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Friday, October 2, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Loni Prinsloo.

Making headlines today:

The UK Takeover Panel has announced that diversified miner Xstrata will have until 5 pm on October 20 to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Anglo American or to walk away.

In June, Xstrata proposed a "merger of equals" with fellow diversified giant Anglo American. This proposal has been repeatedly rejected by Anglo's board.

If Xstrata announces that it doesn't intend to make an offer for Anglo American, it'll be restricted from making any offers to Anglo for six months.

On Friday, Anglo American again rejected the proposed merger, saying that nothing had changed since June, when it stated that the strategic case for the merger was unattractive for Anglo American shareholders.

JSE-listed Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland says that production and cash costs for the first quarter of 2010 will be broadly in line with its forecast of about 906 000 ounces.

Production from the South Africa region dropped slightly to 527 000 ounces, compared with 529 000 ounces achieved in the last quarter of 2009.

At the company's two biggest mines, Driefontein and Kloof, safety related stoppages in the fourth quarter impacted on production in the first quarter of 2010.

Also making headlines:

Russian uranium-miner ARMZ eyes Ausralian project development with Cameco.
BHP Billiton says it wants Chile's government to mediate the Spence mine strike.
Braemore Resources will decide on the future of its new South African smelter next week.
And, Solidarity seeks to block DRDGold job cuts

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit miningweekly.com.