Busy week for base metals
The base metal miners took the spotlight away from the golds during the report period ended April 15.BHP Billiton rose 20 to US$11.56 as it launched a 10-year, US$850-million global bond, part of whi…
Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Freeport-McMoRan sweetens redemption price
A tepid reception has prompted Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX-N) to spruce up an offer for early redemption of its 7.5% senior notes due in 2006.The major is now offering US$1,030 per US$1,000 pr…
US golds take hit as price falls
A steep dip in the price of gold pushed U.S. gold producers lower over the April 2-8 report period. The yellow metal was fixed at US$324.10 per oz. on the morning of April 9, for a loss of $6.15 on th…
Mitsui buys into CVRD
The biggest global mining story of the report period was the complex deal involving Brazilian iron ore giant Cia Vale do Rio Doce’s (CVRD) and Japan’s no. 2 trading house, Mitsui.Mitsui winds up spend…
Miners passed by in broad advance
The five trading days March 19-25 saw a modest advance by the U.S. stock markets, but gold and base metal equities were left out. Both major indices rose about 1%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average add…
A sweet week for golds
Gold bugs were delighted over the holiday-shortened report period as prices for the yellow metal surged more than US$7 to a new, 6-year high of almost US$360 per oz.Gold has been on a steady march upw…
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,…
Bulls back on Wall Street
A 265-point jump in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the first trading day of 2003 put investors in the mood for gains, and the U.S. markets in general had a stellar week. The Dow was up 407.74 poi…
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…
BHP Billiton drops Ekati brand
London-based BHP Billiton has dropped its Ekati diamond brand in favour of Aurias, a brand already known in markets outside North America.The company previously sold diamonds under the Ekati brand nam…
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…
Golds show life signs
U.S. markets moved sideways over the reporting period Dec. 11-17, but the mining stocks, particularly the golds, ran up substantially. The Dow, which fell 38.87 points to 8,535.39, was down slightly, …