With the Chinese economy slowing down and steel margins being squeezed by higher raw materials costs and lower finished steel prices, the prospects for 2018 do not exactly look rosy.But pressures on the domestic housing market are easing and industrial growth is still above 6%, so with the Chinese New Year just around the corner, it's probably best to wait until after the celebrations to...Read More

Getting the right timeframe and adopting the correct investment planning approach are key differentiators between good and bad mining, according to Alcoa Corp's top executive. Companies have different approaches to mining, with some having very positive results and others relatively poor ones, Alcoa chief executive officer Roy Harvey said. "It gets back to how you think about those timescales invo...Read More

Shares in Australian zinc tailings processor New Century Resources halted trading on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Monday February 5, with the company set to announce offtake partners for the next three years of production.New Century has reduced the number of potential backers of the project to just a handful of international trading houses, several sources with knowledge of the matter s...Read More

RAPAPORT... Fancy color diamond prices were flat in 2017, signaling someweakness in pink and yellow diamonds during the year, according to the FancyColor Research Foundation (FCRF). The overall index for fancy color diamonds edged up 0.1%,with fancy pink diamonds declining 0.8% and yellows down 1.8%, the organizationsaid. Fancy blue diamonds continued to outperform with their index, rising 5.9%dur...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher at the 5pm close on Monday February 5 although lead again bucked the trend.The three-month copper price rallied to a high of $7,220 per tonne earlier, hitting a fresh three-week peak. Despite retreating slightly this afternoon, the metal still closed $125 per tonne higher than Friday's close. "A previously strong flow of material i...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Fancy color diamond prices posted a slight rise in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the previous quarter, according to The Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF).   There were significant increases in prices of fancy blue diamonds, offset by continued softness in fancy yellow diamonds and stagnation in fancy pink diamond prices, the FCRF said.   The Fancy Color Diamond In...Read More

RAPAPORT... Anthony Capuano (pictured) has retired from his role as president of TheJewelers Board of Trade (JBT) after 17 years with the group, it said Friday. Capuano began his career with the JBT as a board director in2000, and was appointed president in April 2016, replacing Dione Kenyon. "We would like to thank Tony for his service to The JewelersBoard of Trade, and the jewelry industry...Read More

CAPE TOWN (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s ability to revitalise crucial infrastructure, especially rail and port networks, is among the key actions needed to bring investment back into the South African mining industry, Anglo American South Africa deputy chairperson Norman Mbazima said on Monday.Speaking on the first day of the Investing in African Mining Indaba, in which Creamer M...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Gem Diamonds achieved an average price of $2,217 per carat for its fourth quarter ending 31 December, up 19% from the third quarter, aided by a strong rise sales and the recovery of many diamonds greater than 100 carats at its Letseng mine in Lesotho.   It sold 31,476 carats during the period, up 21% from 25,909 carats in Q3 2017, and recovered seven gem quality diamonds great...Read More

Tungsten prices have climbed higher in both Europe and China in the past week on tightening availability of raw material ahead of the week-long national holiday in China beginning on February 15. China's tungsten prices rebound amid low availability  European APT, ferro-tungsten prices increase on tightening raw material supply, currency fluctuations  The approaching Chinese New Year is...Read More

RAPAPORT... A jeweler in Idaho has sued Zales, claiming the retailerused its name in online advertisements to redirect customers to zales.com.During the November 2016 Black Friday season, Googlesearches for Jensen Jewelers returned a paid result at the top of the list thatshowed Jensen's name, followed by a promotion and the address "zales.com,"Jensen alleged in court documents. The Google AdWords...Read More

CAPE TOWN (miningweekly.com) – There is a new sense of hope in the mining industry and in South Africa, says Chamber of Mines (CoM) CEO Roger Baxter.“It gives us a new confidence that a resurgence is taking place in the industry for the year ahead,” said Baxter, who spoke at a media briefing at the Investing in African Mining Indaba, on Monday.AdvertisementBaxter enthused that, &...Read More

(IDEX Online) - WD Lab Grown Diamonds announced that it has created a six-carat round diamond "that now stands as the world's only known lab- made CVD diamond of its size and shape" using its patented technology.   The gem stone was grown at the company's facility located just outside Washington, DC in a secure lab that produces diamonds for the gem stone market as well as industria...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The Indian diamond industry will have to adjust to higher taxes after the government announced a rise in import taxes on polished diamonds to 5% from 2.5%.   The announcement was made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during his budget speech to Parliament at the end of last week.   The tax will be applicable on natural and laboratory-grown polished diamonds, as well as co...Read More

The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Monday February 5.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were largely consolidating during morning trading today after a broadly negative performance at the end of last week.Here is how the LME...Read More

Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Monday February 5.Base metals prices, with the exception of tin, on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were lower during Asian morning trading on Monday February 5 amid weak investor appetite and a firmer dollar.Nickel prices led on the downside, with follow-through weakness evident in Asia thi...Read More

SHANGHAI, Feb 5 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures saw mixed trading today with rising SHFE tin and zinc. Nickel dropped close to 2% while lead was down 0.79%. Aluminium and copper also edged down.Ferrous futures prices, however, rose across the board with coke almost 5% higher. Coking coal was up over 4% and iron ore was up 2.5%. Both rebar and hot-rolled coil registered small gains.Copper:...Read More

SHANGHAI, Feb 5 (SMM) – The operating rates of zinc smelters in January was up 1 percentage point from levels in December as output resumed at Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet, an SMM survey showed.For February, no new maintenance work has been planned so far but zinc production is set to be lower due to the Chinese New Year holiday. SMM expects the affected output would amount to ove...Read More

SHANGHAI, Feb 5 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures saw mixed trading today with rising SHFE tin and zinc. Nickel dropped close to 2% while lead was down 0.79%. Aluminium and copper also edged down.Ferrous futures prices, however, rose across the board with coke almost 5% higher. Coking coal was up over 4% and iron ore was up 2.5%. Both rebar and hot-rolled coil registered small gains.Copper:...Read More

Next report is scheduled to be released on Monday February 12thThe Bottom LineU.S. equity indices finally started moving lower last week from intermediate overbought levels. Short term technical indicators (momentum, 20 day moving average) turned sharply lower. Intermediate technical indicators remain overbought despite their decline last week, but have yet to show signs of bottoming. Lots of "sel...Read More