Three experienced mining leaders give valuable insights into decision-making and seizing opportunities during a global crisis.Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, mining executives are being forced to take swift action and make tough decisions as prices fall, economies contract and demand in key consuming industries declines. Three leading mining industry executives told Andrea Hotter about their res...Read More

After struggling throughout 2019 amid fierce competition from abroad, Chinese ferro-silicon exporters appear to be facing an even greater challenge this year. Global steel production shrank in the first half of 2020 amid the damaging economic and social effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, in turn dampening demand for ferro-silicon alloys.China, the world's largest ferro-silicon producer, exported 16...Read More

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange was pushed higher at the close of trading on Wednesday August 5 by a flurry of panic-buying against the monthly options expiry deadline, while zinc notched its highest close since January. Nickel's outright price on the LME closed at $14,419 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, its highest close of the year while trading volumes were the highe...Read More

A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 8.Please click...Read More

Seaborne prices across the board remained relatively flat on Wednesday August 5, with few transactions while most market participants were in wait-and-see mode, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $106.01 per tonne, down $0.39 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $116.30 per tonne, down $0.08 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $88.77 per tonne, down $...Read More

The NEW BULL MARKET seems to be intact, and it seems as if the trading momentum will likely continue to push silver up to the next target level of... by Steve St Angelo of SRSrocco ReportWith silver surging another $1.70 on Tuesday, the NEW BULL MARKET now seems to be intact. Not only did silver jump by another 7%, gold climbed by more than $41 by the end of trading. Gold closed at a new all-...Read More

A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 8.Please click...Read More

Prices for domestic cold-rolled coil in Southern Europe increased over the week to Wednesday August 5, but remained unchanged in the North of the region, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, domestic, exw Southern Europe, was ?,?480-490 ($565-577) per tonne on August 5, up by ?,?10 per tonne week on week from ?,?470-480 per tonne on July 29...Read More

RAPAPORT... Informa Markets, the organizer of the September Hong Kong show, has launched a digital platform enabling the jewelry industry to trade and network outside the context of physical exhibitions.The company behind the annual Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong fair created the service together with jewelry-technology provider Atelier Technology. The platform will help users make connection...Read More

RAPAPORT... Is it appropriate for jewelers to market during the pandemic?Yes, now is when jewelers need business the most. I think it's the perfect time to increase marketing and market share. There are many jewelers that aren't going to make it. Should they advertise in the same way, or should they change their approach?They should focus on making it more personal. In my experience, as long...Read More

Key data from the Wednesday August 5 pricing session in Shanghai.Key drivers The front-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed at 14,920 yuan ($2,138) per tonne on Tuesday, the highest since July 13 when the contract reached a three-and-and-half-year high of 15,185 yuan per tonne.The London Metal Exchange three-month daily official aluminium price rose to $1,748.50 per ton...Read More

Global aluminium premiums were supported amid continued LME spreads in contango with premiums in Rotterdam and the United States hitting a four-month high during the week to Tuesday August 5, while improved demand also strengthened the main Japanese ports (MJP) premium level.Rotterdam premiums rise to four-month highs; premiums in other European regions also increaseUS Midwest premium touches four...Read More

(IDEX Online) -  The Women's Jewellery Network, launched in the UK three years ago in a bid to smash the industry's "glass ceiling", has closed with immediate effect.It was founded by Victoria McKay, former chief operating officer of the London Diamond Bourse. It built up a following of thousands and an ambassador network covering many more countries, including Israel, Belgium, Fran...Read More

(IDEX Online) - An Indian businessman paid $4,000 for a face mask made of gold, even though he admits it probably offers little protection from coronavirus.Shankar Kurhade, 49, of Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, says he has been mobbed by passers-by keen to take selfies with him.The mask, held on with white elastic, is made of about 50 grams of gold and has tiny holes for him to breathe through."I am not...Read More

The traditional summer shutdowns kept global nickel premiums static in the week to Tuesday August 4, while Chinese steelmakers' preference for nickel pig iron and a closed arbitrage further dampened demand in Asia. Lack of import appetite leaves China premiums static.  US premiums unchanged amid lackluster spot trade.  European market out for summer, keeping premiums flat. Chinese import...Read More

(IDEX Online) - AGS will again provide grading reports on lab-grown diamonds, in response to increased demand.The US-based American Gem Society (AGS) ditched the service in 2012 because there was too little interest.The move brings them in line with Gemological Science International (GSI) and other labs which already offer a service for lab-grown diamonds.It says its reports will feature unique co...Read More

Premiums for copper cathode in Shanghai continued their slide this week, and are now at one-and-a-half-month lows. Demand globally remains sluggish while seasonally weak summer buying is being compounded by concerns over extended recessions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Shanghai copper premiums drop after stocks rise.Rotterdam premium stable amid low spot appetite, summer closures.US premium flat,...Read More

The three-month prices of base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange were up during the morning session on Wednesday August 5, buoyed by expansionary global manufacturing data, which has given renewed hopes of stronger metals demand. China's Caixin services purchasing managers' index (PMI) remains over 50, indicating expansion, despite dropping to 54.1 in July from 58 previously while the JP...Read More

RAPAPORT... Hong Kong's retail market took a turn for the worse this month amid the coronavirus's resurgence, reversing a slight improvement in June, the government cautioned Thursday.The municipality has entered a third wave of infections, prompting authorities to shut parts of the economy this week in an effort to contain the outbreak. "With inbound tourism remaining at a standstill and loc...Read More

Latin American steel group Ternium has reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) of only $223.90 million in the second quarter of 2020, on lower shipments to Mexico and Argentina, partially offset by a reduction in costs.This compared with Ebitda of $302.10 million in the first quarter and $404.60 million in the second quarter of 2019.In brief: Steel shipment...Read More