Tag Archive
High Hopes For Metals – US-FOREX.US
While recent pullbacks across raw materials may stoke fears of the bubble bursting, commodities bulls are undeterred. Inventories, after all, are extremely low and will have to be replenished once demand improves. Until then, volatility is just part of the game.Fears that China’s inventory build is over and that the economic recovery won’t be as… »
Iron Ore Ships As Steel Shapes Up – US-FOREX.US
Concerns about speculative buying continues to temper optimism regarding strengthening base metal prices as the market seeks to differentiate real metal demand from stockpiling and other conjectural buying. According to a recent report, one sector boasting solid demand is steel.Metal demand from China during the first half of the year bolstered steel demand, likely… »
BHPs Upturn Plans – US-FOREX.US
Cost consciousness is paying off at BHP Billiton. While the mining industry is still licking the wounds from an up to 90% tumble in some metal prices and faltering growth in commodity-gobbling China, the Anglo-Aussie company is keeping its eyes peeled for acquisition opportunities.
While investment in forthcoming projects would be its priority, “we do look… »
BHPReady For The Upturn – US-FOREX.US
The past twelve months were never going to be pleasant for miners, with spot prices for metals falling by up to 90%, and commodity-gobbler China witnessing faltering economic growth this year, but all in all, BHP Billiton seems to have coped as well as it could have under the circumstances.Profits at the Anglo Australian firm… »
China Finally Arrests Rio Workers – US-FOREX.US
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Rio Tinto’s bribery drama reached a new climax when China formally – and finally – arrested four employees of the Australian mining giant on Wednesday. But there are signs that China is beginning to play down the matter by charging the four with less serious crimes than expected, perhaps over fears that China’s… »
3 Billion Barometer Of Trade Tensions – US-FOREX.US
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China’s Yanzhou Coal appears set to announce a takeover bid to purchase Australian coal miner Felix Resources. The 3.1 billion deal would be China’s largest-ever acquisition in Australia and also a thermometer that measures the heat of the recent trade battle and diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Canberra.
Shares of Felix Resources
in Australia and… »
Will Precious Metals Shine Through Recovery – US-FOREX.US
Prices of both precious and industrial metals continued to climb during the second quarter, but with economic data gradually improving, sparking investors’ interest in recovery-related assets, precious metals could be losing their appeal. As economic indicators increasingly point to the early stages of a turnaround, investors shift from safe-haven-seeking mode to a recovery-minded approach.Gold and… »
Stake Sale Would Help Xstrata – US-FOREX.US
Has Xstrata gone far enough to slash its debt burden? The copper-focused miner raised 5.9 billion from shareholders in March, most of which went towards paying down debt, but the company is still carrying a 13 billion debt pile in an uncertain trading environment. This could explain why Xstrata is currently considering asset sales to… »
The Iron Ore War – US-FOREX.US
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China’s skirmish with Rio Tinto has escalated into an all-out war.First, the Anglo-Australian mining giant ruffled China’s feathers in June by scrapping a tie-up with China’s Chinalco. The Chinese miner was to pay 19.5 billion to buy Rio’s iron ore, copper and other assets, along with convertible bonds. Instead, Rio infuriated China by… »
BHP Takes On Jack The Knife- US-FOREX.US
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“Jack the Knife” is back. Jacques Nasser, the former Ford supremo, who acquired the nickname for his controversial cost-cutting efforts at the car maker, is going to chair BHP Billiton as it completes the merger of its Australian iron-ore business with Rio Tinto and continues with its price dispute with Chinese steel mills.Nasser… »