Copper $ 5.462 / lb 1.89%

Brent Crude Oil $ 63.75 / bbl 0.71%

Palladium $ 1502.2 / ozt 1.36%

Crude Oil $ 60.08 / bbl 0.64%

Natural Gas $ 5.289 / Btu 4.18%

Silver Futures $ 59.053 / ozt 2.59%

Aluminum Futures $ 2861 / ton 0.00%

Micro Gold Futures $ 4273.8 / ozt 0.14%

Micro Silver Futures $ 59.053 / ozt 2.66%

Platinum $ 1660.5 / ozt -0.17%

Gold Futures $ 4243 / ozt 0.08%

Go to MDC Markets

Frik Els , Editor

Frik has 20 years’ experience as a business journalist across a range of industries including automotive, technology and entertainment markets. Frik has an entry in Global Mining Observer’s Who’s Who of Mining 2018, and contributions to publications and conferences including Business Insider, Investing.com, Mines & Money London and New York, Vancouver Resources Investment, Progressive Mine Forum in Toronto and Canadian Mining Symposium in London, UK. He’s been interviewed on CBC Radio and Korea State TV and quoted in the Financial Post.

Posts by Frik Els:

China's astonishing rise in one simple chart

Iron ore red alert: China’s steel output could shrink for the first time in 31 years

Given Chinese officials' penchant for painting rosy economic pictures, it is something of a big deal when a state-backed institution such as the China Iron and Steel Association makes such a bearish call.

Frik Els | August 20, 2012 | 12:10 am

$60 billion for mining private equity a myth

Report: Codelco grabs Los Bronces at multi-billion dollar discount after Anglo caves

London's Sunday Times reports Anglo American is close to a deal to hand over a share in the Los Bronces copper project to Chile's Codelco at "a discount of several billion dollars" some time this week. If the report is correct it would provide further ammunition to those calling for Anglo CEO Cynthia Carroll's head.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 7:15 pm

Lonmin to miners: Rock up for work on Monday or you’re fired

The Lonmin violence is "a strike by the poor against the state and the haves" says analyst.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 6:17 pm

Alrosa’s move may ‘rescue’ Indian diamond sector

Alrosa announced this week that it sold rough diamonds to the Russian state gem repository Gokhran for the first time in three years.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 6:02 pm

STUDY: South African mining to remain stagnant

Tragedy at Lonmin scaring investors in South Africa

The actual strike isn’t a deterrent to investors. But certainly the inability to get it under control will be of concern, particularly as this is now the third platinum mine that has seen conflict resulting in deaths this year.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 12:49 am

Glasenberg won’t budge on Xstrata

Glasenberg’s determination to continue with the offer as originally planned comes amid growing signs that Xstrata is more confident of its position on a stand-alone basis.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 12:37 am

Indian iron ore imports surge

First Karnataka iron ore mine restarts, but export ban stays

The restart of iron ore mining in Karnataka amid multi-year low prices for the commodity is not seen to impact the global seaborne trade in the near-term.

Frik Els | August 19, 2012 | 12:02 am

‘Coal’ TV show mine owner sued over royalties

Encoal Energy and Gopher Land Services says Canadian-owned Cobalt Coal stopped paying in May, but "was still actively mining as of this week and is now effectively trespassing because Gopher owns the land where the mine portal is located".

Frik Els | August 18, 2012 | 11:17 pm

charts tracking mining finance

Lonmin now seeks $1 billion rights offer backed by Xstrata

The news follows the closure of Lonmin's Marikana mine in the NorthWest province of South Africa after clashes between rival unions and police left 44 dead.

Frik Els | August 18, 2012 | 10:36 pm

Exclusive Analysis: Platinum violence could spread to South Africa’s coal, iron mines – gold safe for now

More than just rivalry between unions, the platinum mine violence in South Africa has implications for the ruling ANC alliance.

Frik Els | August 18, 2012 | 10:19 pm

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Value of EV battery nickel second highest on record, cobalt at 30-month high

Low LFP-penetration markets, Europe is off to the races in 2025 and US buyers pull forward purchases before subsidies end.

Frik Els | November 24, 2025 | 3:01 pm