ThinkstockOn a day when exuberance — either rational or irrational, who knows? — is ruling equity prices, rare earths miner Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) is surging. The company, which has had its troubles in…
ThinkstockNow that the United States has dodged the fiscal cliff, investors are expecting at least a boomlet in manufacturing and production. That means more energy and more basic materials. Coal and steel stocks are…
thinkstockCanada’s potash marketing and trading company, Canpotex Ltd., said today that it has signed an agreement with a subsidiary of China’s Sinofert for 1 million tons of potash in the first half of 2013.…
ThinkstockLow prices for natural gas have led to lower demand for coal as a fuel for electricity generation and to wider margins for chemical products makers. Now it looks like the U.S. steel industry…
ThinkstockFearful of the consequences of milk prices rising to $8 a gallon, U.S. House and Senate conferees have agreed to extend the 2008 Farm Bill for another year. Had a deal not been reached,…
ThinkstockTwo days ago, a mining company named Southridge Enterprises Inc. (SRGE) issued a press release announcing a joint venture with gold miner Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC). Only thing is, the joint venture appears…
ThinkstockCanadian mining firm Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE: TCK) announced this morning that the company expects fourth quarter coal shipments to exceed its prior guidance of 6.2 million metric tons. The company also said that…
ThinkstockGold futures closed below $1,650 an ounce on the Comex last night, sharply lower than the $1,700 or so the yellow metal fetched at the beginning of December 2011, but well above the price…
ThinkstockThe world’s largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), said this morning that it would take a noncash $4.3 billion impairment charge against the goodwill of its businesses in Europe. The charge will be posted to…
Thinkstock2012 has been a mixed year for the base metals. 24/7 Wall St. is looking into 2013 to see what the new year may bring for the sector. The long and short of it…
ThinkstockDillon Gage Metals is calling for higher gold prices in 2013. Not just a little higher, but $2,000 per ounce. With gold around $1,670 per ounce, that translates to about 20% expected price appreciation.…
ThinkstockAnother earnings warning is out this morning, this time from one of the largest U.S. steel makers. Nucor Corp. (NYSE: NUE) this morning lowered its fourth-quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) estimate to a…
ThinkstockBy 2017, coal consumption will nearly equal consumption of oil as the leading source of the world’s energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global coal consumption will reach 4.32 billion tons of…
ThinkstockIt is almost impossible to consider that troubles of such a magnitude could turn around in an instant, but that may actually be the case. We have taken a look at the year-end outlooks…
ThinkstockWith about an hour and half to go before the markets close today, coals stocks are getting a boost from this morning’s announcement by Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU) that its first quarter 2013…