BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) is an international resources company.  The Company’s principal business lines are mineral exploration and production, including coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, ferroalloys, nickel and copper concentrate, as well as petroleum exploration, production, and refining.

Blue chip stock BHP, today announced that its latest quarterly iron ore output increased 22% in the December quarter compared to the previous quarter.

BHP’s operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region recorded record production on an annualized basis, as the company expanded its infrastructure base in the area.

The Melbourne based company said that it expects full-year production to marginally exceed prior guidance of 159 million tons per annum.

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BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) is the world’s largest diversified resources company, with a global portfolio of high quality assets and more than 100 operations in 25 countries.

It is the biggest listed company on the Australian share market and is widely considered among the blue chip stocks.

It is an industry leader in most of the major commodities markets, including aluminium, coking and thermal coal, copper, manganese, iron ore, uranium, nickel, silver and titanium. On top of this, BHP has sizeable interests in oil, gas, natural gas and diamonds.

Today, BHP reported a 28% on-year increase in 1Q11 iron ore output. The increase was driven by greater system capability of the group’s WA rail infrastructure.

Petroleum production increased 19% in the same period, with BHP’s acquisition of the Fayetteville and Petrohawk shale businesses helping the result.

However copper output declined 24% over the year amid strikes and lower ore grades at the Escondida mine in Chile.

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QBE Ltd (ASX:QBE) is a leading provider of general insurance and reinsurance services in Australia, the Pacific, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

The company is Australia’s largest insurer, and one of the top 25 insurers worldwide.

In yesterday’s annual general meeting, QBE said that it expects an FY11 insurance profit margin of 15% – 18%.

The group also anticipates a 30% growth in before-tax insurance profit, saying that it was confident about the medium and long-term outlook.

This compares to previous guidance of 22% – 25% insurance profit growth.

QBE based its more optimistic profit forecast on higher premium income from its recent acquisitions, which will offset the impact of the recent increase in catastrophe claims.

QBE noted that it will be on the hunt for further acquisitions in 2011.

QBE shares soared 5.5% on the day, making it one of the best performing blue chip shares in the Australian share market.

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QBE Insurance Group (ASX:QBE) is a leading provider of general insurance and reinsurance services in Australia, the Pacific, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

The company is Australia’s largest insurer, and is considered one of market’s the blue chip shares.

It has offices in 45 countries, and offers a range of retail and wholesale insurance products, across a gamut of insurance lines.

Yesterday, QBE reported its FY10 results, with net profit falling 17% on FY09 to US$1.28 billion as national disasters in Australia, Chile and NZ significantly upped claims.

The profit result was in line with the company’s guidance. QBE’s overall insurance profit margin – a widely watched underlying profitability measure – fell to 15% from 17% a year earlier.

The profit margin came in below the company’s 16%-18% target range due partly to the unusually high number of extreme weather events and crimped by low interest rates in the UK, the US and Europe.

Net earned premium, QBE’s key revenue measure, rose by 20% to US$11.36 billion, in line with the company’s guidance.

As expected, QBE will pay a final dividend of 66 cents per share, flat on year, taking the full year dividend to $1.28.

QBE noted its outlook is positive, with expected net earned premium growth of 22%-25% in FY11 from acquisitions and expectations that insurance profit will grow by at least a similar percentage.

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