Today
Rio Tinto declares force majeure on Australian alumina cargoes
The company notified clients that its Queensland refineries have been unable to run properly due to a regional shortage of gas.
- Archie Hunter and Thomas Biesheuvel
Yesterday
Lithium miners shake up trading to tackle wild price swings
Mining companies are changing the way lithium is bought and sold in an effort to curb volatility and get some industry-wide pricing.
- Annie Lee and Yvonne Yue Li
Panicked traders position for mega-rally as metal prices hit record
Copper and gold prices surged to record highs on Monday morning as bullish investors piled in and bears were forced to cover short positions.
- Alex Gluyas
This Month
Panic sets in as short squeeze rockets copper price
A violent spike in copper futures traded in New York has caught markets off guard and sent traders scrambling to cover short positions.
- Alex Gluyas
Iron ore’s big China property problem isn’t going away
Pockets of strength in the Chinese steel market have boosted the raw material after a plunge below $US100 a tonne early last month but investors are cautious.
- Annie Lee and Jessica Zhou
April
Copper hits $US10,000 as BHP’s bid releases the bulls
Copper hit $US10,000 a tonne for the first time since 2022 as traders took BHP’s takeover bid for Anglo American as a vote of confidence for the metal.
- Alex Gluyas
Investors pile into miners as commodity rally heats up
Surging copper, gold and oil prices are fuelling a rotation into mining stocks as analysts scramble to adjust their profit forecasts for the sector.
- Alex Gluyas
Copper eyes $US10,000 as ‘super squeeze’ intensifies
The metal surged to a two-year high this week as traders ramped up bets that copper’s bull market is unfinished business.
- Alex Gluyas
Commodity traders bet on big data and AI
Firms that traditionally relied on political connections, handshakes and logistical skill to move natural resources to willing buyers are increasingly focused on how to apply AI.
- Updated
- Tom Wilson and Malcolm Moore
Commodity markets perplexed why gold keeps going up
The precious metal’s decoupling from the traditional drivers of prices has analysts divided on its outlook.
- Alex Gluyas
- Opinion
- Global economy
Who is the ‘massive player with deep pockets’ behind gold’s surge?
A powerful force is stalking the world’s gold market and it is operating in the shadows. Whoever it is – or they are – seems insensitive to cost.
- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
LME bans new Russian metal, but braces for a flood of old stock
Some traders and producers have argued that exchange should ban all Russian material to avoid being overwhelmed by a flood of unwanted stock, which they say is depressing prices.
- Jack Farchy and Mark Burton
Copper is back as investors cash in on the ‘reflation trade’
A new commodity upswing is under way, creating widespread opportunities for investors. But pundits warn that could also contribute to stickier inflation keeping rates higher for longer.
- Alex Gluyas
Gold’s dizzying ascent isn’t over yet, say fundies
The precious metal has surged nearly 20 per cent since February, but macro fund managers expect the momentum to continue.
- Sybilla Gross and Yvonne Yue Li
Copper trades near 15-month high as Citi sees ‘explosive’ growth
Citigroup said there’s potential for “explosive price upside” in the metal in the next three years thanks to supply disruptions and rising demand.
- Jack Ryan
Why Wall Street banks have got it wrong on lithium
Sydney fund manager Ethical Partners says their own modelling shows the battery metal has moved “rapidly back” into balance after last year’s collapse, that will continue to support prices (and the sharemarket).
- Sarah Jones
Trafigura admits founder Dauphin approved bribes
Trafigura last week became the latest of the world’s largest commodity traders to admit to paying bribes to win business.
- Jack Farchy
Iron ore to end 2024 near $US100 a tonne: Capital Economics
Global steel prices are on “shaky ground” and there’s little reason to expect an increase in demand, according to the London-based firm.
- Timothy Moore
Commodity markets flash warning signal for stocks
The concurrent rally in oil and gold prices shows that geopolitical risks have returned to markets which is a “negative omen” for risk assets.
- Alex Gluyas
The era of big mining dividend paydays is coming to an end – for now
Morgan Stanley’s analysts have told clients that BHP will be particularly affected amid an iron ore price slump. Lithium miners will similar cut their payouts.
- Alex Gluyas
