Gold prices are slipping as talk of a “taper tantrum” has investors thinking that the US Federal Reserve’s bond-buying program could be scaled back.Over the last three days spot gold has dropped $18, peak to trough, on news of US jobless claims falling sharply to 348,000, and the US dollar scaling over a nine-month peak. The dollar’s rise makes gold expensive for holders of...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday August 20 that are worth another look.Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau will increase its interest in Mexican joint venture Gerdau Corsa from 70% to 75% by merging three of its units in the country and selling a stake to Grupo C??rdova, the company said...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday August 20 that are worth another look.Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau will increase its interest in Mexican joint venture Gerdau Corsa from 70% to 75% by merging three of its units in the country and selling a stake to Grupo C??rdova, the company said...Read More

RAPAPORT... Alfred L. Woodill, a former executive director of the American Gem Society (AGS), died on August 17 at the age of 101.Known to his friends as "Big Al" or "Mr. AGS," Woodill served in the position from 1947 to 1987, the organization said in a statement Thursday. "We are all heartbroken at the loss of this great man, who was so instrumental in shaping the American Gem Society," said...Read More

RAPAPORT... Jewelry was one of the top-selling categories at Macy's during the second fiscal quarter as shoppers refreshed wardrobes in preparation for a return to going out."We saw continued strength in dressy apparel, fine jewelry and fragrances as our customers prepared for in-person social events and back to school," Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette said last week in an earnings call transcribed by Th...Read More

RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports skyrocketed to well above pre-pandemic levels in July amid increased domestic spending in the US and China.Global shipments rose 8% compared to the same month of 2019, reaching CHF 2.05 billion ($2.23 billion), the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said last week. Exports jumped 29% year on year, reflecting a favorable comparison with the Covid-19 downturn in J...Read More

RAPAPORT... De Beers will introduce stones of up to 2 carats from its Lightbox lab-grown diamond jewelry line, along with a high-end collection.The company, which previously only offered pieces up to 1 carat, will release the larger-sized pink, blue and white stones in October, it said last week. The new stones will follow the brand's previous pricing of $800 per carat, meaning a 1.5-carat diamond...Read More

Organized retail crime and numerous other security concerns evolved in 2020, with most retailers attributing the increase in criminal activity to the pandemic, according to a National Retail Federation report. "Retailers have continuously pivoted throughout the pandemic to ensure their employees can work within a safe environment and their customers can shop safely, whether in stores, online...Read More

The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry has reported a "marked recovery" in watch exports in July, following a first half of the year that was practically identical to the period before the COVID-19 crisis.   Exports of Swiss watches, many of which are set with diamonds, showed a 29.1% increase compared with 2020 which marked the start of a slow and uncertain recovery, driven almost exclus...Read More

The Japan Grown Diamond Association believes lab-grown diamonds are beginning to take off in the country and have great potential.   "I doubt we even have 1% share of the market here because of the little supply and lack of resale market," said Shigeyuki Ishida, representative director of Japan Grown Diamond Association. "It will grow from here," he told Bloomberg News   According to ana...Read More

Israeli ocean carrier ZIM blew away all the analyst forecasts Wednesday, posting blockbuster earnings for its second quarter and revealing a massive increase in its full-year guidance. ZIM (NYSE: ZIM) has moved fast to squeeze the most short-term gain out of what CEO Eli Glickman described asRead full newsRead More

NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After a lengthy rough patch, the gold industry is showing signs of revival thanks to record high gold prices last year. Many experts...Read full newsRead More

The spot price of gold rose above the US$1,800/ounce mark during today’s trading session. In February 2020, I’d discussed why the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to spur a run for the yellow metal. Indeed, gold would rise above a record US$2,000/ounce by the middle of the summer. However, that momentum would wane in the face of rebounding stocks and a major resurgence for the crypt...Read More

Those worried about high valuations and the potential for a big market correction certainly have reason to look at hedges. Indeed, finding a specific ETF or gold miner can be quite a daunting task. Indeed, the TSX happens to have a large number of options to choose from in this regard.However, one specific gold miner I’ve had my eye on for some time has been Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX)(NYSE:...Read More

The idea that a market pullback (significant or otherwise) has been around for some time. It’s been a while since we’ve had a full-on market crash, so investors may rightly expect one sooner than later.However, the catalysts underpinning this recent valuation expansion in equities may not be over. Investors betting on continued easy money policies and a growing economy have a lot to li...Read More

The U.S. dollar, as we know it today, just turned 50.Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the dollar becoming a fiat currency. On August 15, 1971, President Richard Nixon announced the dollar would no longer be convertible to gold, but would instead be backed by the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution.This was the end of what is colloquially known as the "gold standard" in America an...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More

Cancellation of 44,000 tonnes of copper in London Metal Exchange warehouses kept the metal's nearby price spreads in backwardation on Monday August 23, while sentiment for LME prices turned positive after a week of selling.Some 44,475 tonnes of copper were booked for removal from the Busan, Singapore and Kaohsiung warehouses on Monday, reducing the amount of metal on-warrant to 197,750 tonnes, the...Read More

A summary of China's battery raw materials imports for July 2021, according to the latest Chinese customs data released on Friday August 20.In brief Imports of cobalt rose month on month despite unappealing import profits in June and July. A trader source told Fastmarkets that some cobalt arriving in a Chinese bonded warehouse in July was immediately exported again, meaning the actual amount circu...Read More

KEFI said it had assembled a funding package of US$356 million, which should cover infrastructure, start-up of the open pit and initial work on the underground development. The company previously Read More