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Asia

North America

Mining

Silver nears record high, gold holds 7-week high. Investors gauge Fed's trajectory as they watch the gold price.

The gold price held at a 7-week high?Friday. This was due to the expectation of further interest rate reductions next year after the U.S. Federal Reserve rejected hawkish bets. Silver prices were just below their record high from Thursday. Gold spot fell 0.3% at $4,270.89 an ounce as of 0524 GMT. However, it was still on course for a weekly gain of 1.8% after reaching its highest level since October 21 last Thursday. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $4302.10. Dollar was set to drop for the third consecutive week, making gold cheaper for foreign buyers. Soni Kumari, an ANZ...

Mining

Silver nears record high, gold holds 7-week high. Investors gauge Fed's trajectory as they watch the gold price.

The gold price held at a 7-week high, supported by the expectation of further interest rate reductions next year, after?the U.S. Federal Reserve rejected hawkish bets. Silver hovered below Thursday's historic peak. Gold spot fell 0.2% at $4,275.44 an ounce as of 0236 GMT. However, it was still on course for a weekly gain of 1.8% after reaching its highest level since October 21 last Thursday. U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $4306,20. Dollars are on course for a third consecutive weekly decline, lowering the price of?bullion for buyers from abroad. Soni Kumari, ANZ analyst, said: "Gold looks quite positive....

Mining

Silver reaches record highs after Fed rate cuts; gold reaches over one-month high

The dollar fell on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered its?quarter-point interest rate. Silver also surged, reaching a new record high. As of 01:42 pm, spot gold had risen 1.2% to $4,280.08 an ounce. ET (1842 GMT), achieving its highest level since the 21st of October. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery settled 2.1% higher, at $4.313 per ounce. Spot'silver' rose by nearly 4%, to $64.22 an ounce. It is hovering around the record high of $64.99 it reached earlier in the session. Edward Meir, Marex analyst, said that silver is pulling gold with it. It's also bringing platinum...

Mining

Silver reaches new highs after Fed rate cuts; gold holds steady

Gold was stable on Thursday after the 'U.S. Federal Reserve reduced borrowing costs by a quarter percent but indicated a pause on further rate cuts. Silver surged to a new record high. As of 10:05 am, spot gold was up by 0.1% to $4,233.39 an ounce. ET (1505 GMT), while U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 0.1% per ounce to $4,262.60. Daniel Pavilonis is a senior market strategist with RJO Futures. He said that investors are in a waiting-and-see-mode following the Fed's much-anticipated decision to reduce interest rates during its Wednesday meeting. Pavilonis said that prices are likely to...

Mineral Resources

Silver reaches new highs; gold falls after Fed split vote on rate cuts

Gold edged lower on Thursday, as traders weighed ?the U.S. Federal Reserve's divided vote on a quarter-percentage-point ?interest ?rate cut, while silver climbed to yet another record high. As of 1248 GMT, spot gold dropped 0.3% to $4216.49 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 0.5%, to $4244.40 an ounce. Ross Norman, an independent analyst, said that the fundamentals of gold remained unchanged. The Fed cut rates by a quarter percentage point in a rare, divided vote on Wednesday. However, officials signaled a pause before further easing. They are assessing the future direction of the job market as...

Environment

Ghana bans mining on forest reserves in order to reduce environmental damage

Ghana has banned mining within forest reserves, as part of an environmental protection program aimed at protecting water bodies and halting the deforestation. Africa's leading gold producer, which is also the world's largest, is fighting a "surge" in?poorly-regulated small-scale mining, which is destroying cacao farms, degrading rivers and forests, and increasing sustainability risks for its mining industry, sparking protests. Industrial miners have reported frequent incursions of illegal operators on concessions. This has forced key operators such as Gold Fields AngloGold Ashanti Newmont and Asante Gold, to increase their investments in surveillance drones, security systems, and community engagement programmes. According to...

Mining

Copper prices rise with Fed rate cuts, but there are concerns about the outflow of US stocks

Copper prices rose Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates. Meanwhile, continued outflows from U.S. stocks of copper'supported concerns about a tighter supply elsewhere in the world. By 1044 GMT, the benchmark three-month Copper on London Metal Exchange had risen 0.8% to $11,646 a metric ton. The metal used in construction and power is up by 33% this year, after reaching a record high of $11,771 Monday, due to disruptions in mine supply and the outflow of copper?to the U.S. David Wilson, a BNP Paribas analyst, said: "The only thing that has caused copper to rally is the...

