ADRs of the Melbourne-based giant was unchanged in after hours following a 1.3% gain during regular trading. The stock (NYSE:BHP) is up 14.3% in value this year for a market capitalization of over $102 billion.

But even those stellar numbers were below analysts' forecasts, as was the company's full year dividend of US$0.83 cents per share, equivalent to a 66% payout ratio after its final payout was tripled to $0.43c.

Net debt was reduced by 37% or nearly $10 billion to $16.3 billion. The company said it expects to allocate less than $8 billion per year over the next three years on capital and exploration expenditure.

BHP has come under pressure this year from shareholders led by Elliot Management to get out of its underperforming US oil and gas business it acquired six years ago for more than $20 billion, but which could fetch only around half that today.

In its results presentation BHP said it now considers onshore oil and gas in the US "non-core" assets and is "actively pursuing options to exit" the business including through a trade sale, an asset swap, demerger or a separate listing.

The company is working its assets hard and cut costs across its operations during the year by $1.3 billion. Over the last five years savings of more than $12 billion was achieved according to the company and it expects to deliver a further $2 billion by the end of the 2019 financial year with "gains weighted to the second year."

Thanks to rising prices and record volumes, iron ore now makes up 44% of the company's earnings (EBITDA), coal and petroleum each make up a fifth and copper the remainder.

BHP managed to cut costs at its iron ore division in Western Australia and elsewhere by 3% to just $14.60 a tonne compared to today's price of $78 a tonne. The company said by the end of 2019 it plans to push costs below $13 a tonne.

Copper performance was impacted by a 43-strike at its 57% owned Escondida copper mine in Chile during February and March which upped costs 7% to $1.28 a pound. Copper was trading at $3.00 a pound in New York on Monday.

Last week BHP greenlighted the long-awaited $2.5 billion expansion of its Spence copper mine in Chile, which will add another 50 years to the operation’s life.

Mentioning about his working tour to localities in accordance with an initiative on the SME development, J.Bat-Erdene MP pointed out that many people in aimags are waiting for developing domestic production and such programs.

“Domestic production could be boosted in localities. In believe when families are capable and people are rich, the country develops rapidly. The Mongolian People’s Party reflects in its election program an implementation of the ’21:100’ program,” said J.Bat-Erdene MP, and then asked the Premier to pay attention to this matter.

In response, the Prime Minister said the government is taking a certain measure for developing production in localities in scope of the “21:100” program. He underlined the importance of the MP’s proposal and role in realizing the plan.

“This program will augment job places and make people employed and paid. Our government is focusing attention to boosting small- and middle-sized production,” the Premier said.

The parties discussed a process of research for the EPA establishment at their the meeting which was co-chaired by V.Enkhbold, director of the Foreign Ministry Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation; and Lee Jae-Young, the vice-president of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).

Following the meeting, D.Davaasuren, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, received the researchers, and exchanged views with them on the course of research and pending outcome.

The joint group’s next meeting is expected to be held on September 21 in Seoul, South Korea.

Sempra will pay approximately $9.45 billion in cash to acquire EFH and and its ownership in Oncor, and will assume Oncor’s debt. The deal marks a surprise turnround after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway looked to buy the group in an an $18bn pact. The FT reported early on Monday that Sempra was set to clinch the deal.

Sempra said it would fund the deal using a mixture of debt, equity, and $3bn of investment grade debt at the reorganised holding company, and it expects Oncor’s “underlying financial strength and credit ratings” to improve after the deal.

At the completion of the transaction, Bob Shapard, Oncor’s chief executive, will become executive chairman of the Oncor board of directors and Allen Nye, currently Oncor’s general counsel, will succeed Mr Shapard as Oncor’s CEO.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2018, and should be accretive to earnings from next year.

“Both Sempra Energy and Oncor share more than 100 years of experience operating utilities that deliver safe, reliable energy to millions of customers,” said Debra Reed, chairman and chief executive of Sempra Energy. “With its strong management team and long, distinguished history as Texas’ leading electric provider, Oncor is an excellent strategic fit for our portfolio of utility and energy infrastructure businesses.”

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister will be attending Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) which is expected to take place in Busan, Republic of Korea between August 30 and September 1.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed to be preparing for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, which will be taking place in the United States on September 19-24.

Accordingly, Foreign Minister Ts.Munkh-Orgil is planning to organize the first forum between Mongolia and Eurasian Economic Union member countries within the frameworks of the policy on increasing foreign trade and investment. As well as a meeting of research team for establishing Free Trade Agreement between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea and trilateral analysts’ meeting between Mongolia, PRC and Russian Federation on the “Economic Corridor Program”.

"Talkh Chikher" JSC is one of the leading manufacturers of food industry in Mongolia, produces bread, pastries, candies, and biscuits in Mongolia. It has been operating for 33 years and offers variety of products including 20 different types of bread, 30 types of pastries, 10 types of sweet and solid cookies, 2 types of soft candy, marmalade and 10 sorts of chocolate assortments.

Within the framework of introducing world class technology advancements to its manufacturing process, the Company achieved the ISO9001 Quality Management Certificate, ISO17025 Laboratory Accreditation and ISO22000 Food Safety Certificate. It has introduced the J4 multi-line type liners of production, which is the only one operating in Mongolia, as well as Italian flour system and silos to its manufacturing process. 

The Company's net profit rose by 1.4% to MNT 675.7 million from a year earlier.

Brent crude futures, LCOc1 the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $52.70 per barrel at 0302 GMT, down a cent from their last close.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $48.54 a barrel, up 3 cents from their last settlement.

This came after a 3 percent jump in prices on Friday.

Traders said the market was somewhat held back by rising U.S. production, which has broken through 9.5 million barrels per day (bpd), its highest since July 2015. C-OUT-T-EIA

But the rise in U.S. output may soon slow, as energy firms cut rigs drilling for new oil for a second week in three, the Baker Hughes energy services firm reported on Friday. Drillers cut five oil rigs in the week to Aug. 18, bringing the total count down to 763, Baker Hughes said. RIG-OL-USA-BHI

"The rig count suffered its biggest fall since January, adding to signs that the market is tightening," ANZ bank said on Monday.

Also, U.S. commercial crude inventories have fallen by almost 13 percent from their March peaks, to 466.5 million barrels. C-STK-T-EIA

Analysts said that falling crude inventories, despite rising output, indicate the market is already tightening.

"The rebalance of the oil market is well under way according to inventory data, however the market is heavily focused on the fact that shale supply continues to increase," said William O'Loughlin, investment analyst at Australia's Rivkin Securities.

"The trajectory of crude inventories is clearly down and it will be surprising if the market will be able to ignore continued drawdowns," he added.

Outside the United States, an outage of the Sharara oilfield in Libya might dampen flows in the short-term, traders said.

Although there was strong support to prevent prices falling, analysts said there were was also little to drive oil higher.

"While the bearish sentiment has finally turned, investor positioning does not look stretched to the long side either, suggesting no strong conviction in oil markets currently," U.S. bank Citi said in a note to clients.