Peru was celebrating yesterday after the rescue of nine trapped miners whose lives had hung in the balance for six days as oxygen was pumped to them through a hose.

Nine miners have been rescued after spending five days trapped in a collapsed gold and copper mine in Peru.

Rio Tinto yesterday declared diamonds aren't forever as it put its mining operations for the precious gemstone up for sale with an expected price of $2bn.

There are no two ways about it: the big four FTSE 100-listed diversified mining groups had a cracking start to the year. In the first two months of 2012, Rio Tinto and Xstrata's shares both jumped by nearly a third, while BHP Billiton and Anglo American turned in a relatively poor performance, up by a mere fifth.

It has been on its knees recently, but Exillon Energy spurted up yesterday after becoming the latest oil group to get a boost from takeover talk. The Russia-focused explorer – which has seen its share price more than halve over the past year – jumped nearly 8 per cent as speculation was reheated that it could become a target.

The Peruvian capital was once said to be the most dangerous in South America. Mark Rowe sees how Lima's changed on a new walking tour

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao sent tremors through global markets yesterday, as the world's biggest economy set its least-ambitious growth target for eight years.

Samantha Downes wonders if commodities are a wise choice for the ordinary investor

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BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have announced plans to invest $4.5bn (£2.9bn) to expand the world's biggest copper mine.

The world is in the grip of a commodity price revolution. Tom Bawden explains why scarce resources are going through the roof

Xstrata shareholders will take advantage of a technicality in the takeover process to seal better terms in its "merger of equals" with Glencore, a deal that would create a £50bn mining giant.

Lack of adequate recycling facilities and confusing legislation is hampering Britain's economy as demand for raw materials soars. Tom Bawden examines the case

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