BHP enjoys higher output at Ekati mine
BHP Billiton’s (BHP-N) share of mine production at Ekati in the Northwest Territories was 1.1 million carats in the recent fourth quarter — 15% higher than in the corresponding period of 2001 and 12%…
2003
Restraint gives way to profligacy Throwing money around
New ministers of finance are always watched carefully to see how much their budgets will depart, philosophically and strategically, from those their predecessors brought down. John Manley’s first budg…
Golds slip in bouncy trading
U.S. markets had a bouncy week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average covering a 150-point spread in the report period Feb. 19-25, before settling at 7,909.50. The golds were down and the base metal p…
Changes in the cobalt market
In the past 25 years, there have been numerous major changes in the cobalt market. Prior to 1978, cobalt was almost exclusively supplied from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and Zambia as…
Falconbridge grounds Kidd for eight weeks (March 03, 2003)
Citing a poor zinc market, Falconbridge (FL-T) is extending to eight weeks the planned closure of its refining operations at the Kidd metallurgical site in Timmins, Ont.Daniel Picard, general manager …
Exchange Rates (March 03, 2003)
CANADIAN/U.S. EXCHANGE (Bank of Canada noon rate)DateFeb. 25Feb. 24Feb. 21Feb. 20Feb. 19US$ in C$…
Inmet broadens search at Aussie base metal find
Having determined that the Jaguar high-grade base metal find in Western Australia is too small to develop as a stand-alone operation, Inmet Mining (IMN-T) is exploring the surrounding property for fur…
Gold’s recovery lands Placer Dome in the black
Vancouver — Higher gold prices helped Placer Dome (PDG-T) generate sizable earnings in 2002, though US$40 million of unforeseen charges soured the profit margin in the fourth quarter.The company earn…
Shareholders approve Fording plan (March 03, 2003)
The plan of arrangement under which coal producer Fording (FDG-T) would be converted into an income trust has received shareholder approval at a special meeting in Calgary, allowing Fording to combine…
Agreement will standardize African mining codes
African mining ministers have agreed to standardize mining codes across the continent in an effort to attract greater foreign investment.Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the South African minister of minerals …
Broad market flops as gold surges
The S&P-TSX composite index continued its downward spiral over the Feb. 19-25 report period, slipping 89.45 points to 6,503.10.Not even a surge in spot gold could save producers: Placer Dome plummeted…
McWatters acquires East Malartic mill
Two transactions, one with Quebec government-owned Soquem and another with Barrick Gold (ABX-T), will give McWatters Mining (MWA-T) a major position in the Val d’Or region of northwestern Quebe…