The AOCE and WB have moderate overall forecasts for the metals in 2025 inline with IMF forecasts for a decline in economic growth and inflation, although we see the probability of a stagflationary scenario as still reasonably high.Read More

The past year was a difficult one overall for the metals, with the main standouts to the upside being a geopolitical risk-driven gain in gold, a China-driven rise in iron ore and a surge in uranium on broadening global support for nuclear power (Figure 1). A jump in global interest rates to near two-decade highs saw recession fears persist all year, and while one still did not actually eru...Read More

This year the post-global health crisis boom was brought to an end by a surge in inflation to forty-year highs, a major rise in global interest rates in an attempt to curb the rising prices and surging geopolitical risk after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While precious metals held up reasonably well as markets turned to them as a risk hedge, by Q2/22 the higher interest rates put an end t...Read More

Chile is the world leader in copper production, at 28.5% of the total in 2020, and this looks set to continue, with the country having the largest global reserves, at 23.0% of total. It is also the global leader for molybdenum, which is often found along with copper, and is a major lithium player, holding 51.1% of global reserves. Read More

Newfoundland has become a gold exploration hotspot over the past few years, with the sector seeing some of its strongest activity ever. While the province remains a small contributor to Canadian gold production, it has a substantial mineral industry well supported by the government, focused on iron ore, copper and nickel, and the surge in exploration suggests that gold output from the...Read More

Nevada is the core of the U.S. gold output, accounting for by far the majority, at 75.4% on average for the past year. The state looks set to remain a dominant player in U.S. gold, as it accounts for 49% of total U.S. reserves, with Alaska slightly ahead with 51% of reserves, but just 8.6% of current production. The U.S. accounts for 6.1% of global gold output, making Nevada one of the largest gol...Read More

The Golden Triangle in northwestern British Columbia has historically been a major site of Canadian gold production, beginning as early as the mid 1800s. There was a wave of production in the 1990s which cooled as the gold price declined, but larger scale production resumed in 2017, and the area has seen surging exploration interest over the past year, given that the region has some of the largest...Read More

In this report we outline the Quebec gold mining industry, including its major producers, and a survey of many of the junior miners focused on the province. Quebec accounts for 34% of Canadian gold production (second to Ontario, with 44%) and remains a major focus for both producers and junior miners.Read More

Red Lake has been one of the most prolific gold mining districts in Canada and the world, with exploration having started in the 1920s, and production, which began in the 1930s, continuing to the present day. The district is known for the high grade of its gold, its infrastructure, and strong institutional support, given the long history of mining in the area.Read More

New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair said he would move toward the full legalization of marijuana, but he is focusing on decriminalization first because it can happen immediately … "I am going to start by immediately doing something that I know I can and will do overnight, which is to make sure that nobody ever has to face a charge for personal use or possession of marijuana and of course...Read More

Smoking gun emails reveal Blair's 'deal in blood' with George Bush over Iraq war was forged a YEAR before the invasion had even started. Leaked White House memo shows former Prime Minister's support for war at summit with U.S. President in 2002. Bombshell document shows Blair preparing to act as spin doctor for Bush, who was told 'the UK will follow our lead.' Publicly, Bla...Read More

New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair said he would move toward the full legalization of marijuana, but he is focusing on decriminalization first because it can happen immediately … "I am going to start by immediately doing something that I know I can and will do overnight, which is to make sure that nobody ever has to face a charge for personal use or possession of marijuana and of course...Read More

Smoking gun emails reveal Blair's 'deal in blood' with George Bush over Iraq war was forged a YEAR before the invasion had even started. Leaked White House memo shows former Prime Minister's support for war at summit with U.S. President in 2002. Bombshell document shows Blair preparing to act as spin doctor for Bush, who was told 'the UK will follow our lead.' Publicly, Bla...Read More

Investors in a relatively small Australian copper miner were rewarded on Friday when the stock added close to a third more value on a takeover offer.Aditya Birla Minerals (ASX:ABY), headquartered in India, closed up 30.56% Friday on close to triple average volumes, after an $86 million takeout attempt by Australia's Metals X Limited (ASX:MLX). Metals X is offering one of its shares for every five...Read More

When you're bullish, does it make more sense to buy a call or sell a put?Call buying and put selling are both considered "bullish" strategies, since they're based on the belief that the underlying stock will remain strong through expiration. However, these approaches are far from interchangeable. Here's a quick primer on when you should use each options strategy.Let's start with buying a call. Th...Read More

