The weakest growth in demand in at least a decade for shipments of iron ore, the second-biggest commodity cargo after crude oil, means rates for the largest vessels will plunge to the lowest level since 2002.

Indonesian workers at Freeport-McMoRan’s largest gold and copper mine said they were ready to end a three-month strike after the company reportedly agreed to a 37 percent wage hike.

Gold rebounded from the biggest decline in more than two weeks as European leaders worked to agree on a plan to save the euro and defuse the debt crisis.

Gold prices fell a second day as the prospect of credit downgrades created more pressure for European leaders to agree on a plan to solve the region’s financial crisis.

Graff Diamonds Ltd., the jewelry retailer whose founder twice set records buying gems at auction, plans to use funds from a proposed share sale to add stores in Asia as the region’s demand for luxury goods grows. The company plans to open outlets in Macau and Hangzhou, the largest city of Zhejiang province in eastern China, next year, Laurence Graff, 73, the chairman and founder of the London-based company said in a Nov. 18 interview with Bloomberg TV. The retailer has 32 stores worldwide including in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei, according to its website.

Coal India Ltd., facing a drop in output for the first time in more than a decade, is accelerating its search for overseas assets after talks with Massey Energy Co. and Peabody Energy Corp. failed.

Old Town Alexandria is in background. The power plant is scheduled to close Oct. 1, 2012. (Tracy A Woodward - THE WASHINGTON POST) The Alexandria power-generating plant that city residents have been trying to shut down for years has been determined to

(Updates with comment from analyst in fifth paragraph.) Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Coal India Ltd., the world’s biggest producer of the fuel, plans to use its $9.2 billion of cash to increase production and pay more dividends as investors clamor for

The Washington Post reports, the Energy Department loan guarantee program from which the shuttered scandal-ridden Solyndra solar panel company benefitted has created one new permanent job for every $5.5 million spent.

Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), Africa’s second- biggest gold producer, said Peru’s decision to base a new mining windfall tax on operating profit rather than revenue meets companies’ expectations.

MPX Energia SA, the energy company controlled by Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista, is negotiating supply contracts to sell coal from its Colombian unit as it prepares to start production by the end of next year.

Anglo American is exploring a bid for Macarthur Coal that would challenge Peabody Energy Corp.’s $4.9 billion offer for the Australian miner, said two people with knowledge of the matter. Anglo American, part owner of the world’s biggest platinum and diamond producers, is studying Macarthur’s finances, said one of the people, who declined to be identified as the talks are private. Buying Brisbane-based Macarthur would give Anglo steelmaking-coal mines in Australia as prices trade near a record. Peabody and its bidding partner, ArcelorMittal, took their offer directly to Macarthur shareholders after talks with the board collapsed.