- Nearly EUR1 trillion in non-performing loans poses risks to European banks'- Greece has highest non-performing loans as a share of total credit- Italy has the biggest pile of bad debt in absolute terms- Bad debt in Italy is still "a major problem" which has to be addressed - ECB- Level of bad loans in Italy remains above that seen before the financial crisis- Deposits in banks in Greece, Cyp...Read More

CloseGain/LossGold $1330.70-$18.00Silver$16.47-$0.21XAU80.83-2.89%HUI178.98-3.23%GDM614.69-2.70%JSE Gold1152.60-41.04USD89.71+0.56Euro123.37-0.75Yen93.37-0.63Oil$61.79+$0.2410-Year2.881%+0.010T-Bond143.9375-0.0625Dow24964.75-1.01%Nasdaq7234.31-0.07%S&P2716.26-0.58% The Metals: Gold waffled near unchanged in holiday thinned trade yesterday before it fell $13.20 to as low as $1335.50 at abou...Read More

- Nearly EUR1 trillion in non-performing loans poses risks to European banks'- Greece has highest non-performing loans as a share of total credit- Italy has the biggest pile of bad debt in absolute terms- Bad debt in Italy is still "a major problem" which has to be addressed - ECB- Level of bad loans in Italy remains above that seen before the financial crisis- Deposits in banks in Greece, Cyp...Read More

* Dollar index steadies after bounce from 3-year lows* Eyes on Fed minutes and U.S. debt auctions * Dollar/yen may consolidate after recent slide -trader By Masayuki KitanoSINGAPORE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The dollar steadied against a basket of currencies on Wednesday, having pulled up from three-year lows set last week as traders shaved off some of the bearish bets against the U.S. currency.The doll...Read More

* Results-based optimism overshadowed by U.S. caution* Materials offset gains in other sectors* BHP falls sharply after H1 results By Aaron SaldanhaFeb 21 - Australian shares slipped on Wednesday as nervousness spillingover from U.S. markets overshadowed positive earnings news from many domestic companies, while index heavyweight BHP fell hard after reporting its half-year results on Tuesday. The...Read More

By Wayne ColeSYDNEY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australian wages rose a fraction faster last quarter but private-sector growth stayed near historic lows as penny-pinching by business became an ever-greater deadweight on consumer spending and inflation. The local dollar edged up only a touch to $0.7892 as the report was not nearly strong enough to make a rise in interest rates any more likely this year.Wed...Read More

(Repeats with no changes. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters)* CME Aluminium Premium Futures: * U.S. Imports of Primary Aluminium: * U.S. Imports of Semis: By Andy HomeLONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Commerce has "found that the quantities and circumstances of steel and aluminum imports" threaten to "impair the national se...Read More

(Corrects location for Rob Thummel, portfolio manager at energy investment manager Tortoise Capital in Leawood, Kansas in paragraph 14.)* UAE: OPEC, allies to study long-term cooperation in June* Genscape says crude at Cushing hub falls 2.1 mln bbls- trade* OPEC research head: oil pact has cut surplus to 74 mln bbls* Dollar index hits six-day high, weighs on oil* U.S. crude stocks seen higher for...Read More

(Recasts headline. No changes to text.)By Manolo Serapio Jr and Ruby LianMANILA/SHANGHAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - China's steel producers are eager to unleash their mills' capacity when this winter's output curbs end next month, hoping for a repeat of last year's record profits based on high margins and less competition as outdated plants were closed. China shut down up to half of its steel production...Read More

TORONTO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ontario's Liberals, the ruling party in Canada's most populous province, introduced legislation on Tuesday that would give officials authority to retaliate against U.S. states that institute "Buy American" procurement policies.The Fairness in Procurement Act would give Ontario's government authority "to take responsive action to address unfair government...Read More

Feb 21 (Reuters) - For other diaries, please see:Top Economic Events Polling Unit Diary Today in Washington Political and General News DATECOUNTRY AUCTION DETAILS21-FebUnited States Sale of 2-year floating rate notes21-FebUnited States Sale of 5-year notes21-FebSwedenAuction of government bonds22-FebUnited States Sale of 7-year notes22-FebJapan 3-month discount bill auction22-FebJapan Auction of 2...Read More

Feb 21 (Reuters) - For other diaries, please see:Top Economic Events Government Debt Auctions Political and General News Events Index of All Diaries Guide to Economic Indicators -----------------------------------------------------------This Diary is filed daily. ** Indicates new events ----------------------------------------------------------- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 WARSAW - National Bank of Pola...Read More

Feb 21 (Reuters) -For other diaries, please see:U.S. Federal Reserve Polling Unit Diary Today in Washington Political and General News -----------------------------------------------------------This Diary is filed daily. ** Indicates new events ----------------------------------------------------------- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21LONDON - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, Deputy Governor Ben Broadb...Read More

* Interim profit slides 44 pct to $681 mln* Fortescue's ore sold at 32 pct discount to benchmark price* Sticks to FY18 iron ore cost target at $11-$12/WMT* Shares fall more than 4 pct (Adds results details, CEO comment)MELBOURNE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australia's Fortescue Metals Group reported a 44 percent drop in first-half profit, hit by weak prices for its lower quality iron ore, and paid a weak...Read More

SEOUL, Feb 21 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank chief said on Wednesday the Bank of Korea is prepared to respond to any negative impact fromfaster-than-expected policy tightening in the U.S."If (the Fed moves) faster than expected, it will immediately impact international financial markets and also domestic markets as well, so we're prepared to respond to such a scenario," Governor...Read More

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 16, 2018) - Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (TSX:OR)(NYSE:OR) (Read full newsRead More

(Repeats story that ran on Feb 20)* Kuroda's reappointment signals policy status quo* Reflationist deputy, Wakatabe, wants more bond buying* Wakatabe may oppose attempts to dial back stimulus* But other deputy, Amamiya, may wield more influence over policy By Leika KiharaTOKYO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The incoming Bank of Japan leadership looks similar to the one going out but its mission ahead will...Read More

Minera Alamos (MAI.V) and Corex Gold (CGE.V) announced earlier this week both companies have entered into a merger agreement, creating a larger Mexico-focused entity with three relatively advanced stage gold projects. Minera Alamos is planning to issue 0.95 new shares of MAI for every share of Corex Gold, which will ...Read full newsRead More

As an energy bear market weighs on the TSX, investors are missing out on techRead full newsRead More

Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTC Pink: ELYGF) ('Ely Gold' or the 'Company') through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ('Nevada Select') is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive option agreement with Intermont Exploration LLC., ('Intermont') a Nevada limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of F...Read More