A summary of Rio Tinto's results for the full year 2020, to December 31, and its new emissions reduction goals. In brief Rio Tinto generated $15.9 billion net cash from operating activities in 2020, 6% higher than 2019.The improvement was primarily driven by higher iron ore prices and stability in its operating performance. Rio Tinto's underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 17 that are worth another look.All future new-build vessels to be owned by shipping operator Maersk will have dual-fuel technology installed, allowing either carbon-neutral operations or the use of standard very low sulfur fuel oil...Read More

Nickel premiums in the US and Europe were steady in the week to Tuesday February 17, with both markets broadly stagnant against a well-supported LME three-month nickel price, while Asia's absence from the market saw minimal spot activity.Tight briquette supply sees US market seek alternative products US cut cathode sentiment weakens amid 4x4 uptakeEuropean market laments high price amid stati...Read More

Thyssenkrupp has terminated sale negotiations for its Steel Europe business to Liberty Steel due to different pricing expectations, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday February 17."We opened the door for negotiations, but in the end our ideas about the corporate value and the structure of the transaction were far apart. We have therefore decided to end the talks," Dr Klaus Keysberg, chief financial off...Read More

European vanadium prices continued to climb in February amid tightening prompt inventories and better-than-expected end-user demand, market sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-vanadium basis 78% V min, 1st grade, ddp Western Europe rose by 4.9% to $33.70-34.70 per kg on Wednesday February 17 from $30.70-34.50 per kg on February 12. The market is at its highest since J...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 17 that are worth another look.All future new-build vessels to be owned by shipping operator Maersk will have dual-fuel technology installed, allowing either carbon-neutral operations or the use of standard very low sulfur fuel oil...Read More

Silver is expected to be the best performing precious metal this year. Its average price is expected to be $28.50 in 2021, or...by Arkadiusz Sieron of Sunshine ProfitsGains are in the forecast for all the precious metals this year, and silver is believed to be the star of the show.The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has just published its annual precious metals forecast survey. In gener...Read More

"Sophisticated" investors have been led to believe that SLV is a de facto investment in silver. And now we know that SLV is an "investment" in...by Dave Kranzler of Investment Research DynamicsThose of us who read the original filings for both GLD and SLV were shocked that the Prospectus for each was certified by the SEC. The legal loopholes embedded in the legalese were wide enough to drive a fle...Read More

A record amount of silver taken delivery of at the next silver futures delivery date thereby exacerbates the current silver squeeze...Chris Vermeulen interviewed by Patrick V. via SBTVWe are joined on Metal Money by Chris Vermeulen, founder of Technical Traders Ltd. Chris expects a record amount of silver to be taken delivery of at the next silver futures delivery date thereby exacerbating the cur...Read More

Hang on tight!by Bix Weir of Road to RootaVolumes on SLV are starting to spike again just like they did on Jan 27th before the "Big Silver Squeeze" weekend! Today should have DOUBLE THE SHARE VOLUME based off the 65 day average...hang on tight as the COMEX Deliveries look to OVERWHELM the Silver Cabal AGAIN! Read More

Nickel premiums in the US and Europe were steady in the week to Tuesday February 17, with both markets broadly stagnant against a well-supported LME three-month nickel price, while Asia's absence from the market saw minimal spot activity.Tight briquette supply sees US market seek alternative products US cut cathode sentiment weakens amid 4x4 uptakeEuropean market laments high price amid stati...Read More

A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday February 17.Please click...Read More

Aluminium's forward price on the London Metal Exchange rose to a new year-to-date high of $2,117 per tonne on Wednesday February 17, unfazed by the US Dollar Index reaching its highest since Monday, while movements across the rest of the base-metals complex were mixed.This was the first time that aluminium's three-month price had risen above $2,100 per tonne since October 5, 2018. It closed at $2,...Read More

RAPAPORT... Dubai has become something of a focal point for the diamond industry during the pandemic. While the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imposed a lockdown in the spring of 2020, the country has been more open than many since easing its restrictions in the summer. This, combined with being only a three-hour flight from India, has made it a popular location for rough sales while other center...Read More

RAPAPORT... Consumers require authenticity and transparency these days, especially when buying something as meaningful and precious as natural diamonds. However, the sector remains tarnished by a reputation for dubious ethical practices, despite the fact that it is regulated.The conflict between this dirty industry image and the beautiful, shiny stones it produces makes it hard to alter perce...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Alrosa, Russia's state-owned miner, has named a 100-carat light yellow diamond after the country's COVID-19 vaccine.It says the gem (pictured) is a 100.53-carat flattened octahedron recovered from alluvial deposits in Yakutia, in the far east of the country, and is a natural wonder -  like the vaccine.Last September Sputnik V became the world's first approved co...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Angola's state-owned diamond company is partnering with the investment group Gemcorp to develop a pilot mining program in the remote north-east of the country.Endiama hopes the Mulepe diamond deposit, in Lunda Norte, will help Angola to become one of the world's top-three diamond producers.The site contains significant untapped kimberlite and alluvial deposits. Initial es...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The Gahcho Kue mine, in Canada, has yielded its largest diamond since operations began there more than four years ago.The 157.38 carat gem, described as being of "of exceptional quality", will be sold later this month at a tender of special-size stones in Antwerp.Canadian miner Mountain Province has named the gem Polaris after the North Star, because of its rare natural blue fluore...Read More

(IDEX Online) - US President Joe Biden has blacklisted three gemstone companies in Myanmar because of their links with military regime that ousted state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as leader earlier this month.The country produces 90 per cent of the world's high-end rubies, many of its most expensive sapphires, and it supplies China with much of its jade.Sanctions now prohibit Myanmar Ruby En...Read More

An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Ewa Manthey...Read More