Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday December 18 that are worth another look.Global mining and metals company Rio Tinto and Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore and develop technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain,...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday December 18 that are worth another look.Global mining and metals company Rio Tinto and Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore and develop technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain,...Read More

RAPAPORT... Indian dealer Nehal Modi was charged Friday with grand larceny for allegedly stealing $1.4 million in diamonds from a New York wholesaler in a multipart scam.In March 2015, Modi - the brother of infamous Indian jeweler Nirav Modi - borrowed nearly $800,000 worth of diamonds from LLD Diamonds for a purported deal with Costco, prosecutors said Friday in a court filing. However, instead o...Read More

RAPAPORT... Angola state diamond trader Sodiam has received interest from a number of major tender houses and other providers wishing to establish service centers in the country's new diamond exchange.The Angolan Diamond Bourse (ADB), due to be operational by the end of 2021, will consider offers from tender houses Bonas Couzyn, based in Antwerp; South Africa-based First Element; UK-headquartered...Read More

RAPAPORT... The pandemic has altered how US consumers shop for engagement rings, rather than having a major impact on the amounts they spent, according a survey by wedding resource The Knot.Proposers made greater use of online tools during Covid-19, for example, by spending time researching rings on the internet or connecting with jewelers on social media, the organization said Thursday in it...Read More

RAPAPORT... The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is preparing a new 10-year plan for ensuring the organization and its members achieve the UN's sustainable-development goals (SDGs). The "Roadmap to 2030 and Beyond" will outline how the RJC intends to meet these goals, and how members can align their operations and reporting with them, the council said last week. The document will also expl...Read More

RAPAPORT... Rio Tinto achieved record value at its 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, after bidders raised prices for the rare stones as supply has come to an end.The company offered 62 pink, red, blue and violet stones, weighing a total 57.23 carats. It allowed participants to view the goods using livestreaming and a virtual portal at locations in Antwerp, Singapore and Perth, Australia,...Read More

(IDEX Online) - A brother of fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi has been charged in the USA with a $1.4m diamond fraud.Nehal Modi, a Belgian citizen, is accused of "grand larceny in the first degree" for allegedly obtaining gems by fraud from the wholesaler LLD Diamonds USA, in Manhattan, New York, in 2015. He has been indicted by the New York Supreme Court.He allegedly claimed the diamonds would be...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Beny Steinmetz, the diamond and real estate billionaire, has been handed a five-year jail term by a court in Romania after he was convicted of a land deal fraud. The country's Supreme Court overturned the decision by a lower district court to acquit him last year.Steinmetz, 65, (pictured) an Israeli national, was accused of being involved in corrupt enterprise to recover...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The family-owned Swarovski crystal jewelry empire is reportedly in turmoil as it faces plunging profits and the prospect of wholesale job losses. Robert Buchbauer, recently-appointed CEO and great-great grandson of the company's founder Daniel, wants to shed 6,000 staff, shut 750 stores and take the brand upmarket, according to the AFP press agency. But other family members ar...Read More

In England, we have had festivals at this time of year since well before the Romans began their creeping conquest in AD43. The occupation of most of Britain was a done deal by AD60 following the defeat of Queen Boudica (leader of the Iceni in modern day Norfolk).Back then we were celebrating pagan festivals, either the Anglo-Saxon M??draniht (Night of the Mothers) or Yuletide, which was a mid-wint...Read More

Mid-tier gold miners' stocks are again setting up to achieve more massive gains during gold's next bull upleg.Read full newsRead More

Investors are putting pressure on gold miners, whose high greenhouse gas emissions have been less scrutinized, to report transparently and take concrete steps to curb them after a rally in prices this year drew closer attention to the sector's footprint.Read full newsRead More

Company is raising C$85 million through a subscription receipt offering with a group of investors that will result in a new board and management, as well as a new name.Read full newsRead More

It seemed like we were heading towards the pandemic’s end, as mass vaccinations began across several parts of the world. However, we are not out of the woods yet. The newfound COVID variant, uncovered in the U.K., is apparently more dangerous and is creating havoc through the global financial markets. Here’s how to play the broad market weakness.Barrick GoldThe markets will likely trad...Read More

The idea of buying today’s top stock picks may lack appeal to some investors. The 2020 stock market crash could be fresh in their minds, while an uncertain economic outlook may hold back the performance of many sectors.As such, they may determine that buying physical gold or a gold ETF is a better idea. However, low valuations on offer across the stock market and a likely economic recovery m...Read More

The stock market has witnessed a strong bull run over the past several months despite the economic data pointing otherwise. While the growing disconnect of the stock market with the economy and high valuations led to speculations that a crash is near, I believe the fear of the new COVID-19 strain could possibly be the trigger that could lead to a strong correction. The negative news for the s...Read More

Dec 21, 2020 Guest(s): Ruth Crowell Chief Executive Officer, LBMA With lockdowns resuming in Europe, concerns rise that London, a major vaulting center, will face logistical challenges in transporting and servicing gold and silver bullion, similar to what happened in March that led to shortages of the physical precious metals markets. Ruth Crowell, chief executive of the London Bullion Market As...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday December 21 that are worth another look.Market participants in Asia are bracing for sharp price corrections amid historically high prices for steel, iron ore and ferrous scrap in the region, industry sources told Fastmarkets this week.China's Zhuzhou zinc smelter has successfully met...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were down across the board at the close on Monday December 21 amid broad-based profit-taking. Lead was the worst performer, falling 3.9% to $1,959.50 per tonne at the close. Trading volume was relatively low with just over 5,000 lots. Lead stocks on the LME continue to rise, weighing on sentiment for the heavy metal. After big inflows of 13,000 tonne...Read More