Editorial: No end in sight for iron ore glut
Ten weeks into 2015, and many of the world’s iron ore miners are on edge as iron ore prices set new lows, and the finger-pointing begins as to who is contributing to the problems besetting the industry.
Commodities Markets
PDAC 2015: The ‘first green shoots have emerged’
With metal markets being the number-one indicator for the health of the global mineral exploration industry, a great way to kick off the technical program of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto is to…
Editorial: Gold a ray of hope in a weary market
The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference in mid-January is usually a great way to gauge the mood of the Canadian junior mining scene in the year ahead, and this year was no different.
Facts ‘n’ figures: US Mint sells record number of Silver Eagle coins in 2014
The following is an edited report from The Silver Institute, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit industry association. For more information visit www.silverinstitute.org.
Commentary: China’s declining coal dependence
The latest energy-market numbers from the Chinese government show an acceleration of a remarkable phenomenon that emerged from 2012 to 2014. The bottom line today is that the traditional nexus between real gross domestic product (GDP) growth,…
Chinese driving copper demand: ICSG
The following is a summary of the International Copper Study Group’s (ICSG) December 2014 Copper Bulletin. For more information and to buy the bulletin, visit www.icsg.org.
Commentary: Gold producer hedging in a lower price environment
The following is an edited except from Société Générale and Thomson Reuters GFMS’s Global Hedge Book Analysis Q3 2014.
Grant Thornton: M&A should double in value in 2014
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the mining sector should double in value this year compared to 2013, were deal volumes fell short of $90 billion, according to a new report by Grant Thornton.
CIBC slashes platinum forecast
An expected surge in the platinum price failed to materialize in 2014 because of a strong U.S. dollar and weak South African rand, say mining analysts with CIBC World Markets, who are slashing their platinum price forecast for 2015.
TSX falls with commodity prices, Nov. 24-28
OPEC’s decision not to cut production sent U.S. oil prices down 10% to US$66.15 per barrel on Nov. 28, the biggest one-day drop in five years. Lower oil prices usally translate to lower inflation rates, crimping investment demand for…
Editorial: Swiss gold referendum ends with a whimper
One of the more bizarre political initiatives initiated by gold bugs went down in flames on Nov. 30, with 77% of Swiss voters rejecting a plan to force the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to buy 55 million oz. gold to keep in reserve.
Editorial: Iron ore prices – Where’s the bottom?
As the daylight hours shorten and winter chill takes hold of the iron ore mines and surrounding communities in the Labrador Trough, it’s as good a symbol as any of the deep freeze that is engulfing the global iron ore market, as spot…