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Commodities Briefing - Category | Metals and Minerals

Optimism over China demand bolsters copper

Posted on 03 September 2010 by VRS

From Ninemsn.com.au: Copper rose to a four-month high on Thursday as optimism about Chinese demand buoyed the industrial metals markets amid tightening physical supplies. [more]

US pending home sales data helps copper prices

Posted on 03 September 2010 by VRS

From Metalmarkets.org.uk: The price of copper was up Thursday after the National Association of Realtors reported that pending home sales were unexpectedly higher in July, adding 5.2 percent to give a boost to the metal that is used extensively in construction. [more]

Ernst & Young reckons mining and metals deal making to accelerate

Posted on 03 September 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: Ernst & Young’s Global Mining & Metals Leader, Mike Elliott, says the volume of completed deals in the mining and metals sector during first half of 2010 is up 20% to 544 on the same period last year, while deal value is up 46% to US$40.6 billion. [more]

Up to 5 prop metals traders leave JPMorgan

Posted on 03 September 2010 by VRS

From Reuters: Up to five JPMorgan proprietary metals traders in London left the company this week, including former Sempra trader Tim Jones, industry sources said on Thursday. [more]

China, India & the copper bull

Posted on 02 September 2010 by VRS

From Resourceinvestor.com: China, and to a lesser extent India and other developing nations, are responsible for the largest and longest base metals bull market the world has ever experienced. Many fear the bull market for natural resources is over when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. [more]

China and the long copper bull market

Posted on 01 September 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: China, and to a lesser extent India and other developing nations, are responsible for the largest and longest base metals bull market the world has ever experienced. Many fear the bull market for natural resources is over when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. [more]

The rare earth elements crisis

Posted on 01 September 2010 by VRS

From Resourceinvestor.com: There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs). They have names like lanthanum, europium and yttrium. And they’re critical to a variety of high-tech products and manufacturing processes, including catalytic converters, petroleum refining, color TV and flat panel displays, permanent magnets, batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles, medical devices, and various defense systems like missiles, jet engines, and satellite components. [more]

China’s resource hunger, where to from here

Posted on 30 August 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: By the start of the 2000s, China embarked on a new path of industrialisation and development that demanded a reconfiguration of its supply of natural resources. By the end of the decade, the China Factor had become a synonym for an irrepressible engine of growth that was singularly driving global demand for natural resources. How did this happen? [more]

Base metals remain up on global cues

Posted on 27 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Copper and other base metal prices rose up to 5 per kg in the non-ferrous metal market on Thursday on continued buying by stockists on industrial demand amid firming trend at the London Metal Exchange. [more]

Copper demand driven by users replenishing inventories, BHP Billiton says

Posted on 26 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Physical copper demand is being driven by consumers replenishing inventories amid a mixed outlook for commodities in the “short term”, BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, said today. [more]

Economic, demand uncertainty weighs on copper

Posted on 26 August 2010 by VRS

From Khaleejtimes.com: Bargain hunters helped steady copper on Wednesday, but concern about economic and demand prospects were expected to limit gains ahead of data from the United States, the world’s largest economy. [more]

China’s metals imports going strong

Posted on 26 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: It seems there is no end to China’s appetite for metals. China’s economic health is robust and it is continuing with the metal buying spree. China’s imports of all metals rose in July with imports of refined lead in particular jumping by over 80 per cent compared with June, while refined zinc and nickel imports both surged by over 50 per cent. [more]

Coal gets burned by low gas price

Posted on 26 August 2010 by VRS

From WSJ: A slump in prices of natural-gas futures is having a knock-on effect in the U.S. coal market. Gas prices have fallen so far, trading Wednesday at a five-month low of less than $4 a million British thermal units, that gas-powered plants are able to capture a bigger share of the market. [more]

Mining ETFs: Eight ways to play

Posted on 26 August 2010 by VRS

From Etfdb.com: Commodities have been one of the hottest corners of the ETF market, exploding on to the scene in recent years as investors have rushed to gain access to a suddenly democratized asset class that has been shown to add valuable diversification benefits to traditional stock-and-bond portfolios. [more]

Coal demand set to continue rising

Posted on 25 August 2010 by VRS

From UPI: Global coal demand and consumption is set to continue rising over the next two decades despite parallel moves to switch to green and renewable energies. [more]

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Australian gold mining giants merge

Posted on 25 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: It is the time for mergers and acquisitions in the mining sector. After the recent copper miner Vedanta’s takeover of Cairn India, now two gold mining majors in Australia announced their merger on Tuesday. [more]

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Mining mergers will end in tears for investors

Posted on 25 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Almost every day brings news of another mega-deal in the mining and resources industry. BHP Billiton Ltd. makes a $40 billion bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. Vedanta Resources Plc pays $8.4 billion for a controlling stake in the oil driller Cairn India Ltd., while Korea National Oil Corp. offers 1.87 billion pounds ($2.9 billion) for U.K. exploration company Dana Petroleum Plc. [more]

