London-listed mining group Vedanta Resources has reported an 83 per cent jump in its first-half profits, aided by higher metals prices.

Pre-tax profits rose to $1.1 billion (approximately £685 million) from $605 million during the same period last year, on revenues of $4.6 billion (approx. £2.9 billion), which rose by 54 per cent.

Vedanta said it saw record production of zinc-lead, aluminium, iron ore and silver. Emerging markets continued to drive the global economy, resulting in price rises across most commodities, the company said.

Western Coal Corp. has declared its strategy and delivery plan are on track after second quarter results revealed net income of $40.8 million, up 18-fold from $2.2 million a year earlier. Revenue was $220.4 million, up 105 percent from $107.6 million.

"Our record production in the second quarter demonstrated strong growth and that our strategy and delivery plan is working," said Keith Calder, president and chief executive officer.

Cable&Wireless Worldwide (CWW) has won a £10.3 million contract with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The contract is for London-based CWW to provide voice services, including online video and audio communication, across all of DFID’s 44 sites. The services are to enable fast and reliable connection and better communication between DFID staff worldwide.

This is expected to help the DFID deliver more effective aid to poorer countries; and is also expected to increase inter-departmental collaboration.

Chevron Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire Atlas Energy for $4.3 billion, to provide it with a natural gas resource in southwestern Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale.

Chevron will pay $3.2 billion in cash and assume Atlas Energy’s outstanding debt of approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to certain Atlas Energy restructuring transactions, approval by Atlas Energy shareholders and regulatory clearance. Atlas shareholders will receive a package worth $43.34 per share - a 37 percent premium to Monday's closing price.

UK mobile telecoms giant Vodafone has continued with its drive to sell off minority assets, with the sale of its stake in Japanese telecoms group Softbank for £3.1 billion.

Vodafone’s stake in Softbank was left over from the £8.9 billion sale of Vodafone Japan in 2006. The Japanese carrier will now buy back Vodafone’s interests.

Silver Wheaton, the largest silver streaming company in the world, has reported record quarterly earnings, with net earnings for Q3 2010 more than doubling to $69.2 million, compared with $33.6 million in third quarter 2009.

Operating cash flows increased 55 percent to $70.5 million, compared with $45.4 million in 2009.

Martin Ashcroft reports on a first-of-its-kind economic study detailing the benefits of Everglades restoration, including a rise in job creation, real estate values and water quality.

Sustainability has been seen as a “good thing” for some time. Many have questioned, however, whether the price is worth paying. In the case of the Everglades, at least, what’s good for the environment is proving also to be good for the economy.

The traditional once-a-year budget is quickly falling by the wayside as a key management tool. Rolling financial forecasting can take the ambiguity out of the budget planning process, says Jason Webster.

No doubt about it; financial forecasting is a perilous task, yet budgetary accuracy remains a consistent top priority concern of most CFOs….and with good reason since the role of financial forecasting has never been more critical.

Thomas R. Cutler explains the benefits of automated overall equipment effectiveness data in a lean manufacturing environment.

For 35 years, Chicago, Illinois–based consultant Richard Axelrod pioneered and championed the use of employee engagement to effect large-scale organizational change. He believes that times are different now. To achieve change and to thrive in today’s marketplace requires maximizing employee engagement more than ever before. It’s a matter of survival.