LATEST NEWS

ZINC TO RISE LONG TERM

S&P base case forecasts have gold at $750 falling to $500 long term, copper $3.25 falling to $1

Friday , 05 Sep 2008
Standard & Poor’s has revised its base-case metals prices to reflect the persistent strength of prices, a high degree of volatility, and market expectations over the next several years.
XSTRATA TAKES 17.8% INTEREST

Xstrata gets more of Indophil in bid for 100 percent of Tampakan copper/gold project

Friday , 05 Sep 2008
Shares in Indophil Resources fell 35.7% on news that Lion Selection Limited has sold its 17.8% stake to Xstrata for a lower price than was offered by rivals Stanhill.
GOLD PARALLELS

When is a fundamental a 'fundamental'? Some inconvenient geopolitical truths

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Although this article draws on oil markets for its comments and conclusions most of it is of equal relevance to the gold market – particularly as price movements for the two commodities seem to be inextricably linked in recent months.
$50M INVESTMENT

PolyMet gets metals giant Glencore as partner on major Minnesota base and precious metals project

Friday , 05 Sep 2008
After 18 months of discussion, Swiss commodities and raw materials giant Glencore plans to invest $50 million in a poly-metals project in the Mesabi Iron Range of northern Minnesota.
NO DATE FOR RESTART

Second fatality has BHP Billiton suspending all its Australian iron ore mines

Friday , 05 Sep 2008
A second fatal accident within ten days at one of its Australian iron ore mines has BHP suspending all production pending safety investigations. The mines produced 91 million tonnes last year.
FUTURE OF ECUADORIAN MINING MAY BE RISKY

As Kinross closes in on Aurelian ownership, analysts, small investors not all happy

Friday , 05 Sep 2008
The acquisition of junior explorer Aurelian Resources gives Kinross a foothold in Ecuador, which has yet to see a major gold mine under development. However, not everyone is happy with the deal.
POWER SUPPLY A MAJOR FACTOR

South African gold production still well down on a year ago

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
South African gold production declined 10.4% year-on-year in the second quarter compared to a 16.8% drop in the first quarter.
DRINKING TEA WITH HONEY

Russian regulator Mitvol stands up to new ouster move by Inspectorate chief

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
The bitter internal tussle over Oleg Mitvol's regulatory role continues unresolved.
IMPORTS TO DOUBLE

Indonesian steel imports hit record high from January to July

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that steel imports will double this year.
MIXED VIEWS

LME will launch molybdenum and cobalt contracts second half 2009

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
The London Metal Exchange is to launch cobalt and moly futures contracts in the second half of 2009.
WEST COAST CONSOLIDATION

De Beers, Trans Hex in talks on diamond mining operations

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Leading diamond mining and sales group De Beers has started discussions with Trans Hex on Namaqualand Mines as the group is concentrating on high-return, mega diamond mines.
BACK BELOW $800

Gold demand soars. Price falls. What's going wrong?

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
Physical demand for gold is surging but the price keeps taking serious knocks. What's happening.
GULF BETWEEN COMMON SENSE AND REALITY

The latest commodity stock carnage score sheet

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Market value losses among 825 globally listed resources stocks are at USD 1.7 trillion, but is this the extreme?
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FAST NEWS

BOU JABEUR DRILL RESULTS

Maghreb Minerals' shares jump nearly 7% 

HOPING TO SUPPLY CHINESE STEEL MILLS

Indian iron ore exporters may benefit from Vale's price hikes 

PUJADA PRODUCTION DATE DISPUTE

BHP won't withdraw from Philippine mine 

LHASA RAILROAD TO BE EXTENDED

Chinalco planning Tibetan exploration 

POWER SHORTAGE EASING

SA gold output jumps 9% in Q2 

FEATURED MINING COMPANIES
‘ANOTHER MONEY-LOSING MONTH’

Slump deepens for Morningstar resources and precious metals funds

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Net asset values of precious metals equity funds moved in the same direction as the price of gold last month--downward, according to Morningstar Canada.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Where are the gold bulls now?

