Vodafone Share News (VOD)

"Investors were rightly cheered by Lonmin's announcement of a pay and benefit agreement with its staff yesterday," writes the Investments column in the Independent. However, the paper notes that Lonmin's shares haven't performed well this year, partly because platinum prices have dropped 12% in the year-to-date. "At the same time, Lonmin has been hit by the broader resources boom in South Africa, which has pushed up wage inflation, the price of power and the value of the country's currency. Throw in an illegal strike at its Karee operations - which caused Lonmin to cut its 2011 production target - rising aluminium supply and concern about the outlook for the global economy and it's not surprising that, in common with its mining rivals, the group has seen its shares tumble." The column nevertheless says that the long-term outlook looks good and gives the miner a hold recommendation.Despite Vodafone's potential in India being huge, the Tempus column in the Times has its doubts. The first is that returns have been paltry despite the huge capital expenditure. The paper says that earnings have also been held back by a price war, typical for a market with 15 operators, ("although there are signs this is abating"). "There is a £1.6 billion tax dispute with the Indian authorities, result unquantifiable. The main uncertainty is over regulation. For example, those 15 are not yet allowed to merge. This has to happen and will happen, and forthcoming telecoms legislation may clarify this," the paper says. "For Vodafone investors, the appeal is 5 per cent-plus yield for this year, even before February's 4p-a-share special payment from Verizon, which is 45 per cent-owned by Vodafone," the Times says.