Auryn Resources Inc, which is developing the Sombrero copper-gold project in southern Peru, has halted work after recalling all personnel from the field due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic, the company said. The decision was made prior to the Peruvian government mandating a temporary two-week border lockdown, with all work at public institutions also suspended for 15 days. "Such disr...Read More
Despite massive rescue packages announced by governments around the world, equity indices are still falling - as are most of the base metals - this morning, Wednesday March 18.But we are starting to production halts emerge in the metals, so both the demand and supply sides of the supply/demand equation are now likely to be reined in. Although with economic activity in Europe slowing, demand is lik...Read More
How low can oil go?After watching WTI crude tumble another 10% this morning, all bets are off on when we're going to see the bottom.In fact, we haven't seen a barrel of black gold cost so little since September of 2003.A double-edged sword is slicing through the fundamentals in the oil sector, and nobody is given quarter in this price crash.When prices crashed under $30 per barrel, the smart money...Read More
Cobalt sulfate prices fell below 50,000 yuan ($7,131) per tonne on Wednesday March 18, with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside China exacerbating concerns over slower growth in global electric vehicle (EV) production. Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis exw China, dropped to 47,000-49,000 yuan per tonne on Wednesday March 18, down 5.8% from 50...Read More
The feasibility study for an expansion of the currently idled First Cobalt cobalt refinery in Canada continues despite the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, with a restart in the fourth quarter under consideration.The company is contemplating an initial recommissioning of the refinery in partnership with commodities miner and marketer Glencore before expanding production as early as the seco...Read More
Today on INK Ultra Money we tackle a big question facing all investors that we believe will help determine the shape of markets for months if not years to come. The issue is whether policymakers will take steps to halt falling inflation expectations. As the media goes about framing the issue in terms of stimulus for the economy, we believe investors will need to assess government action in terms...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 18 that are worth another look.More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on March 18.The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic is starting to hit mine supply o...Read More
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.The outbreak continues to hamper steel output in Europe with more producers announcing either stoppages or production slowdowns this week, sources said.The largest European steel produce...Read More
The mood in the European hot-rolled coil market has been negative since the announcements of plant closures by a number of major car manufacturers, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.This week, most major European car makers were set to close production units in response to the effects of the spread of 2019-nCoV coronavirus.Market activity, in the meantime, has been low due to risks re...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 18 that are worth another look.More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on March 18.The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic is starting to hit mine supply o...Read More
Wire rod prices and demand in the United States remained steady for the second month in a row, while sources were wary of the potential market impact from the spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Fastmarkets' assessment for steel wire rod (low carbon) industrial quality, fob mill US held at $31-32 per hundredweight ($620-640 per short ton) on Tuesday March 17, unchanged from the previous month. F...Read More
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.The outbreak continues to hamper steel output in Europe with more producers announcing either stoppages or production slowdowns this week, sources said.The largest European steel produce...Read More
Turkish steel producers resumed their deep-sea scrap bookings for April shipment cargoes with prices down sharply, sources said on Wednesday March 18.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a Canadian cargo, comprising 18,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (90:10), 20,000 tonnes of shredded and 12,000 tonnes of plate and structural (P&S) scrap at an average price of $255 per tonne cfr.Market sources cal...Read More
Craig HemkeLate last week, after weeks of holding its own and providing some stability through the worsening coronavirus crisis, the price of COMEX Digital Gold was smashed in a manner not seen since April of 2013. Was this just a natural market reaction? Hardly.The past month has seen truly historic moves in the global equity and fixed income markets. The U.S. stock market has fallen sharply, b...Read More
Richard (Rick) Mills, Ahead of the herdStock markets rebounded on Tuesday, after the White House announced further measures to help Americans and companies hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.The Trump Administration is reportedly considering sending checks to Americans so they have cash to spend during the outbreak.The Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finishing about 6% higher was a welcome respite fro...Read More
Stefan Gleason, Money MetalsThe last few days have been like nothing most of us have ever experienced - or are likely to experience again in our lifetimes.Panic has spread from the streets of Wuhan to the grocery stores of America's heartland, from nursing homes to the Federal Reserve Board, from the stock market to the gold and silver markets.Like other asset classes, the precious metals space...Read More
By: Ira EpsteinGold is trendless, it is looking what to do next. Gold has downside bias with resistances around $1550 and $1615:Read More
Japanese export prices for ferrous scrap have fallen for the third consecutive week, with market conditions expected to deteriorate further in the short term, trading sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel scrap H2 export, fob main port Japan, settled at ?22,000-22,500 ($206-210) per tonne on Wednesday, down by ?500 per tonne week on week from last...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices were up on Wednesday March 18, with Brazilian-origin high-grade fines finding traction among buyers in China.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $91.71 per tonne, up $0.51 per tonne. 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $93.20 per tonne, up $0.81 per tonne 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $80.43 per tonne, up 0.64 per ton...Read More
The Iranian export billet market was largely quiet in the week to Wednesday March 18 while trading activity slowed due to the effects of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic and the approaching Iranian new year holiday - Nowruz - starting March 21.There were no fresh offers of billet from Iranian mills heard in the market this week, Fastmarkets was told.The country's largest billet producer Khouze...Read More