Minorco ponders first dividend cut

MINORCO is considering the first dividend cut in its 70-year history after first-half operating profits fell 26 per cent to $303m (pounds 180m) as commodity prices - most importantly copper, ammonia fertiliser and methanol - stayed weak after collapsing in the latter part of 1997.

Minorco, the holding company for the non-African, non-diamond interests of De Beers and the South African giant Anglo American, said it foresaw no early reversal of the commodities position.