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World crude steel output up 9.6pct in July

Posted on 24 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 115 million metric tons (mmt) in July. This is 9.6% higher than July 2009. China’s crude steel production for July 2010 was 51.7 mmt, an increase of 2.2% compared to July 2009. [more]

Aluminum: A market out of whack

Posted on 24 August 2010 by VRS

From Hardassetsinvestor.com: When I last wrote about aluminum back in September 2009, quite a few things were up in the air for the metal. Price prognosticators called for prices anywhere from $1,700 per metric ton all the way up to $3,000. There was even talk of a physically backed aluminum ETF. [more]

Resource wars: The global crisis behind BHP Billiton’s bid for Potash Corp

Posted on 23 August 2010 by VRS

From Guardian: BHP Billiton’s £28bn hostile bid for Canada’s Potash Corporation sets the scene for one of mining’s biggest takeover battles. But this is more than a clash between multinationals intent on self-aggrandisement. [more]

$10,000 copper by 2012 - not far-fetched at all!

Posted on 23 August 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: Going back a year or so, who would have predicted a jump in the copper price from a little below $3,000 a tonne to the current $7,440 a tonne - or from $1.35/lb to $3.30/lb for those who think in these terms - in a matter of 20 months (a rise of around 150%)? [more]

Further price fall in base metals & steel unlikely in near future

Posted on 23 August 2010 by VRS

From Indiatimes.com: Prices of base metals and steel have been increasing for quite some time now. However, there is a sharp surge in these metal prices in the current quarter compared with the June 2010 quarter. At 22.5%, zinc prices have increased the fastest on LME (London Metal Exchange). Prices of copper, aluminium, and steel have risen by 16%, 12% and 15.4%, respectively.
[more]

Tin, an overlooked commodity

Posted on 20 August 2010 by VRS

From Marketoracle.co.uk: I want to introduce you to one of the most overlooked metals in the commodity complex. On a price basis, it’s been a star performer. Yet it hasn’t attracted much attention. [more]

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Three critical questions on long term metal demand… and answers

Posted on 20 August 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: When Bear Stearns went bust in March of 2008, followed swiftly by a Chapter 11 filing from Lehman Brothers, few could imagine how the world would look at the end of the year, let alone almost two years later. [more]

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Uranium prices scale new heights

Posted on 19 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: As expected, spot uranium continued to demonstrate upward price movement, increasing $0.75 to $46.00 per pound this week. Over 1 million pounds uranium equivalent changed hands in seven transactions. [more]

Nickel may rise 14pct as usage increases, Societe Generale says

Posted on 19 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Nickel may rise 14 percent in the fourth quarter as higher stainless-steel production in China drives a gain in usage, according to Societe Generale SA. [more]

You want some…Rhodium with that?

Posted on 19 August 2010 by VRS

From Resourceinvestor.com: Mild profit-taking became manifest this morning and thus gold prices and other precious metals prices turned slightly lower upon the New York session’s opening. Spot bullion opened unchanged-to-slightly-lower, very near the $1225.00 level it finished at, on Tuesday afternoon. [more]

Six ideas for striking it rich in mining

Posted on 18 August 2010 by VRS

 Kevin Rudd From Independent: Isn’t mining just the most alluring industry in the investment landscape? It spins that simplest and most exciting of dreams, that of digging in the ground and striking it rich. [more]

Talc: An innocent white powder

Posted on 18 August 2010 by VRS

From Hardassetsinvestor.com: Anyone with children is familiar with talcum powder—that loose, white powder used to prevent diaper rash. But talc itself isn’t just white. It can also be black, blue, brown, grey, pink, silver and violet. [more]

Brazil’s Bovespa gains for fourth day on global growth optimism

Posted on 18 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Brazil’s Bovespa stock index advanced for a fourth day as economic reports in China and the U.S. boosted the outlook for commodities. [more]

BHP’s huge Potash takeover bid exposes a shift from hard commodities into China’s next stage of growth

Posted on 18 August 2010 by VRS

From Businessinsider.com: BHP Billiton’s (BHP) latest unsolicited bid for the leading fertilizer producer Potash (POT) says much about China’s next stage of development. BHP is already a leading producer of the commodities which feed China’s rapid infrastructure growth. [more]

The coming China coal boom

Posted on 17 August 2010 by VRS

From Stockhouse.com: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China imported over 100 million tons of coal in 2009. That’s the first time in decades China became a net importer of coal. In 2006, the largest consumer of the dirty fuel was exporting about 25 million tons. [more]

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Why China’s copper imports appear normal?

