UK 06:49 Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
It was around a year ago that I wrote an article about one of my then tips of the year BHP Billiton (BLT) observing that the world's largest mining company had just made billions of dollars of losses...but correctly the share price was going up. Billiton was a nice solid pick for 2016 but so far this year the share has been more volatile than remunerative.
You cannot complain when one of your tips of the year has put on over 35% in the last eight-and-a-bit months, but it would be fair to say a month or two into the year even I wondered what I had let myself in for with BHP Billiton (BLT).
Hello Share Swipers. BHP Billiton (BLT) is a famous mining and oil producing company. It provides us with iron ore, copper, diamonds, aluminium, the ebony nectar and natural gas. I can imagine in my mind's eye many of you are now heading for the door. But hang on a bit. Not only is the oil price rising, but this company has been held down by issues which may have been overdone.
My first tip of the year has to come attached with a mea culpa. I tipped BHP Billiton (BLT) at 1000p a share a few months ago and after a suitable disclosure delay bought stock. Since then I have also bought shares below 900p, below 800p and reasonably recently below 700p per share. The clock does not completely reset with a new year but for those investors who joined me in investing at around the 1000p a share level I offer my apologies…but also my advice to double up now.
BHP Billiton (BLT) certainly hasn’t had much luck recently, with an environmental disaster adding to its low commodity price woes.
John Meyer of SP Angel this morning comments on BHP Billiton (BLT), Ferrex (FRX), Minera IRL (MIRL) and Noricum Gold (NMG) as well as offering a detailed macro view on the news that is shaping global mining and the AIM mining pond.
There are some events which transcend normal investment analysis. The shocking scenes of devastation over the last few days from the area around the Samarco iron-ore mine in Brazil following the unintended release of mine tailings received a lot of press coverage. As the co-owner (along with the Brazilian business Vale) BHP Billiton (BLT) correctly in a regulatory disclosure earlier today ‘offered its full support to help the immediate rescue efforts and to assist with the investigation’ and made its ‘immediate priority…the welfare of the Samarco workforce and the local communities’. None of this of course will bring back those who have lost their lives.