Mineral Resources

Silver reaches record high after Fed splits rates. Gold falls.

Gold eased on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a divided rate cut, leaving investors unsure about next year's pace of easing. Silver also hit a new record high. As of 0300 GMT spot gold dropped 0.2% to $4.221.49 an ounce after reaching its highest level since December 5, earlier in the session. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 0.6% per ounce to $4,249.70. Tim Waterer, KCM Trade's Chief Market Analyst, said that "gold has not been able to kick on with the things today... Because the Fed's message essentially was that any future rate cuts would be...

Mining

Combs, Berkshire's Combs, is the new face of JPMorgan in its national security bet

Todd Combs, Berkshire Hathaway's seniorest external hire, will?turbocharge JPMorgan Chase’s $1.5 trillion push towards national security. Combs is a longtime deputy of legendary investor Warren Buffett. He joined the nation's biggest bank this week to head a team which will invest over $10 billion in JPMorgan money into companies that are deemed "strategic" for the United States. He will be reporting directly to CEO Jamie Dimon. Sean Dunlop is a Morningstar banking analyst. He said, "It's hoped that the group of investors can help JPMorgan identify opportunities, and identify and overcome policy obstacles." Combs’ group will target smaller and midsized...

Mining

Congo rebels enter strategic city as peace deal falls apart

Sources told AFP that M23 rebels backed by Rwanda have invaded the town of Uvira in eastern Congo, near the Burundian border. This is the largest escalation of the war in recent months, they said. Uvira is located on the shores Lake Tanganyika and has been the headquarters for the Kinshasa appointed government in South Kivu Province as well as its regional military bases since the??provincial capitol, Bukavu fell to the M23 in Februrary. The rebels could advance further if they control Uvira. M23's latest advance in the mineral-rich area comes less than one week after Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi...

Mining

USA Rare Earth accelerates Texas project with a 2028 start date

USA Rare Earth announced on Wednesday that it would bring the?commercial production? at its rare-earths project?in Texas forward to late 2028 from 2030. It cited faster-than expected progress at its processing facility and increasing U.S. demands for critical minerals. Round Top in Texas is the largest known U.S. source for heavy rare earth elements, gallium, and beryllium. The Round Top deposit is owned by USA Rare Earth and?is being developed. The revised timeline is coming as the?U.S. Under the Trump Administration, companies are increasing their efforts to reduce reliance on China as a source of rare metals. The company has...

Mining

Rinehart: excessive regulation is putting Australia's mining industry at risk.

Gina Rinehart, baroness of mining in Australia, said that excessive regulations have put the industry's global competitiveness under threat. Rinehart, executive chairman of?Hancock Prospecting?, Australia's 4th-largest miner of iron ore, has risen to the top of Australia's richest list over the last 15 years. The comments were made in a speech marking the 10-year anniversary since Hancock first shipped iron ore. They echo previous statements by BHP executives. However, they are her first remarks since Australia passed an environmental law reform in a bid for a reduction in red tape last month. Rinehart cited a report from the Minerals Council...

Europe

Mineral Resources

Silver records new record after Fed rate reduction; gold reaches over one-month high

The dollar fell on 'Thursday, as the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point. Silver also surged and reached a new record high. As of 11:49 am, spot gold rose 1.2% to $4,275.39 an ounce. ET (16:49 GMT), it reached its highest level since the 21st of October. U.S. Gold futures for delivery in February gained 1.9%, reaching $4,303.90 an ounce. Spot silver rose 3.2% to $63.77 an ounce, nearing the session's record high of $63.93. Edward Meir, Marex analyst, said that silver is pulling up gold and also platinum and palladium. "There's a lot going on...

