Inflation broke into the economy violently. It’s a destructive, dark force. But gold can resist it, being after all a much stronger asset than Anakin Skywalker.Last month, I wrote that “inflation is knock, knock, knockin’ on golden door”. I was wrong. Inflation didn’t knock, it broke down the door! Indeed, as the chart below shows, the core CPI surged 3%, while the ov...Read More

S&P 500 wasted another good opportunity to rise – onewhere the credit markets were largely aligned. Is it a sign of upcoming tremorsthat the 500-strong index couldn‘t defend the daily gains? Commodities weren‘tunder pressure, the dollar wasn‘t surging (looking at the closing prices),precious metals did well, and even lumber enjoyed a white candle again. Inflation expect...Read More

The U.S. Department of Energy is now backing continued research of an incredible fuel that has up to three times the energycontent of gasoline.More importantly, it could be the only fuelon earth that produces zero emissions when burned.Until recently, this remarkable fuel wasconsidered too dangerous and expensive to be used commercially…But a new technological breakthroughappears to have ma...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 9 that are worth another look.Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil largely trended downward over the past week due to limited trading activity in the spot market.Two Chinese investors...Read More

Domestic prices for European heavy steel plate moved up over the week to Wednesday June 9, supported by strong demand, sources have told Fastmarkets."Demand is strong and is getting stronger. German mills have healthy order books due to long-term project contracts, and spot buyers have low stocks," an Italian source said."The demand for plate is quite strong, particularly due to the low stocks amo...Read More

Prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly unchanged at the close of trading on Wednesday June 9, with futures contracts sticking to a consolidation phase at high levels so far this week.Zinc's three-month price, at $3,019.50 per tonne, was up b only $2.50 per tonne from Tuesday's closing price, but was at its highest value at the 5pm close since June 2, when it closed at $3,082.50 per tonne....Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil were mostly stable across Europe on Wednesday June 9, despite the continuing shortages of material and good demand, sources have told Fastmarkets.Northern European and Italian steelmakers have been offering HRC from fourth-quarter rolling, market sources said. And some producers in Central Europe have been able to provide third-quarter-delivery coil, although pr...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 9 that are worth another look.Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil largely trended downward over the past week due to limited trading activity in the spot market.Two Chinese investors...Read More

Prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly unchanged at the close of trading on Wednesday June 9, with futures contracts sticking to a consolidation phase at high levels so far this week.Zinc's three-month price, at $3,019.50 per tonne, was up b only $2.50 per tonne from Tuesday's closing price, but was at its highest value at the 5pm close since June 2, when it closed at $3,082.50 per tonne....Read More

Fastmarkets' index of the 63% Fe Australia-origin lump ore premium, cfr Qingdao, hit a record-high on Wednesday June 9 amid strong activity on a trading platform.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $212.67 per tonne, up by $3.17 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $214.71 per tonne, up $2.90 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $187.88 per tonne, up...Read More

With silver ready to EXPLODE HIGHER, the end of the road is HERE, and you can change everything about your future, today!by Bix Weir of Road to RootaWith both Silver & Theta/Tfuel Ready to EXPLODE higher NOW is your chance to change your financial future FOREVER!! But that takes ACTION by you and the mental strength to HODL through turmoil. The End of the Road is HERE and you can change everything...Read More

Seaborne premium hard coking coal prices remained largely stable in both the cfr and fob on markets Wednesday June 9, with most market participants on the sidelines, source said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $168.50 per tonne, up $0.20 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $282.87 per tonne, up $0.20 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $145.43 per tonne, up $3...Read More

Zinc producers in China's southwestern province of Yunnan should be able to fully resume their operations by mid-June, sources said.Yunnan will remove its power restrictions by the end of June that have stunted local zinc output, the provincial energy bureau said.A few zinc smelters in Yunnan have already resumed production, however, sources that spoke to Fastmarkets said.Production capa...Read More

RAPAPORT... India's major jewelry trade body has launched a new exhibition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expressing optimism that flights between the two countries will resume this summer.The first International Gem & Jewellery Show (IGJS) will take place from August 14 to 16 in Dubai, India's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said Wednesday. It will have space for...Read More

The US nickel market was active in the week to Tuesday June 8, with a consensus that falling supply and healthy spot demand will support the current premium range. US premiums poised for possible increase if miners' strike in Canada endures.  Continued arbitrage losses push some Chinese traders away from nickel plate.  European London Metal Exchange warehouse stocks fall 400 tonnes, but...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Mehul Choksi, the fugitive Indian diamond tycoon who claims he was abducted from a Caribbean island, says those responsible were prepared to kill him."I have no doubts that the agents if given enough reason and opportunity, would not have thought twice before killing me," he wrote in a report filed to police and seen by Times of India.Choksi, 62, is wanted by police in India as a s...Read More

RAPAPORT... The 54.03-carat Chrysler Diamond necklace was among the top sellers at the Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale in New York, bringing in $5.1 million.The pear-shaped, D-color, internally flawless stone was originally purchased by Harry Winston in 1958 from the estate of Thelma Chrysler Foy, the daughter of railroad and automotive executive Walter Chrysler. The necklace beat its high esti...Read More

RAPAPORT... Israel's diamond exports rose sharply in May as the global industry continued to recover and polished prices climbed, according to government data.Polished shipments after returns more than tripled to $264.2 million from $75 million a year earlier, reflecting a rebound from the 2020 coronavirus crisis, the Ministry of Economy and Industry reported Tuesday.Israel has almost entirel...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Chow Tai Fook saw net profits more than double to $777m, as it recorded its best performance since 2014 - in spite of the pandemic.China's biggest jeweler by market value says it opened 741 new points of sale across the mainland in the year to 31 March, and was planning a further 700-plus in the coming year. It currently has 4,591.The increased profits exceeded forecasts as th...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Russia may release diamonds from its state-controlled stockpiles, allowing Alrosa to replenish dwindling reserves as demand surges.The government holds undisclosed reserves of precious gems and metals in a repository known as Gokhran.It is now reported to be considering the release of some rough reserves through public auctions, according to Bloomberg News, which would Alrosa to re...Read More