We've previously discussed why one might want to own gold, but another question involves timing one's entry into that volatile market.To that tricky question, Seeking Alpha contributor Ploutos proposes an intriguing approach based on calculating "gold yield.".I find the approach elegant and relevant, and look forward to seeing how this method stands the test of time.Listen on the go! Subscribe to...Read More

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust is a closed-end fund that's designed to generate income by applying a buy-write strategy to more volatile sectors.Gold and gold stocks are rising despite the strong dollar. Oil prices and energy stock performance is lagging.The volatility of gold and energy stocks remains high and this will positively impact GGN's premium income and divid...Read More

"...if this turns into a repeat of what occurred this summer, it could involve some big price changes ahead..."by Ted Butler via Silver SeekI'd like to follow up on an issue I first raised with subscribers last week, namely, the possible reemergence of the silver whale in COMEX silver futures. I want to preface this by openly acknowledging I may be premature in concluding a big buyer has begun to...Read More

SD Outlook: Silver's chart technically looks all sorts of bullish, and silver's fundamentals may prove a little too much for the cartel...Silver does have its work cut out for it.With important data releases beginning today:Wednesday will be a particularly important day in that we get third quarter GDP, but, more importantly, at 2:00 p.m. EST the Fed will release its October FOMC statement and sub...Read More

A summary of the financial results of Swedish iron-ore producer LKAB for the third quarter of 2019.In brief The quarter was characterized by high and stable production, while a slowdown in the iron ore market led to lower delivery volumes and volatile iron ore prices. LKAB's improved earnings mainly reflect higher iron ore prices and a stronger dollar exchange rate.Lower deliveries in the quarter...Read More

CIS producers of steel slab have considered raising their offer prices because their November-casting order books were almost full, although customers were not ready for any price rises, Fastmarkets learnt on Monday October 28.Offers of CIS-origin slab were reported within the range of $375-380 per tonne fob Black Sea at the end of last week, but no customer was willing to accept such a price, con...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday October 28 that are worth another look.The metals industry needs to be smarter and play a bigger part in reducing its carbon footprint over the next decade to thrive in 2020, the chief executive officer of Rio Tinto, Jean-Sebastien Jacques, said.Umicore and Samsung SDI have agreed a multi-year deal whereby the former will supply...Read More

The Indonesian government has brought forward its ban on ore exports, initially to be implemented in 2022 but then advanced to January 2020, and imposed the prohibition with immediate effect on Monday October 28.Exports of raw ore from Indonesia will cease immediately, with any material due to leave the country to be bought by domestic smelters at an internally agreed price, investment agency chie...Read More

Nickel continues to outperform other base and battery-use metals but there is still uncertainty about the emergence of demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, ED & F Man's president of commodity research, Ed Meir, said at a metals seminar for the London Metal Exchange's annual LME Week event on Monday October 28."The EV topic is all the rage at all the different industry conferences right now,...Read More

The premium for aluminium billet in the United States fell to a record low on Friday October 25 due to to continued sluggish demand, while premiums in Europe and Brazil remained under pressure. US premium at record lowEuropean traders holding onto $300 per tonne levelLow spot demand in BrazilThailand premium falls US billet premium drops to all-time lowFastmarkets' aluminium 6063 extrusion billet...Read More

Responsible sourcing is top of the agenda for many companies in the metals space, partly driven by the LME's push for an industry standard, yet an LME Week panel discussion suggested the industry could do so much more. Speaking at an LME Week 2019 discussion on environmental sourcing on Monday October 28, panelists from APG Asset Management, Trafigura and the World Economic Forum set out...Read More

The prospects for global economic growth through to 2024 will be no better than average while trade tensions between the United States and China continue, Citibank's Catherine Mann said at the London Metal Exchange seminar on Monday October 28. "What's happening in global economic growth? Citibank's managing director and global chief economist told delegates in a presentation at the...Read More

The metals industry needs to be smarter and play a bigger part in reducing its carbon footprint over the next decade to thrive in 2020, chief executive officer of Rio Tinto, Jean-Sebastien Jacques, said.The industry needs to be smarter at spotting trends and acting on them, as well as smarter at building new partnerships and connecting with society, Jacques said during his keynote address at the L...Read More

Brazil's largest producer of flat-rolled steel, Usiminas, sees room for a domestic price increase to be implemented before the year-end because the dfegree of parity with import prices has been closer than historical levels, commercial vice-president Miguel Homes said on Friday October 25.While traditionally local steel is sold at a 10% premium over imports, taking into account duties and taxes, t...Read More

Flat-rolled steel import prices were mostly down in South America during the past week, amid bearish sentiment in the region and the continuing global downtrend.Fastmarkets assessed the price for steel hot-rolled coil import, cfr main ports South America, at $450-470 per tonne on Friday October 25, lower on the high end from $450-475 per tonne a week earlier, and at a fresh low for 2019m.Customers...Read More

Fastmarkets has amended the date of its latest steel slab import, cfr Southeast Asia/East Asia price.This price was published on October 28, 2019 but appeared incorrectly with a date of October 27, 2019. The date has now been corrected. Fastmarkets' price book and database have been updated to reflect this change. The price value that was originally published was and is correct.For more informatio...Read More

RAPAPORT... Private industry loan business Delgatto Diamond Finance Fundhas received $100 million in funding from Crestline Investors. Delgatto, which launched in April 2018, provides credit tothe diamond and jewelry industry. To date, the company has financed over 75companies, including diamond wholesalers and traders, jewelry manufacturers,estate-jewelry and watch dealers, and retailers. "...Read More

The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dipped galvanized coil, pre-painted galvanized iron, plate, sheet and other flat steel products. ...Read More

RAPAPORT... Firestone Diamonds is assessing its ability toremain operational, as it struggles with mounting debt and lower prices in theweak market. "From a market perspective, pricing remains subdued,"Firestone CEO Paul Bosma said last week. "The company continues to engage withits debtholders to ensure it can sustain operations through the currentdownturn, and further announcements in this...Read More

RAPAPORT... Lucapa Diamond Company's output rose in the third quarter,as the miner fully transitioned to the higher-grade portions of it Mothae andLulo deposits. The miner recovered 7,007 carats from its Mothae mine inLesotho during the three months ending September 30, exceeding its plan by 30%, itsaid last week. Sales of 4,412 carats from the site, which began commercialproduction in Decemb...Read More