Gold has big year in 2020 and outlook for this year robust. Learn about monetary expansion and gold future prices.Read More
The gold futures price reached US$1,767/ounce this week before retreating, which was the second time it has surpassed US$1,760 in the past two months, marking some of gold's highest levels in several years.Read More
The world's largest new copper mine rumbled to a start this week in the Panamanian jungle, poised to supply a global market that's tipping into deficit and gives First Quantum Minerals Ltd. a chance to prove its $10 billion investment was worth all the trouble.Cobre Panama, a vast mining and processing complex near Panama's Atlantic coast, processed its first ore on Monday, a half century after th...Read More
The price of copper declined for a fifth day in a row on Thursday despite trade data showing Chinese imports of the orange metal growing at a record-setting pace.Copper for delivery in March hit a low of $2.7535 per pound ($6,070 a tonne) in early trading on the Comex market in New York, down more than 3% in a week.China consumes half the world's copper, and trade data released on Thursday showed...Read More
OSLO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Norway's government approved on Thursday the building of a copper mine near Europe's northernmost point despite years of opposition from indigenous Sami herders and fishermen.Norway's decision on the copper mine has been viewed as a litmus test for the Arctic, where climate change and technology are enabling mineral and energy extraction, shipping and tourism, but threaten...Read More
Sierra Metals (TSX: SMT) is one step closer to expanding its Yauricocha mine in Peru.This week, the miner reported the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the expansion of the tailings deposition facility at the polymetallic mine.The positive answer follows an initial negative issued in December 2016 by Peru's National Environmental Certification Service to Sierra's subsidia...Read More
Domestic buyers of hot-rolled coil (HRC) in Northern Europe have been resisting attempts to raise offer prices this week, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday February 14.Transaction prices, however, were expected to rise in the near future, supported by higher offers for imported coil and increases in raw material costs, according to market participants."Prices have stabilized. The mills [in Nort...Read More
Detailed data for Chinese trade is still not available, but there are indications that the East Asian country may have become the biggest importer of pig iron in Asia last year, according to Fastmarkets' research team.We pointed out in June last year that the Chinese import pig iron market might revive to fill the widening gap between iron and steel production in China, alongside ferrous scrap.Hon...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday February 14 that are worth another look.The Singapore Exchange said its new high-grade iron ore futures, which are settled against the Fastmarkets MB 65% Fe Iron Ore Index, have seen over 3 million tonnes worth of transactions since its December 3 launch involving 30 market participants. There are indications that China mi...Read More
Global copper demand will outpace supply growth or at least stay in a tight balance for at least two to three years, according to the chief executive officer of Brazilian copper producer Paranapanema, Marcos Camara. "Even with concentrators expected to start operating in the next years, demand should keep growing at a healthy speed and there is a large number of mines heading to depletion around t...Read More
Proposed surface facilities for the Rook I property. (Image: NexGen Energy)SASKATCHEWAN - NexGen Energy of Vancouver has compiled a report on the pilot holes for shaft development and additional exploration drilling of the Arrow uranium deposit at its Rook I project near Patterson Lake in the Athabasca Basin.Three shaft pilot holes were drilled to between 650 and 702 metres and within a 6-metre su...Read More
The US copper price failed to rebound on Thursday morning in the United States, while market participants hold back from being too optimistic about recent developments in US and Chinese trade talks.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped 0.65 cents to $2.7665 per lb.Positive sentiment surrounding US-China trade is also beginning to man...Read More
The copper industry's next major mine is a step closer to bringing its first tonnes to market.First Quantum has started crushing and milling ore at its Cobre Panama mine, which is targeting 150,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate production this year, starting in the first quarter.The mine, which is set to ramp up to 270,000-300,000 tonnes per year in 2020 and 350,000 tpy...Read More
Access our research platformsSign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research, our latest insight, data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts.What does tight oil have in common with Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet's Google stocks (known as FAANG stocks)? Answer: tight oil is arguably the upstream equivalent of these tech sector leaders. It's the hot investment...Read More
Teck Resources' zinc business became less profitable in 2018 because of falling sales and declines in commodity prices, according to its annual earnings statement released on Wednesday February 13. Last year, the Canadian miner made a gross profit before amortization and depreciation of C$1.085 billion ($817.73 million) from the zinc business, down by 7.5% year on year.The company, which operates...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher during morning trading on Thursday February 14, with positive market sentiment emerging amid stronger than expected Chinese trade data, while US-China trade talks indicate a potential resolution.Climbing just under 1% this morning, copper's three-month price continues to trade comfortably above $6,100 per tonne, while LME stocks co...Read More
Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Thursday February 14* Copper -$156.15 (-1,058.81 yuan) Aluminium -$342.76 (-2,324.25 yuan) Zinc -$90.88 (-616.27 yuan) Nickel -$193.53 (-1,312.29 yuan) *Fastmarkets calculates the physical arbitrage for import into China daily by using SHFE front-month and LME...Read More
Polished market improving, with suppliers selling at lower pricesto generate liquidity. Rough trading cautious as high rough prices and weakpolished continue to squeeze midstream profits. Shortages of top-make goods dueto reduced manufacturing, but large inventory of leftover lower-qualitydiamonds. Chinese government reports retail sales +9% during 7-day Lunar NewYear holiday. High-end luxury robu...Read More
Dealers preparing for Hong Kong show, stimulatingbetter activity in Bharat Diamond Bourse. Overseas buyers interested in 0.30 to2 ct., H-K, VS2-I1 stones. Little buzz around IIJS Signature fair, but steadygold jewelry market for wedding season. Liquidity concerns amid bankruptcyrumors of small-scale manufacturers. Polished production levels remainrestrained. RoundRead More
RAPAPORT... Pandora has named veteran consumer-brand executive AlexanderLacik as its CEO, as it seeks to transform the company following weak sales. "Alexander is a brilliant marketer and brand architect, andhas throughout his career shown himself as a great leader and a highlyeffective executor," Pandora chairman Peder Tuborgh said. "His skills andexperience will be key to revitalizing the Pandor...Read More
RAPAPORT... Indian diamond manufacturer Asian Star's sales and profitdeclined in the third fiscal quarter, the company said Wednesday. Group revenue dropped 24% year on year to INR 7.93 billion($111.7 million) in the three months ending December 31. Net profit plummeted63% to INR 181.6 million ($2.6 million). Revenue from diamond sales, Asian Star's largest division,dropped 27% to INR 6.94 b...Read More
RAPAPORT... The RapaportGroup is pleased to announce our trade mission to Surat, India. This mission willprovide an opportunity for members of the diamond-and-jewelry trade to gainfirst-hand knowledge of the diamond supply chain. Surat ishome to an estimated 500,000 diamond cutters, who manufacture over 90% of theworld's polished diamonds. Participants will experience the real diamondmarket at the...Read More