Full Article: It's Time for the Fear Trade to Move Gold PricesBy: Frank HolmesThe price of gold and gold mining stocks were very competitive in 2017. The yellow metal ended the year up a little more than 13 percent-its best year since 2010-while gold stocks, as measured by the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, gained more than 11 percent. All of this occurred even as large-cap stocks regularly closed...Read More
By George SmithIf Tom Cruise was Born on the Fourth of July, then he can thank Thomas Paine, who it can be said was born on January 10, 1776 with the publication of his incendiary essay, Common Sense, that argued for independence from England. He priced it cheaply (two shillings), argued passionately, and wrote in a direct style so that readers could understand him. It was sold and distribute...Read More
- Gold prices rise to $1,326/oz on concerns China may slow U.S. Treasury buying- Equities fell sharply on the report as did Treasurys and the U.S. dollar- Chinese officials think U.S. debt is becoming less attractive compared to other assets- Trade tensions could provide a reason to slow down or halt U.S. debt purchases- U.S. dollar vulnerable as China remains biggest buyer of U.S. sovereign de...Read More
In my view there is nothing special about China's intention of reducing US treasury investment. This was bound to happen much earlier. China is "thee" happening place for the global financial service industry. It has opened up its economy for global investors. China is moving towards a service oriented growth from a manufacturing growth. Chinese moves economically or geopolitically is antagonizi...Read More
Molybdic oxide and ferro-molybdenum prices have been underpinned over the past week due to steady trading rates, buoyant conversion costs and strong underlying consumption in the steel sector, which is expected to persist in the near term.Molybdic oxide prices have pared gains slightly in the second week of trading in 2018, with the market at $11-11.30 per lb, in-warehouse Rotterdam on Wednesday J...Read More
India's JSW Steel recorded its highest-ever quarterly crude steel output in October-December 2017, producing 4.11 million tonnes - up 7% compared with the same quarter in 2016.The October-December period is the third quarter of JSW Steel's 2017-2018 financial year, which runs to March 31, 2018. Flat steel production dropped 1% year on year to 2.82 million tonnes, while long steel production increa...Read More
Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, has appointed Nelli Galeeva as its new chief financial officer (CFO), the company reported on Wednesday January 10.Prior to this appointment, Galeeva had been leading Mechel's accounting and tax department for four years and oversaw work on the...Read More
Turkish deep-sea scrap prices inched up with news of a fresh deal from the Baltic Sea on Thursday January 11. A steel mill in northern Turkey booked the cargo, comprising 12,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $375 per tonne, 12,000 tonnes of shredded at $380 per tonne and 4,000 tonnes...Read More
Huayou Cobalt and Posco will invest in two joint ventures in China's Zhejiang province to produce lithium-ion battery materials, according to a statement filed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Wednesday January 10. With a total investment of 1 billion yuan ($154 million), Zhejiang HUAYOU-POSCO New Energy Co, Ltd will be dedicated in the research and development, production, as well as sales of li...Read More
Turkish imported billet prices have inched up on higher scrap prices, while the country's domestic and export billet prices have remained stable over the past week, sources said on Thursday January 11.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for billet imports into Turkey was $525-530 per tonne cfr on Thursday, narrowing upward from last week's $520-530 per...Read More
Turkish domestic long steel prices have fallen in line with the weakening of the country's lira, but are expected to recover soon, sources said on Thursday January 11.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Turkey was $570-572 per tonne ex-works, down from last week's $580-590 per tonne.The domestic rebar prices in the Izmir and Iskenderun regions were $570-575 per tonne ex-...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Thursday January 11.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange continued to strengthen during morning trading, with zinc prices leading the pack.The three-month zinc price hit a high of $3,375 per tonne and looks set to push toward the $3,400 per tonne resistance barrier. It is being supported by further cancelat...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's office in Singapore, as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday January 11.Nickel prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange extended their gains during Asian morning trading on Thursday, tracking the strong performance of the metal on the London Metal Exchange in recent days, with robust demand amid a tighter market providing support. Chec...Read More
Diamond trading steady after positive US retail season. Signet disappoints again as Nov.-Dec. sales -3% to $1.9B due to glitches in outsourced credit program, lower sales of Ever Us line, and less effective promotions. Department stores rebound, with Macy's and J.C. Penney seeing jewelry growth. Richemont jewelry maisons' 3Q sales +5% to $2.2B. Rising expectations for Chinese New Year (Feb. 16) af...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Shmuel Schnitzer has stepped down as Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute after less than two years in the post. The IDI's Board of Directors has stated its appreciation for his years of service as Chairman of IDI and as a leader of the diamond industry. The IDI Board released a statement saying, "The Board of Directors of the Israel Diamond Institute would...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Robbers stole an estimated $5.4 million of jewelry and other goods from a boutique in the Ritz Hotel in Paris on Wednesday. Although police managed to arrest three suspects in central Paris, but at least two others got away, a police official told the media. A police official said Thursday that one perpetrator dropped a bag with jewels and hatchets when his motorcycle...Read More
RAPAPORT... Businessman Kevin O'Leary has sound advice for people who are about to get married: Don't get into debt. So far, so sensible. Except he is also recommending they skip the engagement ring, blaming our industry in the process as the "people trying to figure out how to extract money from you." In an interview with CNBC Make It, he singles out the wedding ring retailers who, in his op...Read More
Comex copper prices inched higher Thursday January 11 morning in the US due to a weaker dollar in an overall shallow market.Copper for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange increased 0.55 cents or 0.2% to $3.2410 per lb. The dollar has softened gradually since mid-December and was recently trading at a one-week low of 91.94 on the...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Russian mining giant ALROSA sold $4.17 billion of rough diamonds last year. "In 2017, rough diamond demand was fairly stable, market activity was in line with the seasonality and our expectations," said ALROSA Vice President Yury Okoemov. "The average price of rough diamonds sold by ALROSA was a little lower than a year ago, which is due to the changed sales assortme...Read More
RAPAPORT... Shmuel Shnitzer has left his post as chairman of the IsraelDiamond Institute (IDI). The IDI board appointed Boaz Moldawsky acting chairman,the institute announced Thursday. Shnitzer (pictured) has served in numerous industry positions over the past 30 years, including as president of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) and cofounder of the WorldDiamond Council. He began his term as...Read More