Doug explains how technology is a double-edged sword, and how countries are using it to spy on their citizens. The "surveillance state" is already here, but will it get worse? Doug gives you his take today...Continue...Read More

This has all been a coordinated effort for the REAL AGENDA which is not vaccines or even saving the planet Continue...Read More

Now it's new vehicles, restaurants, energy. Game of Whac-A-Mole as some price spikes slow while others begin. But it's a lot worse than it seems.Continue...Read More

So sorry, America, but your central bank is certifiably insane, and it's not going to magically work out. History definitively shows that speculative bubbles alwaysContinue...Read More

"We don't have anything that will stop transmission," said Pollard, "so I think we are in a situation where herd immunity is not a possibility and I suspect the virus will throw up a new variant that is even better at infecting vaccinated individuals."Continue...Read More

"The Moderna vaccine is likely - very likely - more effective than the Pfizer vaccine in areas where Delta is the dominant strain, and the Pfizer vaccine appears to have a lower durability of effectiveness."Continue...Read More

Inflows stand in notable contrast to continued net selling from US funds suggesting a divergence in Continue...Read More

Over the last year, you'd be hard pressed to find a worse investment over the last year [than] gold."Continue...Read More

Iron ore prices went up on Wednesday August 11 following the uptrend in steel and coke prices, but the demand outlook remained bearish, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $165.48 per tonne, up by $3.04 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $165.97 per tonne, up by $3.22 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $134.28 per tonne, up by $3.34...Read More

Export billet prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region declined at the beginning of the week, pressured by low prices and poor demand.Lower import scrap prices in Turkey as well as low demand in major sales outlets due to the summer slowdown were the main reasons for the negative mood."[The] market seems very soft. August is a quiet month in general as well," a Europe-based...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices continued on an upward trend on Wednesday August 11, despite a drop in demand caused by the impact of adverse weather in many regions.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,230-5,260 yuan ($807-812) per tonne, up by 30 yuan per tonneEnd-user demand dropped day on day because of the heavy rains in the eastern region and high temperatures in the south.The...Read More

Spot ferro-chrome prices in China continued to correct downward after peaking at a 13-year high point at the end of July, despite the continuing output restrictions caused by power supply limitations in a number of production regions.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome, spot, 6-8% C, basis 50% Cr, ddp China, fell by 400-500 yuan to 10,400-10,800 yuan ($1,603-1,665) per tonne on Tuesday...Read More

Prices for steel hollow sections in Europe remained unchanged on Wednesday August 11 with the market moving through a seasonally slower period of trading, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium) domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?1,400-1,430 ($1,642-1,677) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week."Prices remain above ?,?1,400 per tonne,...Read More

The shareholders of United Arab Emirates-based Arkan Building Materials have approved the merger of their company with Emirates Steel, Arkan said on August 9.Arkan owns companies in the construction-related sectors, including cement and concrete producers.Emirates Steel has crude steel capacity for 3.5 million tonnes per year, making it the biggest steel producer in the UAE. It produces rebar, wir...Read More

The Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ), fell to lows near $43.06 recently, which matched the low from the end of March 2021, near $43.24.Although these lows are not exactly the same, the span of time between these unique lows and the very close nature of them makes them a Double Bottom setup.It is very likely that this support level will prompt a new upside price rally in Junior Miners targeting $50 to...Read More

The Fed acknowledged the economy’s progress, but it’s still not “substantial progress.” In short, Powell merely slowed the hand of the tapering clock.Last week (July 28, 2021), the FOMC published its newest statement on monetary policy. The publication was barely altered. The Fed noted that the US economy has continued to strengthen, although the sectors most heavily hit by...Read More

Sometimes fantasy becomes reality. At other times, a dose of reality will temper fantasies of outsized and unjustified proportion.Some silver investors and analysts could use a dose of reality. Below is a chart of silver prices dating back to 1915… Silver Prices – 100 Year Historical ChartSILVER PRICE HISTORY In November 1919 the price of silver was $1.13 oz.  From that po...Read More

A summary of the financial performance of Brazilian aluminium producer Companhia Brasileira de Alum?-nio (CBA) for the second quarter of 2020, according to its earnings report released on Tuesday August 10.In brief Total aluminium sales increased year on year during the second quarter amid a "consistent" recovery of Brazilian demand following the 2020 low caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, CBA said....Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 11 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal will start up a third rolling mill at its Jo??o Monlevade long steel plant in Brazil's southeastern Minas Gerais state in January 2022, due to strong demand and...Read More

Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Europe moved down slightly in the week ended Wednesday August 11 due to limited trading activity, sources told Fastmarkets.Demand has been weak because of the seasonal slowdown across Europe, but this was expected to recover in September, following the traditional cycle.In addition, competitive offers from Central Europe have contributed to the downbeat sen...Read More