Australia’sfirst New South Wales Gold Rush took place over 120 years ago. Back then, prospectorswielded nothing more than pickaxes. Now,a second NSW Gold Rush is on, with a mad rush to this territory with gold explorerswielding the latest technology.  Hugemining names have now gathered. And a sea of junior explorers is attempting tostorm the venue.  But onestands out: Sentinel...Read More

The threat of economicallycrippling lockdowns, the promise of unending monetary stimulus, and theuncertainty of game-changing political outcomes – this is the “new normal” forinvestors.The COVID pandemic won’t beeradicated anytime soon. And even when it finally is, the economic and socialcosts will continue to be borne for years to come.In such an environment, allconvention...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.While a world leader in many areas, the United States is a relatively small player when it comes to stainless steel. It produces a small amount of material, both in absolute and relative terms (i.e. compared to the size of its population), while a large share of its industry is in the hands of bigger European companies. Never...Read More

Gold, mining stocks, and the USD Indexhave not been doing much recently. However, yesterday, this “inactivity” tookquite a decisive shape, and unfortunately, things are not looking good forgold.As you are all aware, gold tends to moveconversely to the USD Index. Therefore, it’s useful to focus on the latter forsigns that would influence the former. So, what does the current USDX...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Having found it easier to increase prices than their counterparts in Europe and the United States during the past few months, Asian stainless steelmakers now face a number of concerns.In the short term, Asian prices have moved down in recent weeks while those in Europe and the US are on the up. This is mostly a reflection of...Read More

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view. A look at stainless steel price movements through August reveals the ongoing battle being faced by stainless steelmakers in Europe and the United States while they try to pass on rising costs to consumers. In these regions, prices on most grades of stainless steel are little changed from July, rising by around 2% at most -...Read More

The latest forecast from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.As we enter the summer season across the northern hemisphere, almost half a year has passed since the Covid-19 pandemic began to seriously affect Europe and the United States.One would not really be able to tell that such a dramatic event had occurred by looking at stainless steel prices, however, because they are more or less...Read More

Flat steel import prices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have increased over the past week because of a shortage of hot-rolled coil and globally strong demand, sources said on Tuesday November 17.Local demand for flat steel was strong in India and China, the main exporters of flat steel to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, so offers were limited.UAEOffer prices for HRC from Indian suppliers were heard a...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe increased further day on day on Tuesday November 17, due to low availability of domestic material and a lack of import offers, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, at ?,?529.58 ($627.27) per tonne on Tuesday, up by ?,?0.83 per tonne from ?,?528.75 per tonne on Mon...Read More

The copper and lead spot markets in the United States have diverged, with the premium for copper cathodes declining amid low liquidity while the 99.97% lead ingot premium has risen due to strong demand from automotive battery makers.Fastmarkets assessed the copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US at 7-7.5 cents per lb on Tuesday 17 November, narrowing down from 7-8 cents per lb previously,...Read More

Premiums for duty-paid aluminium in Rotterdam rose on Tuesday November 17, with a wider contango on the London Metal Exchange and improved demand supporting the increase. Premiums were flat elsewhere in the world.Rotterdam duty-paid premium returns to levels seen at the end of October United States premiums steady with market fundamentals supportive Main Japanese ports (MJP) premium flat with mark...Read More

RAPAPORT... A Canadian court has granted Rio Tinto permission to sell diamonds belonging to Dominion Diamond Mines to recoup more than CAD 120 million ($91.4 million) in unpaid debt from their Diavik joint venture.Rio Tinto subsidiary Diavik Diamond Mines, Inc. (DDMI) had been holding Dominion's 40% share of rough from Diavik as collateral. That was used as security for the $91.4 million Dominion...Read More

RAPAPORT... Petra Diamonds saw heavy losses in the latest fiscal year as sales slid and weakening rough prices reduced the value of its mines.The net loss of $223 million for the 12 months ending June 30 included an impairment charge of $85.5 million at its Cullinan, Finsch, Koffiefontein and Williamson mines, the company reported Tuesday in delayed results. It also reflected a 36% drop in re...Read More

(IDEX Online) - A pearl and diamond bracelet specially made for singer Dame Vera Lynn - Britain's celebrated wartime Forces' Sweetheart - is to be sold at auction.It includes a hand-painted enamel depicting a bluebird over the white cliffs of Dover, a reference to one of her most famous songs.Dame Vera died in June aged 103. The White Cliffs of Dover bracelet is being sold online at Chri...Read More

RAPAPORT... A collection of large sapphires will take center stage at the Magnificent Jewels auction at Christie's in New York next month, with the top item expected to fetch up to $7 million.The bracelet, which is from a private collection, features a 43.10-carat Kashmir sapphire surrounded by 67.90 carats of diamonds. It's estimated to bring in $5 million to $7 million at the December 8 sale, Ch...Read More

RAPAPORT... De Beers has combined two of its London-based divisions into a new unit focused on consumer brands and social purpose.The consumer and brands department and the corporate affairs team have merged into one division - brands and consumer markets - headed by senior executives Stephen Lussier and David Prager, De Beers said Monday. The move, effective immediately, will enable De Beers...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Macy's and JC Penney account for almost half the fine jewelry and watch sales made by north America's 10 biggest supersellers.The combined sales totals from membership-only warehouse clubs, hypermarkets, department stores and general e-commerce were 8.1bn in 2019, according to the newly-published State of the Majors report by National Jeweler maga...Read More

The London Metal Exchange base metals prices stabilized in morning trading on Tuesday November 17 after a euphoric trading session on Monday, when the markets were boosted by Chinese economic data and news of another successful Covid-19 vaccine trial. Copper, aluminium, zinc and tin all had gains of 1% or more on Monday morning, while on Tuesday morning there were no gains above 0.8%. Vaccine news...Read More

(IDEX Online) - IDEX Online is to become the first diamond trading platform in the world to feature diamonds with GIA's Diamond Origin Reports. The pioneering development will allow buyers to filter their search to display only diamonds that come with a GIA Diamond Origin Report (DOR).The DOR scientifically matches a polished diamond to its original rough, telling the story of the gem�...Read More

Markets were generally buoyant this morning, Tuesday November 17, following news that a second coronavirus vaccine is showing good results, which is underpinning many equity indices at or near record highs, although the base metals on the London Metal Exchange were consolidating. Asian Pacific equities were mainly higher, following gains on major western equity indices on Monday......but major wes...Read More