A year of tumbling share prices and a shrinking pool of funding have left smaller mining companies vulnerable to the approaches of medium-sized rivals with cash in the bank and an eye for a bargain.Investors and executives told Reuters they saw opportunities for mid-caps and turnaround specialists in regions such as Latin America and Africa as some small companies, typically those involved in the capital-intensive early stages of a project, struggle to secure funding from banks or the market.The gold sector is likely to see the most M&A activity as the metal price languishes 25 percent lower than a year ago, and a number of potential deals are already in the works. Equities were hit even harder than bullion; the Thomson Reuters Global Gold Index of 43 gold miners more than halved in 2013.Industry insiders said the trend would also spread across base metals and iron ore. Nearly all junior miners were hit last year, with the Thomson Reuters index of 144 resources companies listed on London's alternative market (AIM) down 33 percent in 2013.
Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI traded higher by 0.37% or $0.14/share to $37.52. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $29.33 and as high as $38.73. On average, 772010 shares of TRI exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 435551.
Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI traded higher by 0.22% or $0.09/share to $41.00. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $29.38 and as high as $41.13. On average, 936541 shares of TRI.TO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 858201.
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