(Corrects fourth paragraph to show U.S. InternationalDevelopment Finance Corporation is independent of U.S. Agencyfor International Development)April 15 (Reuters) - Mining investment firm TechMet, whichcounts the U.S. government as its largest investor, said onThursday it had closed its second round of funding at $120million, roughly 50% higher than initially expected.The firm, which is an investo...Read More
The spodumene import price in China has been skyrocketing since the beginning of 2021 following a pickup in customer inquiries and tight availability of the raw material since Altura Mining's assets were taken off the market.Spodumene mined from Western Australia is a feedstock material used in the production of lithium chemicals that go into batteries for electric vehicles. Most of the spodumene...Read More
A summary of Australian lithium miner Orocobre's results for the first quarter of 2021, released on Wednesday April 14.In brief Sales of lithium carbonate salts from the Olaroz facility in Argentina totalled 3,032 tonnes in January-March 2021, with an average...Read More
In breaking tech news this week, reports indicate that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based self-driving startup Argo AI is strongly considering an IPO this year.Bloomberg reports:Bryan Salesky, Argo's co-founder, told employees in an all-hands meeting April 1 the company is looking to boost its funding as it comes closer to commercializing its self-driving technology, said the people, who asked not to...Read More
We spoke with Mike Young, Managing Director and CEO of Vimy Resources Limited (ASX: VMY, OTCQB: VMRSF), an Australian uranium development company, whose flagship project is the Mulga Rock Project, one of Australia's largest undeveloped uranium resources, located in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia.Vimy is moving towards project readiness for Mulga Rock and is preparing for early work...Read More
Concerns over South American producers' capacity to meet demand expectations for 2021 aggravated the lingering tight availability of battery-grade lithium compounds in the Asian seaborne market in the week to Thursday April 15.Buyers in the seaborne Asian lithium carbonate market reported increasing difficulty securing feedstock amid tight supply. The battery-grade lithium hydroxide price in China...Read More
Brazil was a net importer of finished steel during the first quarter of 2021 for the first time since 2014 amid a domestic supply-demand imbalance, according to data from the economy ministry.The country purchased 49,976 tonnes of steel more thanit exported. The figure takes into account unalloyed, non-special steel - hot- and cold-rolled coil, galvanized and Galvalume, and heavy plate, as we...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil continued to rise in Europe on Friday April 16 due to a shortage of material amid continuing strong demand, sources told Fastmrkets.Thursday's announcement of yet another offer price increase by ArcelorMittal gave additional support to the uptrend.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, at ?,?926.25...Read More
Fastmarkets' Ferrous Analytics report helps subscribers keep track of hot metal costs and steel production spreads in China, along with key pricing components of the steelmaking raw materials supply chain in Asia. Read More
Brazil was a net importer of finished steel during the first quarter of 2021 for the first time since 2014 amid a domestic supply-demand imbalance, according to data from the economy ministry.The country purchased 49,976 tonnes of steel more thanit exported. The figure takes into account unalloyed, non-special steel - hot- and cold-rolled coil, galvanized and Galvalume, and heavy plate, as we...Read More
Wire rod prices in Poland increased in the latest transactions, moving closer to official offer levels, driven by healthy demand and limited availability, Fastmarkets heard on Friday April 16.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (drawing quality), domestic, delivered Poland was 3,100-3,150 zloty ($815-828) per tonne on Friday, narrowing upward by 50 zloty from 3,050-3,...Read More
Steelmakers in Poland have tried to increase steel rebar prices for May bookings despite buyers' resistance, Fastmarkets heard on Friday April 16.Buying activity in Poland's rebar market slowed down this week on a mismatch between offers and bids, market sources said.Local rebar producers were attempting to increase their selling prices but buyers were taking a wait-and-see stance."The problem is...Read More
Pig iron export prices from Brazil rose again during the week to Friday April 16 following further sales. Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, export, fob port of Vitoria/Rio, Brazil was $540 per tonne on Friday, up by 3.35% from $520-525 per tonne the...Read More
The pig iron import market in the United States went up during the week ended Friday April 16 amid good demand and bullishness among suppliers.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $570-580 per tonne on Friday, up by $10 per tonne from $560-570 per tonne the previous week."There is demand in the US. Buyers...Read More
Domestic ferrous scrap prices in Germany have been largely unchanged over the month to Friday April 16, sources have told Fastmarkets.New scrap was an exception, with prices for such grades increasing slightly due to tight supply from the automotive sector.Fastmarkets' monthly price assessment for steel scrap No E3 (old thick steel scrap), domestic, delivered mill, Germany, was unchanged over the...Read More
Brazil was a net importer of finished steel during the first quarter of 2021 for the first time since 2014 amid a domestic supply-demand imbalance, according to data from the economy ministry.The country purchased 49,976 tonnes of steel more thanit exported. The figure takes into account unalloyed, non-special steel - hot- and cold-rolled coil, galvanized and Galvalume, and heavy plate, as we...Read More
Billet producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States selling material from the Black Sea basin continued to look for support outside nearer markets because buying activity there was limited by unfavorable market conditions. "Turkish customers practically give no bids," one trading source said, adding that softening scrap prices led to the negative sentiment in Turkish market. Fastmarkets' da...Read More
Fastmarkets' Ferrous Analytics report helps subscribers keep track of hot metal costs and steel production spreads in China, along with key pricing components of the steelmaking raw materials supply chain in Asia. Read More
Part 1 (part 2 below)Part 2?>>?Bill Fleckenstein is the President of Fleckenstein Capital and writes a popular column 'Contrarian Chronicles' for MSN Money as well as the daily Market Rap column for his website: Fleckenstein Capital. Bill has appeared at one time or another in virtually all financial media including Bloomberg, CNBC, The New York Times, MSN, Marketwatch, Barron's and more. Bill is...Read More
Ahead of Stansberry Research's much anticipated Bitcoin vs Gold debate, Bitcoin pioneer Max Keiser gives his pre-game analysis. Slated for premiere access on April 21st, the debate will feature Microstrategy's Michael Saylor and mining financier Frank Giustra, hosted by our Daniela Cambone. Keiser reveals punches he expects from both sides- and, for the first time ever, he talks about one competit...Read More