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…
Prospects for the global economy are currently as dark or darker than they’ve been since the financial crisis began three years ago. Consumers and investors likely see either another recession or at…
At yesterday’s meeting for investors, Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RIO) offered a subdued forecast for the iron ore and copper markets going forward. There was some upbeat talk about new projects in…
An organization called the International Nickel Study Group is projecting a 60,000 metric ton surplus of nickel by the end of 2011, compared with a shortage of 30,000 metric tons at the…
Consulting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers has released its annual review of the mining industry, claiming that “the financial results for the Top 40 were spectacular.” That’s pretty hard to argue with, given a…
Vale SA (NYSE: VALE), one of the world’s leading producers of iron ore posted record profit in the first quarter of $6.8 billion. Even discounting a one-time gain on the sale of…
Today’s report on commodities begins with some sobering news from Chinese steel makers and some roaring news from a maker of heavy equipment. Lumber prices remain low, but arabica coffee beans are…
It’s 4:00 pm and time for our daily look at commodity prices and news. Today’s biggest upside move in ag products came in cotton, up about 3.5%, while wool was up about…
Some of the largest steelmakers in the world have been hoping to see a fall in the price of iron ore, but such a decline does not appear to be on the…
Time to get ready for another chase scene in the fertilizer business. Privately held agricultural giant Cargill Inc. plans to sell its 64% stake in Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) for about $24.3…
The Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) just set the tone for a positive reception for the potash and fertilizer market stocks. The company was the first real earnings report after the start of…
The demand for metals and minerals of all kinds is pushing up sales and profits in the makers of the equipment used to extract the commodities. Joy Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG) reported…
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) may have seen its shares surge on a buyout offer from BHP Billiton plc (NYSE: BHP), but there is other merger that is standing out in…
Maybe everyone is hanging on for the unemployment report, but this Friday morning there are many key influential analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls. Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:…
Brazil’s Vale SA (NYSE: VALE) is the world’s leading miner of iron ore and wants to become the world’s leading producer of fertilizer. The company’s move into the fertilizer business occurred earlier…
