RIGA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Latvia's anti-corruption agency released central bank Governor Ilmars Rimsevics from custody on Monday after accusing him of soliciting a bribe.Video footage from Latvian news portal Delfi showed Rimsevics rejecting the allegations as he was released. "I disagree with it categorically," Rimsevics told reporters. (Reporting by Gederts Gelzis; Editing by Catherine...Read More
While the United Nations' International Seabed Authority (ISA) in charge of issuing mineral exploration licences has granted 26 so far, Papua New Guinea remains the only country to have granted an operating permit for ocean floor mining.Canada's Nautilus is on track to start operations at its Solwara gold, copper and silver project in the Bismarck sea off PNG in early 2019, making it the first und...Read More
While the United Nations' International Seabed Authority (ISA) in charge of issuing mineral exploration licences has granted 26 so far, Papua New Guinea remains the only country to have granted an operating permit for ocean floor mining.Canada's Nautilus is on track to start operations at its Solwara gold, copper and silver project in the Bismarck sea off PNG in early 2019, making it the first und...Read More
While the United Nations' International Seabed Authority (ISA) in charge of issuing mineral exploration licences has granted 26 so far, Papua New Guinea remains the only country to have granted an operating permit for ocean floor mining.Canada's Nautilus is on track to start operations at its Solwara gold, copper and silver project in the Bismarck sea off PNG in early 2019, making it the first und...Read More
Bleeding U.S. dollar.Two sides of a reserve currency's international appeal.Europe's triumphant comeback. The U.S. dollar has been bleeding recently, despite all the Fed's tightening efforts and the passage of Trump's tax cuts. An accelerating economy, rising interest rates and pro-growth reforms should logically drive the value of the American currency. But they didn't. Given the strong negative...Read More
(Bloomberg) - Glencore Plc and Randgold Resources Ltd. are among major mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo clubbing together in a bid to stop sweeping legal reforms, claiming their interests were poorly served by the existing industry body.In a letter sent to Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Feb. 8 and seen by Bloomberg, investors requested a meeting "to once again put forwar...Read More
(Bloomberg) - Glencore Plc and Randgold Resources Ltd. are among major mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo clubbing together in a bid to stop sweeping legal reforms, claiming their interests were poorly served by the existing industry body.In a letter sent to Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Feb. 8 and seen by Bloomberg, investors requested a meeting "to once again put forwar...Read More
By Elizabeth Piper and Paul SandleLONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - British universities must offer students value for money, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday, launching a review that could reduce fees and restore grants in a bid to entice younger voters who helped punish her party at an election last year.In a speech designed to show her programme for Britain is more than just its departure fro...Read More
Feb 19 (Reuters) - Battery and technology metals developer Australian Mines Ltd said on Monday it signed a deal with Korea's SK Innovation Co Ltd to supply cobalt sulphate and nickel sulphate from its flagship Sconi project.The commodity off-take agreement, which is for an initial period of 7 years, is for SK Innovation's newly developed battery manufacturing plant in Hungary and Korea, the compan...Read More
BRUSSELS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Euro zone ministers on Monday chose Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos to succeed European Central Bank Vice President Vitor Constancio at the end of May, they said in a statement."The Eurogroup today gave its support to the candidacy of Luis de Guindos for the position of Vice President of the European Central Bank," the ministers said.The nomination w...Read More
Feb 19 (Reuters) - Petra Diamonds Ltd said core earnings fell 8 percent in the first half of the year, hurt mainly by a strike at its South Africa operations and the blocking of a consignment of diamonds in Tanzania.The miner issued a profit warning and cut its production forecast last month after it faced a string of issues, including a three-week strike at its South Africa operations and the blo...Read More
Feb 19 (Reuters) - Petra Diamonds Ltd said core earnings fell 8 percent in the first half of the year, hurt mainly by a strike at its South Africa operations and the blocking of a consignment of diamonds in Tanzania.The miner issued a profit warning and cut its production forecast last month after it faced a string of issues, including a three-week strike at its South Africa operations and the blo...Read More
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The value of global mining and metals deals hit a four-year high in 2017, according to accountancy firm EY, as financial distress abated and companies sold off non-core assets.Mining and metals deals totalled $51 billion last year, up 15 percent from 2016 and dominated by coal and steel transactions, although the volume of transactions fell 6 percent."The focus for...Read More
* U.S. dollar enjoys bounce after recent falls* Euro slips below $1.24; yen down slightly* Trading lighter than normal with U.S., Asian holidays* Graphic: World FX rates in 2018 By Tommy WilkesLONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The dollar enjoyed a small rebound on Monday as investors bought back the greenback after its plunge to three-year lows, although analysts said any recovery looked set to be brief...Read More
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the world's top platinum producer, announced its first dividend in seven years on Monday as full-year headline earnings more than doubled and said it was not committing capital to major projects in 2018.Amplats' investment stance highlights the fragile state of platinum mining in South Africa, home to around two-thirds of known re...Read More
By Anshuman Daga and Jacob Gronholt-PedersenSINGAPORE/COPENHAGEN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Private equity firm EQT has put Denmark-based Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world's largest regional aircraft lessor, up for sale just 2-1/2 years after buying a majority stake in the company, two sources familiar with the matter said. Swedish private equity firm EQT acquired a 54 percent stake in NAC in Augu...Read More
The value of global mining and metals deals hit a four-year high in 2017, according to accountancy firm EY, boosted by a jump in money raised on stock exchanges to a six-year high.Mining and metals deals totalled $51 billion last year, up 15% from 2016. Activity was dominated by coal and steel transactions. However, the volume of deals fell 6% as M&A focus in the sector started shifting from dives...Read More
The value of global mining and metals deals hit a four-year high in 2017, according to accountancy firm EY, boosted by a jump in money raised on stock exchanges to a six-year high.Mining and metals deals totalled $51 billion last year, up 15% from 2016. Activity was dominated by coal and steel transactions. However, the volume of deals fell 6% as M&A focus in the sector started shifting from dives...Read More
The value of global mining and metals deals hit a four-year high in 2017, according to accountancy firm EY, boosted by a jump in money raised on stock exchanges to a six-year high.Mining and metals deals totalled $51 billion last year, up 15% from 2016. Activity was dominated by coal and steel transactions. However, the volume of deals fell 6% as M&A focus in the sector started shifting from dives...Read More
* Rand weakens along with emerging markets* Markets await budget speech on Wednesday* Stocks down amid low trading volumes (Adds latest figures, analyst quotes)JOHANNESBURG, Feb 19 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened along with other emerging currencies on Monday as the dollar regained ground it lost last week and investors awaited details of new president Cyril Ramaphosa's plans to revive th...Read More