Anglo Pacific invests $84 million in Australian coal

A British mining investor has paid $US65 million ($84 million) for exposure to Australian thermal coal, and says there is little risk of profits in the sector declining further, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

While cautious about declaring the bottom in coal markets, royalty investor Anglo Pacific said recent changes in the oil price and the Australian dollar had made it a good time to pay $US65 million for a 1% royalty on future revenues from Whitehaven Coal's Narrabri thermal coal mine.

BHP Billiton to follow Rio Tinto's tax transparency lead

BHP Billiton is planning to follow rival Rio Tinto's uncommon display of tax transparency by releasing a voluntary annual taxes-paid report, which could show every tax it pays over $1 million in every jurisdiction it operates in around the world, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

BHP already gives an over-arching tax figure each year in its annual report but a taxes-paid report – a 20-page document if Rio's is any guide – would go into much more forensic detail.

Santos credit rating safe for now, says Standard & Poor's

Santos is in no immediate danger of a further cut to its credit rating despite last month's downgrading of crude oil prices, Standard & Poor's has declared, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Investor sentiment around Santos, one of the worst hit by the plunge in oil prices, has been harmed by speculation that its investment-grade credit rating of BBB is at risk.