Globally diversified miner Anglo American PLC (AAL.LN) Friday reported mixed output with copper, diamond, and nickel output up but iron ore down and platinum output broadly flat on year in the third quarter.

Anglo American, the world's fifth largest diversified miner by market capitalization, said iron-ore output fell 24% on year and 16% on quarter to 9.5 million metric tons, while copper production rose 32% on year and 13% on quarter to 207,300 tons in the third quarter. Iron ore and copper accounted for about half and a fifth of the company's underlying operating profit during the first half of this year.

The FTSE-100 miner produced more iron ore and copper just as prices for both commodities rebounded in the third quarter from their lows in the second quarter. Iron ore and copper prices recovered amid growing optimism that China, the world's largest consumer of the two products, can achieve a soft landing. China released data Friday showing that its economy expanded by around 7.8% in the third quarter, in line with economists' expectations.