Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday November 18 that are worth another look.China will remove its prohibition on the "processing trade" for 136 steel products from December 1, 2020, the country's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said last week.Alba chief...Read More

If we experience the same type of demand next year, we will enter a silver market like never before. While that may sound like hype, the CLUES... by Steve St Angelo of SRSrocco ReportThe Silver Market is just one step away from another MASSIVE BUYING WAVE and is just waiting for the next leg to drop in the global economy and financial system to do so. With silver investment demand to account fo...Read More

Why is the US Mint telling people there is a coin shortage...?!?by Bix Weir of Road to RootaWhen will we ever get the Truth out of our Government and Regulators as it relates to silver and gold? They have been LYING to We the People for over 100 years and it's long past time they TOLD THE TRUTH! We are in the Final days of silver price manipulation after 150 years so hang on for the SILVER MOONSHO...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices were up slightly on Wednesday November 18 after authorities removed emergency pollution controls in the steelmaking hub of Tangshan, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $126.34 per tonne, up $0.90 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $126.58 per tonne, up $0.59 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $1...Read More

There's a lot going on in the financial markets right now...Michael Pento interviewed by Chris Marcus of Arcadia EconomicsThere's a lot going on in the financial markets right now, and the well-renownedMichael Pento joined me on the show to share what he's seeing, how he's responding to the election from an investment standpoint, and what he sees for gold and silver in 2021.To find out more, click...Read More

Seaborne premium hard coking coal fob and cfr prices diverged on Wednesday November 18 due to the ongoing restriction on Australian coking coal, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $98.87 per tonne, down $1.51 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $156.23 per tonne, up $1.90 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $91.78 per tonne, down $3.72 per tonneHard c...Read More

The metals were looking robust this morning, Wednesday November 18, and for the most part are managing to drive higher despite concerns about the rapid spread of Covid-19 and some mixed economic data of late.Asian Pacific equities were mixed this morning, as were major western equity indices on Tuesday......but major western equity indices are weaker this morning, suggesting some concern about the...Read More

RAPAPORT... Sotheby's will sell five natural-diamond pendants created for De Beers' new ReSet Collective project, with the proceeds going to charity, the auction house said Wednesday.Five jewelry designers created the pieces using natural diamonds from De Beers mines as part of the first collaboration in the ReSet series. Sotheby's will offer the items at its online London Fine Jewels sale, which...Read More

RAPAPORT... Retail sales at US conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway rose 4% year on year to $4.21 billion in the third quarter as business resumed following coronavirus-related lockdowns.The company owns Borsheims, Helzberg Diamonds and Ben Bridge Jeweler, but derives around 65% of its retail revenues from its car dealership, Berkshire Hathaway Automotive. It does not provide specific data for its...Read More

RAPAPORT... Frederick Goldman has appointed Lauren Calmas as general manager of the independent-jeweler channel of its business. Calmas will be responsible for growing the newly created business-to-business (B2B) division for small e-commerce sellers, Frederick Goldman said Monday. She will also be in charge of creating the go-to-market strategy and all marketing and sales activity in the ind...Read More

An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Fastmarkets has reworked the market reports...Read More

RAPAPORT... US retail sales rose for the sixth straight month in October as consumers began shopping for the holidays earlier than last year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) noted.Overall retail sales grew 5.7% compared to the same period last year, and 0.3% from the previous month, according to figures the US Census Bureau released Tuesday. The month-on-month figure represents a slight slowd...Read More

(IDEX Online) - A team of jewelers have completed the world's most expensive fully-functioning face mask, set with 210 carats of black and white diamonds. Yvel, the luxury Israeli brand, was commissioned by an anonymous Los Angeles-based businessman and art collector, who was keen to help keep the production center open during difficult times. The COVID-19 mask is made of 250 grams of pure 18...Read More

RAPAPORT... De Beers' November sales cycle garnered $450 million as retail demand in the US and China supported manufacturers' appetite for rough, the company reported Wednesday.The monthly total, covering the period from November 2 to 16, was 13% higher than the equivalent cycle in 2019, but lower than the $467 million the miner grossed at its previous sale in September."Steady demand for De...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The Watches and Wonders Geneva trade show, due to take place next April, has been canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. The show - formerly known as SIHH - will take place as a digital-only events, say organizers, with Richemont's watch labels, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chopard, Chanel, Hermes and Kering's Ulysse Nardin, plus other brands.  It is scheduled for 7 t...Read More

Prices for hollow steel sections in Europe remained unchanged over the past week, despite the continuing feedstock shortage, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 18.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?640-660 ($759-783) per tonne on Wednesday, flat week on week.The price of the feedstock material, hot-rolled coil, has mov...Read More

(IDEX Online) - De Beers sold $450m of rough this month as demand remained "steady".Provisional sales figures for Sightholder sales and auctions during an extended Cycle 9 (2 to 16 November) were marginally down on the September/October (Cycle 8) total of $467m. But year-on-year the figure was up from $400m in 2019.De Beers said increasing COVID-19 infections continued to present risks, but it exp...Read More

Shanghai nickel premiums fell in the week to Tuesday November 17 while rates on briquette in the United States again succumbed to pressure from intense competition for business in the spot market.Chinese premiums fall as arbitrage losses worsenDeclining spot offers push US briquette premium lowerEuropean buyers see ample supply; ride out LME volatilityShanghai full-plate premiums fall, their first...Read More

US tin premiums rose in the week to Tuesday November 17, buoyed by a surge in LME prices, tight supply and resurgent spot demand. US premiums climb for first time since Sept 22 Price swings convince European market participants to adopt wait-and-see stanceChina market stagnant amid big discounts, scant import activityUS offers increaseTin premiums rose in the United States on reduced supply, a par...Read More

Alba chief executive officer Ali Al Baqali tells Fastmarkets special correspondent Andrea Hotter about his long and hard path to the top and outlines the company's strategy in the current challenging global climate for primary aluminium producers.Ali Al Baqali was fishing with his brother-in-law when he noticed a large silo structure in a terminal at a distance. He could make out a logo on the sid...Read More