Richard (Rick) Mills, Ahead of the herdIn the 1960s, French politician Val?ry d'Estaing complained that the United States enjoyed an "exorbitant privilege" due to the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency. He had a point.Because the dollar is the world's currency, the US can borrow cheaper than it could otherwise (lower interest rates), US banks and companies can conveniently do cross-...Read More

Stewart Thomson, Graceland Updates 1. I said yesterday morning that amidst all the Corona War mayhem, a move over $1550 for gold would be incredibly positive.2. Please click here now. Double-click to enlarge this spectacular gold chart. $1550 is now support!3. Please click here now. In what is arguably the most horrific act in the history of the United States, and ce...Read More

By Daniel R. Amerman, CFAThe United States is currently reeling, as much of the nation shuts down in the attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. We can only hope for the best when it comes to the containment of the medical crisis, and the lives of so many people in the U.S. and around the world.At the same time, the economic future of the nation - and financial futures of the savers, i...Read More

In times of expansion, it is to the hare the prizes go. Quick, risk taking, and bold, his qualities are exactly suited to the times. In periods of contraction, the tortoise is favored. Slow and conservative, quick only to retract his vulnerable head and neck, his is the wisest bet when the slow and sure is preferable to the quick and easy. Every so often, however, there comes a time when neit...Read More

By Gary SavageMar 23, 2020https://blog.smartmoneytrackerpremium.com/Read More

To My Readers:I have sent the following note to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Holman Jenkins of the Wall Street Journal. It is a MUCH better idea than squandering $2 trillion sending out checks to...EVERYBODY. Here is what the President needs to do. Please forward this to your Congressman if you agree:President Trump needs to mobilize the Army to set up Civil Conservation Corps/WPA-type work c...Read More

German steelmakers Saarstahl and Dillinger - both part of Stahl Holding Saar (SHS) holdings - reported a big decline in their respective full-year earnings for 2019 due to tough market conditions hampering demand for steel products, the company said on Tuesday, March 24In brief Saarstahl recorded a sharp drop of pre-tax earnings in 2019 due to a downturn in steel demand, persistent global overcapa...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 24 that are worth another look. India is entering a 21-day lockdown period to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic, but the production of essential commodities will continue.Freeport-McMoRan has declared force majeure on near-term sales agreements for its Cerro Verde mine in Peru, according to...Read More

A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday March 24.Please click on...Read More

Ferrous scrap prices in Mexico increased in the week ended Friday March 20 on a strong currency devaluation which made the material more expensive in pesos, while steelmakers were building inventories before scrap runs out amid global lockdowns.At least two major steel producers bid for scrap at prices 200-300 pesos ($8-12) above those of the previous week. But the increase was not enough to offs...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil have been fairly stable across Europe due to the limited trading activity, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday March 24.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?474.00 ($508.63) per tonne on Tuesday, up by ?,?1 per tonne from ?,?473.00 per tonne ex-works on March 23.Wednesday's index was calculated based on offers and...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 24 that are worth another look. India is entering a 21-day lockdown period to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic, but the production of essential commodities will continue.Freeport-McMoRan has declared force majeure on near-term sales agreements for its Cerro Verde mine in Peru, according to...Read More

The three-month London Metal Exchange tin price has fallen by more than 33% since the start of the year, rendering it the laggard among its peers in a market-wide sell-off that has seen commodity prices tumble. The LME's smallest market however, which today boasts an open interest count of just 19,041 active positions - a three-month low - has some way to go before price recovery, according to mar...Read More

Aluminium prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hit fresh multi-year lows this week amid persistently weak demand from consumers in China and abroad and a worsening novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic - a dynamic that market participants expect will continue in the coming quarter.The front-month aluminium contract on the SHFE closed at 11,310 yuan ($1,593) per tonne on Monday March 23, down b...Read More

LME three-month base metals prices staged a partial rebound at the close on Tuesday March 24, seemingly buoyed by news that China has moved from 'total lockdown' to the 'recovery phase' in the fight against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic.The news looks to have increased market confidence in LME base metals to a certain degree, although the complex still ended the day mixed at the...Read More

Aluminium stocks on the London Metal Exchange have risen by 16% over the past week, with market participants taking a risk-off approach due to weak physical demand and concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.On-warrant aluminium stocks on the LME now sit at 929,675 tonnes, up from 798,200 tonnes at this time last week. More than 120,000 tonnes were delivered between March 19 and March 24.The major...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices strengthened on Tuesday March 24 after a massive drop of nearly $7 per tonne the previous day, with market participants awaiting clarity on the impact of the 21-day lockdown in South Africa on iron ore operations in the country. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $83.97 per tonne, up $2.90 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $85.50 per ton...Read More

India is entering a 21-day lockdown period to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic, but the production of essential commodities will continue.In an address to the nation, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said that the lockdown was effective from midnight local time, 18:30 London time."For the past two days, many parts of the country have been locked down. From m...Read More

LME three-month base metals prices staged a partial rebound at the close on Tuesday March 24, seemingly buoyed by news that China has moved from 'total lockdown' to the 'recovery phase' in the fight against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic.The news looks to have increased market confidence in LME base metals to a certain degree, although the complex still ended the day mixed at the...Read More

The Midwest aluminium premium in the United States fell on Tuesday March 24 to its lowest level since early February 2018, pressured by heightened uncertainty and manufacturing disruptions as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, market participants said.Fastmarkets assessed the aluminium P1020A premium, ddp Midwest US at 11.5-13.5 cents per lb on March 24, down by 2 cents on the low en...Read More