June 18, 2012

L&L Energy buys majority stake in Chinese coal mine

US-based L&L Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: LLEN), a company with five-year track record of profitable coal operations in China, announced it has entered into an MOU to acquire the Lashu Mine…

June 15, 2012

Why a slowdown in China would be particularly bad for Canada

Andrew Hepburn writes that everyone is looking for signs that China is falling apart, but forget to consider how badly Canada would be hurt.

June 15, 2012

End of an epoch as Hong Kong exchange takes over 135-year old LME

The three losing bids were all from the US and the deal marks a decisive shift in the commodities trading business away from Chicago and London to Asia.

June 14, 2012

Thermal is wrecked: Chinese inventories climb to 2008 financial crisis levels

In China’s Qinhuangdao, the world’s largest coal port by capacity, inventories have exceeded levels last seen in late 2008 during the height of the financial crisis.

June 13, 2012

Coal’s good year and uranium’s worst year

Last year coal was the the only fossil fuel to record above average worldwide growth at 5.4%, while nuclear power consumption was off 4.3%, the largest decline on record, said…

June 13, 2012

Company introduces low cost lab-made diamond identifier

As diamond traders continue to express concerns over undisclosed lab-made diamonds, a Hong Kong firm is offering a low cost way to identify them. Their solution is a $200 laser…

June 12, 2012

Spanic and Grexit put copper back on defensive

The Spanish bailout is now being called 'voodoo economics' while EU finance officials are at the point of discussing limiting ATM withdrawals and doing border checks if and when Athens…

June 12, 2012

From mine to finished magnets: Molycorp closes US$1.3 billion acquisition of Neo Materials

US-based rare earth miners, Molycorp (NYSE:MCP), gets a foothold in Asia after completing its US$1.3 billion acquisition of Canadian-based Neo Material Technologies Inc. (TSX:NEM).

June 11, 2012

Black hole: US coal stocks now down over 60% in 2012 as thermal price hits 2-year low

Coal executives believe that as much as 10% of the production serving the seaborne market could be losing money at current prices.

June 8, 2012

Copper at a six month low after fears resurface about Chinese economy

Copper dropped sharply on Friday after China's decision to cut interest rates suddenly revived fears of a slowdown in the world's second largest economy.