Markets top out
U.S. equity markets were broadly better as investors digested the big gains that followed the new year. In the report period Jan. 8-14, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 102.03 points to 8,842.62,…
Anglo American plc
Golds rise against tide
Rising gold shares were set off in contrast to most other market sectors after a poor three trading days on the U.S. exchanges, Dec. 23-27. The Dow, declining 207.54 points to 8,303.78, and the S&P 50…
Gold touches US$355 per oz.
Gold bugs were particularly exultant during the report period ended Dec. 20 as the yellow metal surged to US$355 per oz. on Dec. 19. during intra-day, European trading.However, any belief in gold is s…
WMC gains titanium asset
The biggest deal of the report period was WMC Resources’ US$87.5-million acquisition from South Africa’s Southern Mining of the world’s largest undeveloped titanium mineral-sands deposit: Corridor San…
BHP curbs copper output
BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, announced that its 2003 copper production target for the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, is being set at 1.05 million tonnes, while a…
Altius-Barrick deal triggers gold rush in Newfoundland
St. John’s, NFLD — An increased level of exploration activity in Newfoundland and Labrador has resulted in 30,500 new claims being staked this year (to the end of October), surpassing the previous hi…
Chihuahua lures Anglo
Vancouver — Looking to gain a foothold in Mexico’s Chihuahua state, Anglo American (AAUK-Q) has teamed with Western Copper Holdings (WTC-T) to explore 145 sq. km in the historic Almoloya zinc-lead-si…
JP Morgan dispels rumours
The gold bugs watched in glee as their arch nemesis, JP Morgan, the counterparty to most gold-derivatives trading, issued a statement that refuted rumours it had recently lost upwards of US$17 billlio…
Precious metals miners shine
While gold prices ended the report period virtually unchanged at around US$317 per oz., gold bugs drew encouragement that most of the gold miners showed uncharacteristic strength and added to the prev…
OM in freefall
After dropping from US$40 to US$30 in the previous week, the shares of cobalt refiner OM Group collapsed further during the report period, falling 71% on Oct. 29 to US$8.95 and closing at US$7.49 on t…
Anglo extends Boyongan
Vancouver — Delineation drilling on the Boyongan prospect in the Philippines continues to churn out impressive copper-gold values.Partners Anglo American (AAUK-Q) and Philex Gold (PGI-V) have six rig…
OM whacked by UN report
Shares in Cleveland-based cobalt refiner OM Group crashed to a three-and-a-half-year low during the report period following its mention in a UN Security Council report on illegal mining activity in th…