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BASE METALS

INDIAN DEMAND STRONG FOR POTASH

Copper to outperform as Chinese dragon breathes life - Scotiabank

Tuesday , 30 Jun 2009
As China's dragon has breathed life back into commodity prices, Scotiabank's Patricia Mohr expects copper imports to decline in the summer and rebound late this year and early 2010.

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Xstrata studying $5.2bn Tampakan copper/gold project

Friday , 26 Jun 2009
Xstrata Copper has confirmed it will conduct a study into the viability of the giant Tampakan copper/gold project in the Philippines.

DIVERSIFYING CORE BUSINESS

Copper, zinc, silver and gold miner Kazakhmys has low market rating

Friday , 26 Jun 2009
An analysis of London quoted. Kazakhstan based, Kazakhmys, one of the world's top 10 copper producers and also a significant miner of zinc, gold and silver.

IMPROVED BASE METALS SENTIMENT

BMO upgrades nickel forecast for 2009-12

Friday , 26 Jun 2009
BMO Capital Markets has sharply upgraded its short and medium term nickel price predictions, while long term price outlook is unchanged.

ACQUISITION SPECULATION

Brazilian miner Vale in no rush over China talks

Thursday , 25 Jun 2009
The mining group is in no rush to finish iron ore price talks with Chinese steelmakers and sees little possibility they could buy ore on spot markets.

TECK BLAMES GEOTECHNICAL ISSUES

Highland Valley Copper production to decline 35m pounds this year

Thursday , 25 Jun 2009
New geotechnical problems at the Highland Valley copper operation in British Columbia will cut copper production by 35 million pounds for the remainder of this year and by 115 million pounds next year.

PRESIDENT CRITICIZES OPPOSITION

Zambia opposition to curb Chinese mine deal

Wednesday , 24 Jun 2009
The opposition has said it wants to curb China's widening influence in the country's mining sector, saying Chinese firms have a poor safety record and pay low wages to workers.

UNFAIR PRICES

Australia investigates claims on China dumping aluminium

Wednesday , 24 Jun 2009
The complaints surface as Chinese exports of raw materials and semi-finished goods face less receptive buyers in countries hard hit by the financial downturn.

$69 M COST SAVINGS A YEAR BY 2010

World's biggest zinc smelter/refiner to expand into mining

Wednesday , 24 Jun 2009
Belgian Nyrstar, the world's biggest smelter and refiner of zinc, says it intends to become more vertically integrated by expanding into mining operations.

CHINA BUOYED MARKET

World copper in 48,000t surplus in Q1 - ICSG

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
A report from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) showed that production of the metal was in surplus during the first quarter of 2009.

RUSAL UNWILLING TO SELL

Potanin looking to buy RUSAL stake in Norilsk Nickel

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
The bitter battle over overall control of the world's largest nickel miner, Norilsk, continues with Vladimir Potanin reported as seeking to buy the 25% held by Oleg Deripaska's RUSAL.

INTERVENTION CALLS REJECTED

Peru won't bail out Doe Run and its base metals smelter problems

Tuesday , 23 Jun 2009
The Peruvian Government says it will not take over Doe Run's troubled base metals smelter operations at La Oroya, high in the Andes.

CRITICAL INDICATORS

U.S. Housing starts alone can't support the copper price

Monday , 22 Jun 2009
Although the latest U.S. Housing starts figure are way above the top end of analysts predictions the market looks like it does not believe them in the face of other key statistical indicators.

G8 FEARS

Copper and other commodity price speculation has returned

Monday , 22 Jun 2009
The recent G8 meeting discussed worries on the "not very nice things" which are happening in the return of speculation on commodities and derivatives.

$2BN COMMITMENT

BHP ends dispute with Asiaticus over Philippines nickel mine development

Monday , 22 Jun 2009
BHP and Philippine company Asiaticus, which have been in a legal tussle since last year over slow development of the Pujada nickel project, have agreed to end their dispute.

MEDIUM TERM PROMISE, LONG TERM DANGER

Copper price prospects in a recessionary decade

Friday , 19 Jun 2009
Simon Hunt, a well known copper specialist, presented a bleak view of the economy in general and for the future of the copper price at a recent copper conference in Bilbao.

STRANGE POTENTIAL BEDFELLOWS

Anglo American and Xstrata - The walking wounded

Friday , 19 Jun 2009
A business combination of Xstrata and Anglo American would create the world's most indebted mining entity, with an awkward pyramid structure, and a woeful track record on acquisitions.

DETERIORATING ECONOMICS

HudBay to close Flin Flon copper smelter, then the White Pine refinery

Thursday , 18 Jun 2009
Canadian base metals miner HudBay Minerals is to close its aging 80 year old Flin Flon copper smelter in Manitoba and then its White pine refinery in Michigan, saying economic impact will be minimal.

INDUSTRY GATHERING

Steel industry searching for answers on recovery prospects

Thursday , 18 Jun 2009
Several analysts believe destocking has come to an end and that order entries are beginning to improve, but they warn that recovery will take time as end-user demand remains depressed.

POWER CONTRACT ENDING

Rio's Angelsey aluminium smelter still looks set to close September

Thursday , 18 Jun 2009
Rio Tinto is still planning to close its major Angelsey Aluminium smelter in the UK unless its current power supply contract can be extended or a new one negotiated on favourable terms.

MMG LAUNCH

Flat Chinese industrial metals market predicted for 1-2 years

Thursday , 18 Jun 2009
Major Chinese mining and metals group, Minmetals, sees Chinese metals demand flat dampening recovery speculation.

RESEARCH NOTE

Goldman Sachs targets $5,800 copper by end of 2010

Wednesday , 17 Jun 2009
Growing expectations of a continuing recovery in economic growth could see the copper price back at $5,800 a tonne according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

ENOUGH POWER TO KEEP PUMPS GOING

Zambian copper mines shut by massive power blackout

Tuesday , 16 Jun 2009
A fire at a key transformer caused a virtual mine shutdown of Zambia's vital copper/cobalt mining sector, although the closures later mitigated by power imports from DRC

AUTO, MACHINERY PRODUCTS IMPACTED

Indian Govt to impose duty on aluminum imports for 2 years

Monday , 15 Jun 2009
India will impose a duty on imports of aluminum sheets and foils for two years.

15% BID INCREASE

Eleventh hour sweetener wins base metals miner OZ Minerals for Minmetals

Thursday , 11 Jun 2009
OZ Minerals shareholders have approved the Minmetals takeover/rescue deal following a last minute upping of its bid.

SMELTER NEEDS INCREASING

FQM considers new copper smelter and discovers high grade copper at Lonshi

Thursday , 11 Jun 2009
A shortage of copper smelting capacity in Zambia is causing First Quantum to consider building a new copper smelter and reports finding new deposits grading 5-7% copper below its Lonshi mine in the DRC.

SAGA CONTINUES

Macquarie set to make eleventh hour recapitalisation offer to OZ Minerals

Wednesday , 10 Jun 2009
Australia's Macquarie Bank is reported to be going to make a new improved offer to OZ Minerals involving share placement and rights issue as China's Minmetals deal due to close.