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
Led by Barrick, listed gold stocks are taking a trashing, amid a commodities carnage dominated by a rising dollar and slowing global economic growth.
NEW AGENCY WOULD REPLACE DPM

Brazil could draft a new national mining law by October

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Brazil’s Mines and Energy Ministry is expected to introduce new mining law reforms next month, which will be considered by the country’s Congress next year.
NO RIVALS ON HORIZON

Xstrata sweetener could win Lonmin in platinum bid

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
Even though it appears to have the field to itself, the market seems to think a small increase to Xstrata’s bid for Lonmin could win the day.
STRONG GUELBS INTEREST

New investors sought for big Mauritanian iron ore project

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
With local political unrest causing major investor Qatar Steel to pull out, Australia’s Sphere Investments is seeking new investors for its 50% owned Mauritanian iron ore project.
AMENDED LAW ON COAL INDUSTRY

China intends to implement strategic coal reserve by 2015

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
With two strategic oil reserves now in operations in Zhejiang Province, the Chinese government now aims to create a strategic coal reserve to get a handle on soaring coal prices.
CENTRAL ASIAN STATES BACK RUSSIAN GAS PLAN

Russia steps on the gas - Georgia and Ukraine to pay

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
Anti-Russian allies fail to cook on hot air.
THRESHOLD BREACH

Huge commodities-focused hedge fund to close as prices dive

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
In yet another blow to the commodities sector, a $2billion commodities-focused hedge fund managed by Ospraie Management is to close after its value plunged 27 percent in August.
SPECTACULAR UPGRADE

Spotted Quoll a nickel treasure chest

Wednesday , 03 Sep 2008
A minerals conference in New Zealand was impressed by the performance of a local boy making good as both a nickel explorer and nickel miner, but the extent of the success of the company Julian Hanna runs – Western Areas NL – was shown by a news release the following day.
’RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR SAFETY’

MSHA seeks criminal charges in Crandall Canyon coal mine disaster

Thursday , 04 Sep 2008
Little more than a year after nine men ultimately perished in a disaster in a Utah coal mine, MSHA has finally decided to seek criminal charges against mine operator Genwal Resources.

COMPANY RELEASES
   DRC briefs mining executives on review terms - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   Tertiary initiates scoping at Storuman - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   Frontier announces Narrawa inferred resources - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   India Resources releases project update - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   Kalahari and Extract restructure ownership - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   Vale announces furnace stoppage in France - Friday , 05 Sep 2008
   Monto Minerals to wind down operations - Friday , 05 Sep 2008


CONFERENCES
   Denver Gold Forum  -Denver, USA  -
   Las Vegas Hard Assets Conference and Exhibition  -Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas  -
   Resource Investors Forum 2008  -St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada  -
   MINExpo 2008  -Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  -
   2nd Global Capital Conference and Exhibition  -Glaziers Hall, City of London UK  -
   Toronto Resource Investment Conference  -Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada  -
   Gold Investment Summit (UK)  -London Padington Hilton, London, UK  -
   Silver Investment Summit (UK)  -London Paddington Hilton, London, UK  -
   The World Money Show London  -QE II Conference Centre, Westminster, London, UK  -
   World Platinum Congress 2008  -RoyalGarden Hotel, Kensington, London, UK  -

MOST READ STORIES

SHIFT IN SENTIMENT

UBS urges clients to buy gold - we already are say investors

Thursday , 28 Aug 2008
The necessary conditions have been satisfied and it is time to invest in gold once more; while ETC flow suggest interest in commodities has returned.
PRIVATE INVESTMENT DRIVER

Gold could hit $1,000/ounce soon, but growing downside risk in 2 year timeframe

Tuesday , 02 Sep 2008
GFMS CEO Paul Walker says there are different signs that the broader economic backdrop is starting to turn away from gold.
COPPER ‘LEAST PREFERRED METAL’

UBS says metals commodities could see high prices over next several quarters

Monday , 01 Sep 2008
UBS believes that lower commodity prices could prove attractive to consumers, resulting in a modest recovery. Compounded with continuing supply growth concerns, higher metal prices may be realized.
FUND GOES FOR PRECIOUS METALS

JP Morgan Resource fund ‘loves' gold, and platinum market ‘fantastic'

Wednesday , 27 Aug 2008
JP Morgan Global Natural Resources Fund manager Ian Henderson says he expects gold to scale new peaks and that platinum demand doubts overdone.
INDIVIDUAL PURCHASING AT HIGH LEVELS

U.S. gold coin demand suggests Asian-style physical metal hoarding spreading to the West

Wednesday , 27 Aug 2008
The problems the U.S.Mint has had in servicing demand for the popular one ounce Gold Eagle coins suggest that physical gold is again becoming a key store of value for the man in the street in Western economies too.
CHINESE MANUFACTURING SECTOR SLOWING

'Surprisingly' strong copper price could fall in fourth quarter

Tuesday , 26 Aug 2008
The VM Group says the copper price is bound to fall in the fourth quarter of this year as it remains close to its all-time high, while demand from China is poor.
VM METALS REPORT

Gold and silver outlook both seen as gloomy, but some glimmers of brightness

Monday , 25 Aug 2008
The precious metals