Just before the hunt begins, thehunter needs to be sure its prey feels safe. Will we see a promising short-termrally in gold?After the USD Index reasserted itsdominance once again, its bellowing howl sent shivers down the spine ofcurrency traders. When the U.S. Dollar Index is on the hunt, the preciousmetals are often its prey. The alpha wolf is poised to lead the pack over themedium term, and the...Read More

Turkish prices for various flat steel products moved both upward and downward during June, with the future for the prices seeming to be unsure because of the broader global market uncertainty, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday July 1.The main reasons for this were that the traditionally slow summer season has started in most countries, China has not yet announced the rate for its planned export...Read More

Home prices are surging, making some investors worry about the housing market. These fears seem to be exaggerated, but bubble-like conditions are widespread.House prices are surging. As the chart below shows, the S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index has reached 239 in February 2021, the highest number in history and about 30% higher than during the 2006 peak. What’s more, the...Read More

When gold stock bulls complain about a “smack down”, a “hit” or a “smash” against the poor gold stock sector what they should be thinking about is what a relatively small market the gold stock universe is compared to the multitude of galaxies populated by cyclical and risk on stocks and commodities and the massive bond market. The gold stock sector’s noise...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday July 1 that are worth another look.Brazilian exports of iron ore rose by 12.19% in June this year compared with the corresponding month of 2020, despite Vale closing down part of a large complex in southeastern Brazil, according to...Read More

Powell’s testimony to Congress failed in generating a rebound in gold prices; thus, the bearish trend could continue.On Tuesday (June 22) the Fed Chair testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, U.S. House of Representatives . Before Powell’s appearance in Congress, there were some hopes that he would soften the Fed’s hawkish signals from the previous wee...Read More

The German subsidiary of Blackstone Resources AG is to increase its lithium-ion battery production capacity tenfold, the company said.According to the Switzerland-based holding company, Blackstone Technology will increase its lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity to 500 MWh per year at its D??beln site in Saxony by 2022. The batteries are made using the company's own 3D-printing...Read More

Fed pumped so much money into thefinancial system, that the latter started sending it back. How will this andFed’s more hawkish tone impact gold?With Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S.Federal Reserve (FED), testifying before Congress on Jun. 22, his preparedremarks signaled that the FED remains on autopilot. Despite saying that “jobgains should pick up in coming months as vaccinations...Read More

Aqua Metals has signed a letter of intent with ACME Metal Enterprise to deploy and license the US company's lead recycling equipment at its facility in Keelung, Taiwan, the companies said.The agreement gives the two companies 60 days to finalize the deal and includes terms for licensing and a phased deployment of Aqua Metals' AquaRefining technology, which is a room temperature, water-based proces...Read More

Sector expert Michael Ballanger explains how recent statements by the Federal Reserve could prove hazardous to one's wealth. In the past week, precious metals investors, speculators and traders have been forced to apply all kinds of salves, balms and ointments to jangled nerves, rattled resolve and battered net worth statements, all directly the result of an unexpected shift in the official narrat...Read More

Indonesia - the world's biggest tin exporter - is imposing a partial lockdown from July 3 to July 20 due to the country's surge in Covid-19 infections.The lockdown will begin just days after neighboring Malaysia - the world's second-biggest tin exporter - extended its pandemic-related lockdown, which was supposed to end on June 28.Both lockdowns come during an acute global shortage of tin that has...Read More

The move away fromthe Federal Reserve Note as the global reserve currency of choice has continuedin recent years, with fresh developments increasing the greenback’s stiffcompetition. This has led tomassive central bank buying of gold, and that trend appears set to continue in2021. According to a recent report from the World Gold Council, 21% of globalcentral banks plan to purchase gold this...Read More

The recent Fed’s hawkish turn is fundamentally negative for gold prices but there is still some hope.The hawkish counter-revolution within the Fed continues. On Friday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said that the recent FOMC shift towards a faster tightening of monetary policy was a natural response to faster economic growth and higher inflation than anticipated:We were expecting a g...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday July 1 that are worth another look.Brazilian exports of iron ore rose by 12.19% in June this year compared with the corresponding month of 2020, despite Vale closing down part of a large complex in southeastern Brazil, according to...Read More

We’re already in the middle of a hydrogen boom. It’s projected to become a $175-billion market in just five years … and anunimaginable $11 trillion by 2050. But there’s a parallel boom that may be even more lucrative forinvestors …It goes hand-in-hand with hydrogen, yet it’s safer and moreefficient to store in large quantities.  It could absolutely troun...Read More

China's tungsten market is experiencing a tight supply of concentrate and ammonium paratungstate (APT), pushing prices for both products upward and leading some participants to expect the market to begin a new uptrend.The supply shortage has forced Chinese APT exporters to either raise their offer prices or suspend trading entirely.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for tungsten APT 88.5% WO3 mi...Read More

Strong gains for the US dollar, and manufacturing data out of Japan and China that was weaker than expected, sent base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange lower on Thursday July 1, with zinc leading the complex downward.The US Dollar Index hit a high of 92.55 on Thursday, the highest since April 6 and up by 0.8% since the start of the week.But the three-month price for zinc was down by 1.2%...Read More

Iron ore prices went up on Thursday July 1 and there was market chatter about a crude steel production limit for 2021 in certain Chinese provinces, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $219.32 per tonne, up $5.24 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.75 per tonne, up $3.90 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $182.51 per...Read More

Strong US market driving short-term confidence. Polished prices continue upward momentum with good demand and supply shortages. High rough prices supporting polished discounts following June hikes at Alrosa and De Beers. The trade expects 3Q seasonal lull but remains optimistic for holiday season. Dealers cautious about buying at current levels. US jewelers working with less inventory amid store c...Read More

RAPAPORT... After a year and a half as head of the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), most in the industry know David Kellie via Zoom, with the soothing cream-grey surroundings of his study in the background. Covid-19 prevented any formal, in-person introductions that may have been made, for example, when the organization rebranded in June last year.Perhaps that pandemic-enforced isolation afford...Read More