Commodities Markets

Commodities Markets December 24, 2014

Commentary: Gold producer hedging in a lower price environment

The following is an edited except from Société Générale and Thomson Reuters GFMS’s Global Hedge Book Analysis Q3 2014.

A worker at the Canadian Malartic mine in Quebec. Credit: Canadian Malartic Partnership

Commodities Markets, Financial Matters, M&A December 3, 2014

Grant Thornton: M&A should double in value in 2014

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the mining sector should double in value this year compared to 2013, were deal volumes fell short of $90 billion, according to a new report by Grant Thornton.

Stillwater Mining's namesake palladium-platinum mine in Montana. Credit: Stillwater Mining

Commodities Markets December 3, 2014

CIBC slashes platinum forecast

An expected surge in the platinum price failed to materialize in 2014 because of a strong U.S. dollar and weak South African rand, say mining analysts with CIBC World Markets, who are slashing their platinum price forecast for 2015.

Commodities Markets December 3, 2014

TSX falls with commodity prices, Nov. 24-28

OPEC’s decision not to cut production sent U.S. oil prices down 10% to US$66.15 per barrel on Nov. 28, the biggest one-day drop in five years. Lower oil prices usally translate to lower inflation rates, crimping investment demand for…

Pouring gold bars at Barrick's Goldstrike refinery in Nevada. Credit: Barrick Gold

Commodities Markets, Regulatory Issues December 3, 2014

Editorial: Swiss gold referendum ends with a whimper

One of the more bizarre political initiatives initiated by gold bugs went down in flames on Nov. 30, with 77% of Swiss voters rejecting a plan to force the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to buy 55 million oz. gold to keep in reserve.

Commodities Markets November 26, 2014

Editorial: Iron ore prices – Where’s the bottom?

As the daylight hours shorten and winter chill takes hold of the iron ore mines and surrounding communities in the Labrador Trough, it’s as good a symbol as any of the deep freeze that is engulfing the global iron ore market, as spot…

Lumina Copper's Taca Taca copper project in northwest Argentina. Lumina was the top mining company by market capitalization on the TSX Venture Exchange as of June 2014. First Quantum Minerals bought Lumina for $470 million in a deal that closed in August. Credit: Lumina Copper

Commodities Markets, Stock Markets/Investing November 12, 2014

Better days await the junior sector, PwC reports

The worst of the current downturn may be over, PwC argues in its eighth annual Junior Mine Report in late October. Looking at the top-100 TSX Venture-listed juniors by market capitalization, PwC has found that while the junior sector is still…

Underground workers at Fortuna Silver Mines' San Jose silver mine in Mexico. Credit: Fortuna Silver Mines

Commodities Markets, Stock Markets/Investing November 12, 2014

Raymond James’ top silver picks

Given the plunge in silver and gold prices, Raymond James analysts are urging investors to stick with quality names, in terms of assets, balance sheets and management.

Uranerz Energy's board of directors visits a drill site at the Nichols Ranch uranium project in Wyoming. Credit: Uranerz Energy

Commodities Markets November 12, 2014

Editorial: After three long years, uranium has its day

An encouraging feature of today’s mineral industry is that it’s not bad news across the board, as a few subsectors — such as diamonds and nickel — have seen strong price increases and renewed investor interest this year.