IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Talks end

Macarthur Coal Ltd, in takeover talks with ArcelorMittal, said discussions with the world's largest steelmaker ended without a proposal for a transaction being put to its board.

"We welcome ArcelorMittal as a substantial shareholder and look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with them as a major customer," Keith De Lacy, chairman of Brisbane-based Macarthur, said yesterday.