A federal judge in New York temporarily...

A federal judge in New York temporarily halted Minerals & Resources Corp.’s $4.9-billion bid for Britain’s Consolidated Gold Fields PLC, stating such a takeover could decrease competition in the world’s gold market. Britain’s Cons Gold owns 49.3% of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp., the leading U.S. gold producer. Cons Gold believes that a takeover by the Luxembourg-based Minorco would imperil U.S. access to gold and strategic minerals. Minorco is 60% owned by Anglo American Corp. of South Africa and DeBeers Consolidated Mines Ltd.