Posted on 17 August 2010 by VRS

From Indiatimes.com: The preliminary copper import figures from China’s customs department came in pretty much as expected, which is something of a first so far this year. Aggregate imports of refined copper, anode copper, copper alloy and copper products rose by 4.5% month-on-month to 342,901 tonnes in July. [more]

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Precious metals outperforming rivals

Posted on 17 August 2010 by VRS

From Iii.co.uk: Growing unease over the outlook of the global economy sparked a gold rush in the first half of 2010 which made precious metals the best performing asset class during the period. [more]

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Material ETFs gain on China optimism

Posted on 17 August 2010 by VRS

From Thestreet.com: Material and mining ETFs are attracting buyers on Monday morning as China is set to replace Japan as the world’s second-largest economy. [more]

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China bank’s move boom for metals

Posted on 16 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: With the People’s Bank of China assuring that the bank would maintain moderate to loose monetary policy and enhance financial supports to sustain economic development, the metal markets across the globe heaved a sigh of relief. [more]

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Commodity Trends:Copper demand to beat supply

Posted on 16 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Copper demand may outstrip supply in 2011 for the first time in four years as China, the world’s biggest consumer, sustains purchases and as ore grades decline. The demand-supply gap will be the extent of 200,000 metric tons. [more]

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Gold miners face transitions

Posted on 13 August 2010 by VRS

From Mineweb.co.za: Numbers from seven of the world’s biggest gold diggers show that Gold miners are in the money, but face headwinds in rising costs, and scarce “pure gold” opportunities. Over the past decade, the dollar gold bullion price has increased nearly fivefold, suggesting that gold diggers would by now be reporting stellar profits and cash flows. [more]

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China’s copper imports soar

Posted on 11 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Copper market is set to be on fore following data from China which showed that China’s copper imports soared for the first time in four months. [more]

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Precious metals are best performing assets

Posted on 10 August 2010 by VRS

From Telegraph: Precious metals such as gold were the best performing asset class of the first half of the year, according to research by Lloyds TSB. They rose in value by an average of 9.7pc, with gold turning in the best performance thanks to a rise of 13.5pc, the bank’s survey of asset classes found. International equities were the worst assets to hold over the period, falling by 6.8pc. [more]

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Chinese steel producers are planning to hike prices

Posted on 10 August 2010 by VRS

From Chinadaily.com.cn: Big Chinese steelmakers are likely to raise their product prices in September after a rebound in the steel market over the last several weeks, the China Securities Journal said on Monday. [more]

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Platinum, palladium to beat gold soon

Posted on 10 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Problems at the mines in South Africa, increasing demand due to the rise in auto sales and emerging markets like India and China will ensure that platinum and palladium outperform gold in the coming years. [more]

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India’s NSEL to start E-investing in copper and nickel

Posted on 09 August 2010 by VRS

From Thefinancialexpress-bd.com: In order to penetrate further into retail segment of the commodities investors, National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) will launch copper and nickel contracts under its electronic spot trading E-series by the end of August, 2010. [more]

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Base metals can still shine in an uncertain environment

Posted on 09 August 2010 by VRS

From Cityam.com: The global economy is at an important crossroads; economic data from the US has been patchy and signs of a slowdown in China are causing bouts of volatility in risky assets. However, base metal prices have held up well. The question is, will they continue to do so? [more]

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Falling ore grades push base metals higher, and higher

Posted on 09 August 2010 by VRS

From Proactiveinvestors.com.au: Tin prices hit a two-year high above $20,000 a tonne last week amid tight supplies across many base metals. Falling inventories have also pushed the metal higher, plummeting nearly 50 per cent this year on the London Metal Exchange. Tin is used in soldering in electronics. [more]

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Steel, commodity demand to falter on property dip, Essence says

Posted on 06 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Demand for steel and cement may falter should China’s property prices continue to slide, said Heng Kun, a Shanghai-based analyst at Essence Securities Co. [more]

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Metals demand may cool on China bank stress tests, analysts say

Posted on 06 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: Chinese metals consumption may cool if government orders for stress tests on banks to gauge the impact of a property price slump of as much as 60 percent indicate the market has further to fall, analysts say. [more]

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Silver falls despite firm gold, metals gains

Posted on 06 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Silver fell despite firm bullion prices and base metals also closed higher yesterday. However, weaker equities may have sent negative cues to silver prices. [more]

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China bank stress tests may be ‘negative’ for metals, Fang says

Posted on 05 August 2010 by VRS

From Bloomberg: China’s order of additional stress tests for banks to determine the impact of residential property prices sliding by as much as 60 percent may have a “negative impact” on the metals market, said Fang Junfeng, an analyst at China International Futures (Shanghai) Co. [more]

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BME review: Base metals end with losses

Posted on 05 August 2010 by VRS

From Commodityonline.com: Gold prices were trading with gains throughout on Tuesday as technical support helped the metal reverse some of its earlier losses. Buying interest following the discounted price in the yellow metal have also helped accumulate gains on the second trading day of the week. [more]

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