Morning News Bites – Aug 13

In today’s Morning News Bites for August 13. Telstra has reported a full year profit of $1.84b, down 14.4 per cent on the previous year staying within the telco’s guidance range. Flight Centre Travel Group has developed a longer liquidity runway to help it
overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19. Australian retail industry is hit the hardest since ABS recorded data.

Northern Star Resources reports that it is set to generate significant increases in production, cashflow and mine lives over the next two years. This strong growth outlook stems from its exploration success and accretive acquisitions and will require relatively limited capital expenditure. FY21 production guidance for Australian operations is 540,000-600,000oz at AISC of A$1,425- A$1,525/oz. Group Resources increased by 3.2Moz to 22.3Moz (after depletion of 912,000oz and acquisition of Bronzewing Project). Group Reserves increased 12%, or 600,000oz, to 6Moz (after depletion of 912,000oz). Executive Chair Bill Beament said the company was poised to achieve a new level of sustainable production,“We are entering the next chapter of growth on all levels of our business.”

Evolution Mining Limited has today released its financial results for FY20. It announces a strong performance in safety and sustainability; no material impact to operations from COVID-19. Statutory net profit after tax increased 38% to a record A$301.6 million (FY19: A$218.2 million). It also reports that it will pay a record final dividend for the year of 9 cents per share fully franked delivering a total FY20 dividend of 16 cents per share, a 68% increase on FY19.

Western Australian nickel company St George Mining Limited provides an update on the drilling programme underway at its flagship highgrade nickel-copper sulphide Mt Alexander Project, located in the north-eastern Goldfields, WA. Deep drilling intersects intrusive rocks at both the Investigators and Cathedrals Prospects, confirming the prospectivity for nickel-copper sulphides at depth. Diamond drilling continues at Investigators and underway at the Fairbridge Prospect.

Ardea Resources announce significant gold in first RC drilling at Aphrodite North, located approximately 80km north of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA. RC drilling at Aphrodite North has intercepted significant gold mineralisation in newly-defined mineralised lodes. Highlights include; 6m at 3.60g/t Au from 44m, including 2m at 9.99g/t Au from 44m. Managing Director, Andrew Penkethman, said, “On the basis of the initial results, a 2,600m follow up RC program has been designed, aiming to commence a drill out of the target zone to further define the gold mineralisation grade tenor and geometry.”

Confirmation of the securing of a drilling contractor to undertake RC drilling at its Pharos Project has been announced by Scorpion Minerals. Located approximately 50kms north west of Cue in the Murchison district of WA, it has signed a contract with iDrilling Australia to undertake a minimum of 5,000m of RC drilling to be completed during 2020, with an initial programme of 2,500m to commence from next week. All relevant approvals for drilling are in place.