WHATS NEW

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE

Kumba unearths unknown "third party"

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
One of the world's craziest, and most lucrative, contracts, may go gratis to a "black economic empowerment" entity.
RIO SPY SAGA

Rio four to stand trial next week

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
According to the Australian foreign affairs department, the trial of the four Rio Tinto employees accused by China of commercial spying will commence on Monday, March 22.
NINE MONTH EARNINGS NUMBERS

Avocet shares fall on pretax loss for nine months to December

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The group said impairment charges and higher output costs were to blame for the $10.6m loss but, added it was positive about the outlook for 2010
NO DETAIL ON HOW LONG IT WILL BE SHUT

Nickel production at Kwinana refinery interrupted - BHP

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The ongoing problem at the nickel refinery in Western Australia is the result of a hydrogen shortage
SECURITY OF SUPPLY

Indonesia to show flexibility in new mining sales

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The country said it would allow miners with long-term overseas supply contracts to increase production to meet new mining law requirements
QUARTERLY COMMODITIES REVIEW

Commodities "moderately bullish" in a two-speed world - SocGen

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
Moderately bullish on commodities as a whole for the year, Société Générale asserts that prices are likely to vary considerably from metal to metal with a strong emphasis on developing economies still a major theme.
REMOTE AUSTRALIAN GOLD PROJECT

Immense Tropicana gold project gets a new brother

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The Boston Shaker may be an important new name for Australia's biggest new gold mining blueprint out in the remote east of Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields.
CYCLONE WARNING

BHP to keep key Australian port closed after cyclone warnings

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The hay point coal terminal was first closed last Thursday and it has now been decided to keep it shut after news Tropical Cyclone Ului is expected to make land sometime this weekend
EARNINGS NUMBERS

Cloud Peak shares jump on strong fourth quarter numbers

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The US-based coal miner spun off by Rio Tinto said the results were helped by stronger prices from forward sales contracts
MINE ACCIDENT

African Barrick Gold halts production at Tanzanian mine after accident

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
The group is working to rescue miners trapped by a fall of ground at its Bulyanhulu mine
9.36% STAKE VALUE US$1BN

Papua Govt. seeks Grasberg mine royalties hike for Freeport Indonesia stake

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
A Papua provincial government official says increasing Papua's percentage of Grasberg royalties would help finance the government proposed 9.36% stake in PT Freeport Indonesia without partnerships.
ALLEGED LABOR, HUMAN RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS

Unions ask Norway's Govt. Pension Fund to drop Grupo Mexico holdings

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
Fed-up Mexican mining unions are aiming to hit Grupo Mexico where it hurts the most, convincing institutional investors to divest Grupo shares.
GOLD DIGGERS FIGHT FOR COPPER

Showdown over El Morro

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Barrick and Goldcorp slug it out over a copper-gold mine, or is it a gold-copper mine?
KOLWEZI TAILINGS

First Quantum in $12bn court farce

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
In a sad war of attrition, touching on insanity, the USD 787m Kolwezi tailings project is despoiled further, this time by a Congolese jungle court.
COPPER, GOLD, GOING FOR NICKEL

First Quantum raises the bar

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Record copper and gold production, as the group continues to expand, also outside Africa, and into serious nickel production from 2012.
GEM DIAMONDS

Another diamond digger survives 2009

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Just 700 big sparklers from Lesotho's Letšeng accounted for 78% of Gem Diamond's USD 244m revenues in 2009.
SOVEREIGN DEBT AN ISSUE

The evolution of gold

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Record highs in euro and sterling terms are indicative of the yellow metal's broadening appeal as insurance
NET MINE SUPPLY REDUCED BY 9%

Global gold hedge book down to just 236 tonnes

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
At just under five weeks' world mine production the global hedge book is far cry from its peak of 3,064 tonnes at its peak in 2000
PRODUCTION UP 53% IN TEN YEARS

West African gold achieving increasing global significance

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
In a few years the region could well be challenging for second place in the producer stakes
LA OROYA

Doe Run Peru could restart La Oroya smelter within six weeks - union

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
The smelter has been inactive for nine months because the company got into financial difficulties
BIDDING WAR HEATS UP

Counter bid for CBH Resources by Toho Zinc

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Toho Zinc Co Ltd of Japan, a major shareholder in miner CBH Resources has come up with a new offer for the Australian company to counter a takeover bid from Belgium metal refiner Nyrstar NV.
IRON ORE PRICING

Chinese commerce ministry seeks to maintain long-term pricing for iron ore

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
Many of the top Chinese mills have appealed to Premier Wen Jiabao to step in and take the issue up at the national level
GOLD UPDATE

Further currency woes bode well for gold

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
The yellow metal is relooking at all time highs in euros but, continues to track largely sideways in dollar terms
4TH LARGEST ALUMINUM COMPANY

Press says Vedanta Aluminum IPO may be in the offering

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
London tycoon Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Resources may be spinning off its aluminum division, the first of several spin-offs under consideration.
AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR SECTOR

Australia ‘losing the plot' on mining incentives - Chris Cairns

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
The managing director of aspiring Western Australian gold producer Integra Mining said that Australia has failed to back exploration for greenfields mineral exploration and the scenario may see many junior companies "going to the wall."
ANALYSIS

REALITY CHECK: Chilean power grid woes may spell big trouble for future copper supplies

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
An already over-taxed power supply, exacerbated by a fragile power system damaged by a powerful earthquake and aftershocks, could eventually prove problematic for the Chilean mining sector.
BRIDGE REBUILDING

Chinalco may be lining up for a stake in massive Oyu Tolgoi gold/base metals mine

Tuesday , 16 Mar 2010
The big Oyu Tolgoi base metals and gold project in Mongolia could see investment from Chinalco as Rio Tinto continues to rebuild bridges with China.
INVESTOR HUB: Gold / Copper

   


TOP STORIES

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE

Kumba unearths unknown "third party"

Wednesday , 17 Mar 2010
One of the world's craziest, and most lucrative, contracts, may go gratis to a "black economic empowerment" entity.
More 

FAST NEWS

NO DETAIL ON HOW LONG IT WILL BE SHUT

Nickel production at Kwinana refinery interrupted - BHP 

COPPER MARKET UPDATE

US Fed statement boosts copper prices