Two Russian oil companies, Yukos and Sibneft, are to merge, knocking Lukoil from the number-one position in Russia and creating the world's third-largest private oil company in production terms.

ECONOMIST: Ecstatic

When China invests it secures an equity share of production on terms comparable to other co-owners (mainly the host country).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Questionable Chinese mining practices in Latin America

Although in volume terms production has at last begun to catch up with pre-recession levels (see chart), most small firms are probably still in decline.

ECONOMIST: Small firms in Japan