With the ongoing spending cuts global miners may be paving the way for a major supply shortage, says Wood Mackenzie.While miners are holding off on new projects and looking to slow the completion of ones in the works as they face the worst commodity price collapse since 2008, research house Wood Mackenzie warns the industry could be paving the way for a major supply shortage.In a presentation pr...Read More

Fed policymakers downplay divisions on U.S. rate hike … Federal Reserve policymakers are not as divided as it may appear and are generally operating under the same framework for determining when to raise interest rates, one Fed official said on Thursday, while another said the differences of opinion reflect the countervailing economic data. Many Fed watchers are exasperated by the mixed mess...Read More

Illinois Will Delay Pension Payment Because of Cash Shortage … Illinois will delay payments to its pension fund as a prolonged budget impasse causes a cash shortage, Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger said. The spending standoff between Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders has extended into its fourth month with no signs of ending. Munger said her office will p...Read More

Fed policymakers downplay divisions on U.S. rate hike … Federal Reserve policymakers are not as divided as it may appear and are generally operating under the same framework for determining when to raise interest rates, one Fed official said on Thursday, while another said the differences of opinion reflect the countervailing economic data. Many Fed watchers are exasperated by the mixed mess...Read More

Illinois Will Delay Pension Payment Because of Cash Shortage … Illinois will delay payments to its pension fund as a prolonged budget impasse causes a cash shortage, Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger said. The spending standoff between Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders has extended into its fourth month with no signs of ending. Munger said her office will p...Read More

Although investment bank permabears haven't stopped issuing dire warnings on the outlook for the sector, the mining industry's big players are themselves slowly beginning to change tack.After 18 months of careful consideration Mick Davis appears to be close to pulling the trigger on a maiden investment for his $5.6 billion X2 fund.And that it's in probably the most depressed corner of the com...Read More

Aerial view of Codelco's Andina (left) and Anglo American's Los Bronces (front) copper mines in Chile. (Image from archives)Only a month after Anglo American (LON:AAL) completed the $300 million sale of its 100%-owned Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde copper mines in northern Chile, analysts are calling into question the firm's chance to unload two other assets.While the company's El Soldado mine has...Read More

The United States has had the world's largest economy for about 140 years. However, recently China has overtaken the US in terms of GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP) according to IMF.Today's infographic contrasts everything about the two economies. While they are both comparable in size, they are both very different...Courtesy of: Visual CapitalistThe United States has had the world's lar...Read More

Legalising cannabis would raise millions in tax, says government study … Leaked Treasury study, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats while in coalition, says the move would also save £200m a year in court and police costs … In a debate … pro-cannabis MPs argued that the UK should draw on the experience of US states that have legalised the drug … Legalising cannabis c...Read More

Case Study #3: Why you need a second passport … In recent years, the number of people who are divorcing themselves from the heavy hand of Uncle Sam has been increasing exponentially. In 2013 the number of people renouncing US citizenship jumped 221% over the previous year. In the last quarter of 2013 alone, people abandoning US citizenship jumped 1,402% over the same period a year earlier. T...Read More

Legalising cannabis would raise millions in tax, says government study … Leaked Treasury study, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats while in coalition, says the move would also save £200m a year in court and police costs … In a debate … pro-cannabis MPs argued that the UK should draw on the experience of US states that have legalised the drug … Legalising cannabis c...Read More

Case Study #3: Why you need a second passport … In recent years, the number of people who are divorcing themselves from the heavy hand of Uncle Sam has been increasing exponentially. In 2013 the number of people renouncing US citizenship jumped 221% over the previous year. In the last quarter of 2013 alone, people abandoning US citizenship jumped 1,402% over the same period a year earlier. T...Read More

Peter Schiff: The Fed Has Created A "Bad Is Good" Economy … The downright dismal September jobs report that was released last Friday may prove to be the flashing red beacon that even the most skilled apologists can't explain away. The report should make it abundantly clear that we are far closer to recession than recovery … I expect that once the threat of rate hikes is f...Read More

Why Matt Drudge Can Stop Worrying … Matt Drudge appeared on Alex Jones's Infowars. Here is how he has been quoted. On the future of digital copyright: "I had a Supreme Court justice tell me to my face it's over for me. Said, 'Matt, it's over for you. They've got the votes now to enforce copyright law. You're out of there. They're gonna make it so headlines&nd...Read More