Mineral Resources

EU reaches provisional deal on screening foreign investment

The European Union has reached a provisional agreement on Thursday regarding new rules that will require all of its members to screen foreign investments into the EU?in sensitive sectors like defence, AI, or critical minerals to determine if it threatens economic security. Representatives from the European Parliament and Council, the grouping EU governments, have reached agreement on a draft text for re-evaluating its?existing FDI screen regulations. The text will still need to be approved by both bodies. All EU countries will be required to screen investments and block them if they pose a risk. The screening will extend to investments...

Mineral Resources

Silver reaches new highs; gold falls after Fed split vote on rate cuts

Gold edged lower on Thursday, as traders ?weighed the U.S. Federal Reserve's divided vote on a quarter-percentage-point ?interest ?rate cut, while silver climbed to yet another record high. As of 1111 GMT, spot gold dropped 0.3% to $4217.09 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 0.5% per ounce to $4,244.70. It's simply an over-positioning in gold due to the expectation of a rate cut which didn't?happen. Therefore, you're experiencing some selling pressure," said Ross Norman, independent analyst, adding that gold fundamentals were unaltered. In a rare split vote on Wednesday, the Fed cut rates by a quarter percentage...

Western Europe

East Asia

Mineral Resources

Shanghai copper reaches record highs as China promises fiscal stimulus

Shanghai copper prices reached a new record on Friday, and are on course for a third straight 'weekly' gain. This is due to the promise by China of a fiscal boost next year as well as the U.S. Federal Reserve reducing interest rates and expanding its balance sheet. By 0204 GMT, the most traded copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen 1.34%, to 93570 yuan (US$13,261.43) a metric ton. It reached an all-time high of 94.080 yuan earlier in the day. This was a record that had been set on Monday. Benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal...

Mineral Resources

Sources: Chinese zinc smelter cancels contract with Teck Alaska mine over tariffs

Two sources with knowledge of the matter said that Zhuzhou Smelter Group - one of China's biggest zinc smelters - broke a contract to supply Teck Resources’?Red Dog Mine in Alaska due to high tariffs caused by Washington and Beijing's trade war. Teck, a Vancouver-based company, supplies zinc concentrates from Red Dog, the world's biggest zinc mine, to clients around the globe, including Asia. At the height of their trade war, two of the world's largest economies have imposed tariffs in triple digits on each other's imported goods. After multiple rounds of talks, and a'meeting' between U.S. president Donald Trump...

Mineral Resources

Copper extends gains after Fed lowers rates

After the U.S. Fed lowered interest rates, copper prices retreated from their earlier gains. However, they still rose for a second consecutive session. By 0503 GMT, the most traded copper contract at?the?Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen 0.51%, to 92130 yuan (US$13,046.43) a metric ton. It reached an intraday peak of 93,000 yuan. This is close to the record high of 93300 yuan set on December 8. The benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal Exchange increased by 0.48%, to $11,611.5 a ton. It had reached an intraday high of $11,727.5 and was approaching an all-time record high of $11,771 in...

Mineral Resources

Iron ore prices are high as the markets wait for China's decision

Iron ore futures prices moved in a narrow range on Thursday as traders and investors awaited the?political signals of another high-level China meeting. As of 0307 GMT, the?most-traded contract for iron ore on China's Dalian?Commodity Exchange (DCE) increased?0.26% to $769 yuan ($108.91). As of 0257 GMT, the benchmark January iron ore price on Singapore Exchange was down 0.34% to $102.4 per ton. After the U.S. Analysts at Jinyuan Futures stated that the Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates. China will continue to?expand domestic demand and support a broader economy in 2026 with more proactive policies,?state media Xinhua reported on Monday....

Mineral Resources

A Chinese rare earth manufacturer receives a streamlined license for magnet exports

Ningbo Jintian Copper, a Chinese rare earth producer, announced on Wednesday that it had obtained streamlined export?licences. After a meeting in late October between Donald Trump, the U.S. counterpart of President Xi Jinping, and Xi's Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the?new general licences? are intended to allow individual customers more exports with year-long permits. On an investor interactive platform, Ningbo Jintian Copper said that its rare earth magnets are used in electric cars, wind turbines and robots as well as consumer electronics, medical equipment, and consumer electronic products. Last week, it was reported that three Chinese rare-earth magnet manufacturers including JL...

