RAPAPORT... J.C. Penney has named James Starke head of merchandising forthe jewelry, men's, children's and home departments, the retailer said lastweek. The retailer has also promoted Jodie Johnson to head ofmerchandising for the women's, beauty and family footwear divisions. BothStarke (pictured) and Johnson will report to Joe McFarland, the newly appointed executivevice president and chief cust...Read More

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Angola-focused diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company sold 2 072 ct of diamonds recovered from the Lulo mine, achieving gross proceeds of $1.7-million during its second sale for the year.This represented an average price per carat of $804. The ASX-listed miner said the largest diamond in the sale parcel weighed 44 ct, which also included a vivid pink of 1.9 ct.Adver...Read More

Steel producers in Russia are planning further price rises in the domestic markets for hot-rolled (HR) and cold-rolled (CR) sheet, Metal Bulletin has been told.Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of the price for Russian 4mm HR sheet was unchanged at 43,000 roubles ($757) per tonne cpt Moscow, including VAT, on Monday March 5.Steel producers kept their March-rolled HR sheet prices for both stockist...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Lucapa Diamond Company Limited and its partners have completed the second sale for 2018 of diamonds from the Lulo diamond project in Angola.   The sale of 2,072 carats of Lulo diamonds achieved gross proceeds of $1.7 million, with an average price per carat of $804. The largest diamond weighed 44 carats, which also included a vivid pink of 1.9 carats.   The latest sale br...Read More

RAPAPORT... The March Hong Kong show closed on Monday with dealers disappointed in the number of buyers that attended, even as they remain satisfied with the recent improvement in Far East demand. "Sentiment is positive, and buyers adapted to higher price levels that emerged in the past few months," said one Israel-based diamantaire who requested anonymity. Many noted that trading before the...Read More

Lead and zinc prices on the London Metal Exchange both closed lower on Monday March 5, reflecting recent stock increases. Zinc hit a two-month low of $3,273.50 per tonne today after a massive 78,950-tonne delivery into LME-listed warehouses in New Orleans. The metal was still $59 per tonne lower at $3,296 at the 5pm London close.The metal's cash/three-month spread briefly swung back into contango...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The 61st Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair, organized by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, held from February 21-25 attracted visitors from 113 countries with the top five visiting nations being India, Myanmar, China, USA and Russia, the organizers reported.   The Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair is part of the Thai government's aim of mark...Read More

RAPAPORT... Macy's sales increased in the fourth fiscal quarter, drivenby a solid performance in several divisions, including fine jewelry, thecompany said last week. Sales rose 1.8% year on year to $8.67 billion for the periodending February 3, while comparable-store sales - from branches open for atleast a year, including licensed stores - grew 1.4%. Total sales fell 3.7% to$24.84 billion for th...Read More

Exporters of hot-rolled coil (HRC) and cold-rolled coil (CRC) from the Commonwealth of Independent States increased their offer prices in the week ended Monday March 5 because of the higher prices being sought for China-origin material."The increase mainly related to the bullish mood of Chinese exporters, which are pushing prices higher and higher every day," a trader told Metal Bulletin.Metal Bul...Read More

RAPAPORT... Easyfairs has partnered with the Federation of BelgianDiamond Bourses (FBDB) and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) to presentthe upcoming Carat+ show.  "This partnership allows us to associate the Antwerp diamondsector and its organizations to an already successful Carat+ trade-showconcept," Dirk Oosterlinck, managing director of Easyfairs, the event's organizer, said Sunday...Read More

RAPAPORT... Sotheby's has named two senior managers for its Asian jewelry division: Lisa Chow as deputy chairman, and Jessica Wyndham as department head. Chow (pictured), who has been with the company since 1990, will also maintain her current position as general manager and sales director forSotheby's Diamonds. In her new job, she will be responsible for providingstrategic guidance and building c...Read More

CIS export billet prices continued to climb in the week ended Monday March 5, supported by strong demand in most sales outlets as well as reduced availability of material and rising scrap costs.Metal Bulletin's export CIS Billet Index was $534 per tonne fob Black Sea on March 5, up by $14 per tonne week-on-week. This took the index to its highest value since January 2013, according to Metal Bullet...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 5 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures on the SHFE dropped for the most part today except for tin, which inched up slightly. Zinc fell over 2%, aluminium slid over 1%, while copper and lead edged down slightly.Ferrous metals fell across the board with iron ore leading the slump and closing 4% lower. Coke dropped over 2%, rebar and hot-rolled coil slipped over 1%, and coking coal f...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 5 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures on the SHFE dropped for the most part today except for tin, which inched up slightly. Zinc fell over 2%, aluminium slid over 1%, while copper and lead edged down slightly.Ferrous metals fell across the board with iron ore leading the slump and closing 4% lower. Coke dropped over 2%, rebar and hot-rolled coil slipped over 1%, and coking coal f...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 5 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals futures on the SHFE dropped for the most part today except for tin, which inched up slightly. Zinc fell over 2%, aluminium slid over 1%, while copper and lead edged down slightly.Ferrous metals fell across the board with iron ore leading the slump and closing 4% lower. Coke dropped over 2%, rebar and hot-rolled coil slipped over 1%, and coking coal f...Read More

The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Monday March 5.The three-month zinc price is trading 1.5% lower on the London Metal Exchange, following a large stock delivery into New Orleans.On-warrant stock levels in LME-listed warehouses in New Orleans have almost doubled following the 78,950 tonne delivery. This is the largest one-day net increase for zinc stoc...Read More

U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 8 points in pre-opening trade. Investors are responding partially to no clear decision from Italy's election held yesterday.TJX added $0.35 to $84.00 after MKM Partners raised its target price to $94 to $87. XL Group gained $13.25 to $56.55 after receiving a takeover offer from AXA for $57.60 per share. The offer is.v...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 5 (SMM) – SMM assessed spot imported copper concentrate treatment charges (TCs) $4/mt lower to $70-78/mt on Friday March 2 due to higher demand and possible lower output.While some small and medium-sized smelters stocked up before the Chinese New Year holiday, traders actively sourced copper concentrate in anticipation of tighter supply. Lingbao Gold’s additiona...Read More

SHANGHAI, Mar 5 (SMM) – This is a roundup of global macro-economic news over the weekend and what is expected today.Last Friday nightThe US dollar slid following the country’s plan to impose sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. LME zinc dropped over 1% and tin edged down slightly, while SHFE tin inched up.Germany’s retail sales in January dropped 0.7% month on month a...Read More

Continue...Ray Dalio is an American businessman and founder of the investment firm Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds. In 2012, Dalio appeared on the annual Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2011 and 2012 he was listed by Bloomberg Markets as one of the 50 Most Influential people. Institutional Investor's Alpha ranked him No. 2 on their 2...Read More