RAPAPORT... US polished-diamond imports fell again in June, but the rate of decline eased as the economy reopened following lockdowns. Shipments were down 34% to $822 million for the month, according to the Commerce Department, compared with drops of 61% in March, 98% in April and 87% in May. US Trade Data for June 2020Read More

RAPAPORT... The numberof jewelry pieces being sent to the International Gemological Institute (IGI) forgrading and authentication continues to increase, indicating a faster-than-expectedrevival among jewelers, according to CEO Roland Lorie."I think that the problems come more from production andmanufacturing than the consumer side,"Lorie said on episode 31 of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast. "I'...Read More

RAPAPORT... The World Diamond Congress will take place in a virtual format beginning September 14, giving industry leaders an opportunity to brainstorm ways of navigating coronavirus-related challenges. The biennial event, a joint meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), was originally scheduled to take plac...Read More

RAPAPORT... US retail sales recorded their third consecutive rise in July, government data showed, as stores gradually resumed operations and devised ways of serving customers during the pandemic.Revenues of $536 billion for the month were 1.2% higher than in June and 2.7% above July 2019, according to figures the US Census Bureau released Friday. Sales outside of retail locations - such as v...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Chinese mining giant Anjin has officially resumed operations at Chiadzwa, Zimbabwe, almost five years after all the country's diamond mining was consolidated into a single government-run corporation.The Mugabe administration forced the closure of seven mining companies, including Anjin, and went on to merge their assets into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).But...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Australian miner Lucapa has restructured $13m of loan repayments after the pandemic saw rough sales plunge by 80 per cent.It said major financiers and shareholders, Equigold, New Azilian, and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa had deferred loan repayments from 2020 to 2022 and beyond.Managing director Stephen Wetherall said the amendments reflected an understand...Read More

AMAG Austria Metall Ag will acquire a 70% stake in German aerospace and aviation components manufacturer Aircraft Philipp Gruppe (ACP), the Austrian aluminium cast and flat rolled products company said. The deal is expected to be concluded in late autumn, with ACP to be retained as an entity which will operate and be managed as an independent company. ACP current owner Rolf Philipp will retain a 3...Read More

The aluminium premium at main Japanese ports (MJP) in the fourth quarter of 2020 was unlikely to rise from its level in the third quarter even though the gradual recovery of demand in the country has improved market sentiment in recent weeks, sources have told Fastmarkets.Last week was part of the summer break for the majority of end-users in Japan, but participants said that the MJP market has be...Read More

The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange was the standout performer during morning trading on Monday August 17, pushing past the $2,400-per-tonne resistance level despite continued stock inflows, while nickel futures continued their ascent against a wide forward curve.Zinc's outright price on the LME was recently trading at $2,426 per tonne, up 2.5% from $2,367.50 per tonne at the c...Read More

Metal prices were mostly firmer on both the London Metals Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange on Monday August 17, the exception was the SHFE September aluminium contract that was down by 0.3% while the rest of the metals on both exchanges were up by an average of 1.1%. United States/China trade talks over the weekend were postponed. Japan's preliminary gross domestic product fell by 7.8%...Read More

88 Energy (ASX:88E) Prepares for Billion Barrel Farm OutSPONSORED88 energyLithium no quiet place for AVZSPONSOREDavz mineralsScoped for growth: Nevada Copper shifts into production modeSPONSOREDnevada copper corp.Element 25's Butcherbird on songSPONSOREDelement 25The project is now ready for development, pending finance. Earlier this month, Orion was granted the water use licence.Read More

Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resources"The preliminary information indicates that the accident occurred underground at the Kakula north workings when a contractor's employee collided with the side wall of an access drive while attempting to move a drilling rig," Ivanhoe said.The company said Kamoa-Kakula's senior management team was working with DRC authorities to faci...Read More

Domestic flat steel suppliers to Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow are keen to increase prices from September, supported by stronger exports, although buyers doubt they will stick, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday, August 17.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled sheet, domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was unchanged at 41,000-42,000 roubles ($563-576)...Read More

Prices for rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow remained flat over the week to August 17, while sentiment in the market remained bullish on good demand from construction, sources said.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was 35,000 roubles ($480) per tonne on Monday, including 20% VAT, flat with the week before and...Read More

The domestic steel rebar price in Brazil increased for the second consecutive month in August, after steelmakers' attempts to raise it in July were successful, market participants said.Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Brazil was 2,510-2,620 Reais ($463-483) per tonne on Friday August 14, up from 2,410-2,530 Reais per tonne on July 10.As well as r...Read More

Egypt consumed 439,000 tonnes of rebar in July 2020, 33.48% less than the 660,000 tonnes it consumed in July 2019, Egyptian sources told Fastmarkets.This was up from 312,000 tonnes of rebar consumed in May 2020, but down from 658,000 tonnes of rebar in June 2020, sources added.The reasons behind Egypt's falling rebar consumption were the Eid al-Adha holidays at the end of July as well as the const...Read More

* Zinc touches highest in almost seven months * Lead hits strongest level since Jan. 23 * Yangshan copper premium extends losses (Updates prices) By Eric Onstad LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Nickel prices surged to theirhighest in nearly nine months on Monday on concern over supplyfrom the Philippines, the leading exporter of the stainlesssteel raw material. Copper and most other industrial metals al...Read More

Metal prices were mostly firmer on both the London Metals Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange on Monday August 17, the exception was the SHFE September aluminium contract that was down by 0.3% while the rest of the metals on both exchanges were up by an average of 1.1%.* United States/China trade talks over the weekend were postponed.* Japan’s preliminary gross domestic product fell by...Read More

The Brazilian ferrous scrap sector has renewed its efforts to secure supply deals on longer-term contracts with the country's two top steelmakers, ArcelorMittal and Gerdau, which currently buy in the spot market, according to scrap materials association Inesfa.Other producers which use scrap as input - such as Grupo Simec, Companhia Sider??rgica Nacional (CSN) and Ternium - already engage in contr...Read More

Healthcare SPDRS (XLV) moved above $107.53 to an all-time high extending an intermediate uptrend.Walmart (WMT), a Dow Jones Industrial Average stock moved above 4133.58 to an all-time high extending an intermediate uptrend.Dollar Tree (DLTR), a NASDAQ 100 stock moved above $107.53 extending an intermediate uptrend.  Pre-opening Comments for Monday August 17thU.S. equity index futures were hig...Read More