Electric Utilities

Namibia's second desalination facility to be built by Chinese uranium mining company

Swakop Uranium is a subsidiary owned by the China General Nuclear Power Group. It has entered into a joint venture agreement with Namibia’s water utility, NamWater to build Namibia's second desalination plant near Swakopmund. The plant is only the second one of its kind in Africa. It will help to bolster water supply to the country's biggest uranium mining operation, Husab. In a joint statement released on Tuesday, partners of the joint venture said that negotiations had ended successfully. The project implementation phase will now begin. Swakop Uranium holds 70% of the stake, and NamWater has the rest. According to...

Mining

Lingbao Gold, a Hong Kong-listed company, will buy 50% of Australia’s St Barbara unit at $245.5 Million.

St Barbara Mining, a subsidiary of Australia's St Barbara, announced on Wednesday that Chinese gold producer Lingbao?Group would buy a 50% share in the company for A$370m ($245.5m) cash. St Barbara Mining is the owner of Simberi Gold Company. This company will own an 80% stake on Simberi Gold 'Project' in Papua New Guinea. Kumul Minerals will purchase the remaining 20% of the shares for A$100million. Kumul Minerals is the state nominee to?PNG for the share of minerals in the country. Kumul's investment comes as the PNG Government seeks to?expand national ownership of key resource projects. Australian gold producers are...

Mineral Resources

Copper falls below records as Fed caution tempers gains

The copper price hovered just below its record highs as investors waited for the U.S. Federal Reserve to announce a possible hawkish policy following their two-day meeting. As of 0315 GMT, the?most-traded copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange?was down by 0.37% to 91,720 Yuan ($12,987.27) per metric ton. The benchmark three-month price of copper at the London Metal Exchange rose 0.67%, to $11,564 per ton. The upward trend in copper slowed as the Fed rate decision drew near. At a time of persistent inflation fears and a resilient economy in the United States, the market was expecting a "hawkish"...

Mining

Glencore ships first cobalt shipment under Congo's newly implemented quota system

One government source and two sources in the trade familiar with the matter said that Glencore was the first miner who exported cobalt to the Democratic Republic of Congo under the new quotas. They sent a "small" initial shipment as a test to the system. The government source confirmed that the Congo has cleared Glencore's shipment pending payment a 10% royalty. This marks the beginning of exports following a long-term ban which pushed cobalt prices sky high and strained the availability of metals needed for electric cars. Analysts estimate that the central African nation's production will be around 280.000 metric...

Mining

FT reports that China will restrict access to Nvidia H200 chips despite Trump's export approval.

Beijing will limit access to Nvidia H200 advanced chips, despite the?U.S. The Financial Times reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump had decided to allow exports of the technology to China. According to a report, regulators in Beijing are discussing ways to allow limited access to Nvidia H200 chips, the second-best generation artificial intelligence chip from Nvidia. This would be a major obstacle for Nvidia, and other leading?U.S. After Trump's announcement on Monday, chipmakers are now able to target the China market. Nvidia's shares, which were up as much as 2 percent in premarket trade, retreated after the report, and ended...

Mineral Resources

Copper prices drop from record highs; Market awaits Fed policy

Prices of copper fell on Tuesday due to profit-taking after a 'rallying' rally, concerns about a possible slowdown in U.S. interest rate cuts and concern over Chinese demand. Benchmark three-month Copper on the London?Metal Exchange?was 1% lower at $11,523.50 a metric tonne by 1015 GMT. It had reached a record high of $11,771 a metric tonne on Monday. LME copper prices have risen 31% this year. About 10% of the increase has occurred in the past few weeks. Ole Hansen is the head of commodity strategy for Saxo Bank, a Copenhagen-based bank. The U.S. has seen a surge in metal...

Mining

Russell: China's steel exports are up, but its aluminium exports are down.

Exports of China's steel products are surging this year, as the domestic demand – particularly in property development – is slumping. However, those of aluminum have fallen due to increased activity in the manufacturing and energy sector. China produces more steel and aluminum than the rest of the world combined. Beijing has set informal production ceilings for both sectors in order to curb overcapacity. Informally, steel production is limited to no more than 1.005 billion metric tonnes. Given that production for the first ten months of this year was 817.87 millions tons, 2025 production will likely dip below 1 billion...