Global Mining Strikes Threaten Commodity Prices

Mine workers across three continents are striking over pay, disrupting production as near-record prices for coal, copper and gold boost profit at BHP Billiton BHP, Xstrata (XSRAY) and Anglo American (AAUKY). BHP workers voted yesterday to extend their strike at the Escondida copper mine in Chile, the world's largest. Stoppages at BHP's Australian steelmaking coal operations may resume this week. Thirty thousand South African coal mine workers for companies including Anglo American and Xstrata who walked off the job yesterday may be joined by 160,000 gold industry workers seeking a pay increase more than twice as large as employers are offering.