Company Interview / Market Update | BHP, Fleet Partners, Woolworths, Telstra, South32

BHP (ASX: BHP) has found more copper than expected at its Argentinian discovery project, according to a reportby the AFR. It says the new estimate at the Filo del Sol discovery show five times the amount of copper than originally expected. BHP owns 50% of the project in the Andes mountains, as a well as the nearby Josemaria project which it acquired for around $3.2 billion last year. Mark Gardner from MPC Markets has flagged cost-related risks in such a remote location, which is some 5km above sea level... BHP flagged earlier this year it wanted to up its exposure to copper, anticipating an uptick in demand as part of the energy transition. However, in the US, objections raised by Native American groups have delayed the transfer of land for a copper project involving both BHP and Rio Tinto.

FleetPartners’ (ASX: FPR) half year profit fell 7 per cent - - after the group reported a substantial drop in new business writings. Profit fell to $38.9 million year-on-year - with a a 17 per cent drop in new business writings - however - that can be attributed to cycling a strong performance in the PCP.

Woolworths (ASX: WOW) will cut shelf prices across popular items by 10 per cent on average in a bid to claw back lost share from Coles and Aldi.

Telstra (ASX: TLS) has hired the managing director of Microsoft Australia and New Zealand to head up its InfraCo business. Microsoft's Steven Worrall will replace outgoing InfraCo CEO Brendan Riley who is set to leave at the end of September after 13 years.

South32's (ASX: S32) chief executive, Graham Kerr, will step down next year after a decade at the helm. Matthew Daley will join as deputy chief executive officer early next year and will take over as CEO when Graham Kerr steps down from the role later in 2026....