The announcement last February that Glencore International AG (OTC: GLCNF) would acquire mining giant Xstrata plc (OTC: XSRAY) has always faced one very big problem: just 17% of Xstrata shareholders voting against…
The single most important word in world markets for base metals and steel is “China.” With the slow-motion economic recovery in the global economy, the expected 8% or so growth in Chinese…
Jon OggThese are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls this Tuesday. Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) named Bull of the Day at Zacks. ArcelorMittal (NYSE:…
Jon OggThese are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Tuesday. Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) Started as Buy at Stifel Nicolaus. Apollo…
The projected slowdown in China’s GDP growth to 7.5% in 2012 has dampened demand for steel. Steel prices are flattening out and the result is that investors are seeing a drop in…
The growth engines of the world are called the BRIC nations for Brazil, Russia, China, and India. What happens when growth rates are just not as robust as they are supposed to…
One of the world’s largest mining companies, Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RIO) saw its profits fall by 59% in 2011, almost entirely due to a $9.3 billion impairment charge on its aluminum…
Last week’s announced $88 billion merger of Glencore International AG (OTC: GLNCY) and Xstrata plc (OTC: XSRAY) has been on the back burner for a long time. Perhaps the biggest reason for…
All three major US indexes opened higher this morning, but enthusiasm tapered off quickly and steadily, if not sharply. A drop in the number of new home sales and a smaller-than-expected rise…
Jon OggThese are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street brokerage and research firms this Thursday morning. Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NYSE: ADP) Cut to Neutral…
It seems that all of the nations around the world are facing sovereign credit ratings downgrades or warnings of downgrades. After the United States lost its prized “AAA” rating, the threat of downgrades hangs over…
For several months now, the world’s largest mining firms have been re-affirming that their businesses are solid and that demand has remained solid. Now, though, the veneer may be cracking. Both Rio…
Investors appear to have lost faith in mining stocks, sending share prices down steadily throughout the year. Both iron ore and copper prices are down nearly 20% since the beginning of the…
While Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU) and ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) haven’t been pursuing Australia’s Macarthur Coal Ltd. (OTC: MACDF) for more than a few months, the deal never really looked like it would…
When rare earth minerals miner Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) re-opened California’s Mountain Pass mine last year, the focus was on a variety of minerals known as the “light” rare earths. These minerals…
