Why is the BHP share price lifting today?

BHP shares are grabbing a lot of investor interest on Monday. Let's see why.

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Key points

  • BHP decided against pursuing a merger with Anglo American after preliminary discussions, focusing instead on its organic growth strategy.
  • Despite China's move to control iron ore pricing in its own currency, the impact on BHP remains minimal due to low exposure to affected products.
  • BHP shares benefit from a small rise in both iron ore and copper prices over the weekend.

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed on Friday trading for $40.37. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $40.61 apiece, up 0.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.1% at this same time.

There are a lot of moving parts potentially impacting the BHP share price today.

So, let's dig in.

BHP share price up on axed Anglo American takeover

After making no less than three bids in its $74 billion takeover offer for global miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL) in 2024, BHP eventually walked away from the table.

But the Aussie mining giant didn't lose interest in acquiring Anglo American and recently resumed acquisition discussions that were reported in the media late last week.

Today, however, the BHP share price could be impacted after the miner announced that following preliminary discussions with the Anglo American board, it is no longer considering a merger of the two companies.

The ASX 200 miner stated:

Whilst BHP continues to believe that a combination with Anglo American would have had strong strategic merits and created significant value for all stakeholders, BHP is confident in the highly compelling potential of its own organic growth strategy.

This means that BHP will not be making any further bids for Anglo American in the medium term, with a few possible exceptions.

Those include a third party announcing a firm intention to make an offer for Anglo American. Or if Anglo American's board agrees to today's statement aside.

What else is happening with the ASX 200 miner?

The BHP share price is in the green today despite media reports that China isn't done with its efforts to take greater control of iron ore pricing in its arrangements with BHP.

The government has reportedly told Chinese commodity traders and steel mills to no longer buy low-grade iron ore referred to as 'Jingbao fines'. The share price impact on the ASX 200 miner today appears to be limited, as this only represents a small percentage of BHP's iron ore exports to China.

China is said to be making the move to reduce the global influence of the US dollar on its trading practices.

According to Carolin Kautz, a China analyst at SinoVise (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

They have been pushing for companies to settle in [yuan], and now they have more leverage to do this. They want to reduce their reliance on American dollars…

This is not about turning the yuan into a reserve currency. Beijing is offering settlement in its own currency to reduce dollar dependence, especially for partners in the Global South. The structural barriers like capital controls haven't gone away.

What else is impacting the BHP share price?

The ASX 200 miner should be enjoying some modest tailwinds from the 0.3% boost in the iron ore price over the weekend. The industrial metal is trading for US$104.245 per tonne.

Copper, BHP's number two revenue earner and growing, is also up 0.4% to US$10,777.50 per tonne.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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