Copper propels miner’s profits

ANTOFAGASTA has nearly quadrupled its interim dividend thanks to surging copper prices.

The mining giant said that its firsthalf pre-tax profits surged 360.3 per cent to £1.3billion, while revenues rose 67.9 per cent to £2.6billion.

The bumper dividend will be 17p per share, a payout worth £170.1million to investors.

Chief executive Ivan Arriagada said: “We have seen strong copper demand and prices at multi-year highs over the first half of this year, which has contributed to the robust financial performance of the group.”