... the pasting i have taken on IEC also influenced my decision

Sorry to rub salt in the wound:
"LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Shares in Xstrata Plc. were higher early morning after Citigroup resumed coverage on the group with a 'buy' stance and raised its price target on the group to 4,500 pence from 4,000 pence, market sources said."

no prob .... a profit's a profit

bought back in aghain yesterday though at a much higher price of course ..... now that position is also showing a 50p profit or thereabouts, does one take the profit and say, "Thank you very much" or risk being too greedy.

Toya and i have both been guilty of the latter, and promise not to do so again .... but we (and others) always do of course!

Hmm, tough one Cynic - and I don't think I'm the one to ask, judging from your comment! I didn't have the funds to buy back in this week otherwise would have gone for both XTA and RIO. I might be inclined to hold on for a bit.

Imo, hold for the 4000p level. I also bought yesterday.
XTA divi date is somewhere near the end of April, so may be worth holding 'til somewhere near then.

XTA is interesting in that it is very volatile and can be traded, yet also still seems to have potential for t/o by Vale if yesterday's comment is anything to go by ...... i guess that because Vale did not table a formal offer, they do not get hit by the 6 month moratorium rule

Anybody know why the sp has suddenly dropped?

Maybe it's because this is going on the the US

"Senate Committee to Examine Economy
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, Alan Schwartz, president and chief executive of Bear Stearns, and James Dimon, chairman and chief executive of J.P. Morgan Chase, are scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Committee during a hearing that begins at 10:00 a.m. ET. To view live streaming video of this event on the Web, go tohttp://www.washingtonpost.com/postlive2."