Western retail demand for gold surges in rush for hard assets

In London's historic Hatton Garden, where diamonds have long been the star, gold is commanding more attention. The famed jewellery district is abuzz with customers seeking bullion bars and coins,... 

South African rand slips after local inflation uptick

The South African rand slipped on Wednesday after September headline inflation ticked up, but the increase was smaller than expected, bolstering the case for the central bank to resume rate cuts.... 

Gold sags after flash crash, stocks bulls take a breather

Gold and silver prices remained jittery on Wednesday after the sharpest pullback in over five years, while global equity and bond markets were taking a breather from recent rallies. Gold, which... 

South Africa inflation edges up but economists see more rate cuts soon

South Africa's headline inflation rate edged up in September, but the increase was smaller than expected and economists said they thought the central bank could restart interest rate cuts soon.... 

Santos ex-finance chief blames 'untenable' leadership environment for exit

Former Santos CFO Sherry Duhe says she left Australia's second largest gas producer after just a year due to an "untenable leadership environment" and her differences with long-standing chief... 

Bolivia's new president rekindles cautious hope for long-stalled lithium dreams

Bolivia's election of centrist Rodrigo Paz is raising cautious hopes that a more market-friendly leader could pave the way for international investment in the country's ample lithium reserves after... 

Transnet plans R127bn infrastructure upgrades

State-owned freight and logistics company Transnet plans to invest R127-billion over five years in modernizing rail lines and upgrading ports, its CE Michelle Phillips said on Tuesday. Transnet... 

Rio Tinto weighs asset-for-equity swap with Chinalco to end governance gridlock, sources say

Rio Tinto is exploring a potential asset-for-equity swap with Chinalco that would trim the Chinese investor's 11% stake, freeing up Rio to resume buybacks and pursue new strategic deals, three... 

Woodside Energy hits two-week high after raising 2025 output forecast

Shares of Australia's Woodside Energy rose to a two-week high on Wednesday after it raised its fiscal 2025 production forecast, even as third-quarter revenue fell 9.4% on lower average realised... 

EU trade chief to meet China's Wang to discuss rare earths

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Tuesday he had invited Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to Brussels in the coming days to find "urgent solutions" to China's tightening of... 

Carney cautious about report of potential Canadian trade deal with US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday expressed caution after a newspaper reported he might soon sign a trade deal on steel and aluminum with the US, saying "I wouldn't overplay it." The... 

Nutrien to shut down Trinidad nitrogen operations

World's top potash producer Nutrien said on Tuesday it has started a controlled shutdown of its Trinidad nitrogen operations at the Point Lisas facility, effective October 23. The company cited... 

Vale sees 2025 iron-ore output at top range after strongest quarter since 2018

Brazilian miner Vale reported on Tuesday its highest quarterly iron-ore production since 2018, and said it is on track to reach the upper band of its 2025 production target for its three main... 

M23 rebels loot $70m worth of gold from Congo mine since May, company says

Rebels occupying Twangiza Mining's gold concession in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have looted at least 500 kg of bullion since May, the company told Reuters, accusing some of its own... 

Fitch expects South Africa to set 3% inflation target in November

Fitch Ratings expects South Africa to announce a revised 3% inflation target during November's medium-term budget policy statement, a senior analyst said on Tuesday. Central bank Governor Lesetja... 

Lamola cites 'positive vibes' on AGOA

Trade talks between South Africa and the United States are "very positive", and there is hope that the US congress could renew a key free trade agreement with the continent before the end of the... 

US-Canada trade deal may be ready for approval at APEC summit, Globe and Mail reports

A US-Canada trade deal on steel, aluminium and energy could be ready for Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump to sign at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this... 

Concerned carmakers race to beat China's rare earths deadline

Global automakers are scouring the globe for crucial rare earths ahead of looming Chinese export controls, with executives worried they could lead to parts shortages and plant closures. Rare earth... 

Goldman Sachs flags risk of disruption in supply of rare earths, key minerals

Goldman Sachs flagged mounting risks to global supply chains of rare earths and other critical minerals, emphasising China's dominance in mining and refining, and outlining challenges for nations... 

China imports record amount of Mongolian coal in September

China's imports of Mongolian coal reached a record monthly high in September, customs data showed on Monday, as Beijing's efforts to tackle overcapacity pushed up domestic prices and sent traders... 

Rubio, Liberian minister discuss boosting US participation in Liberia's critical minerals sector

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed avenues for expanding US participation in Liberia's critical minerals sector in a meeting last week with Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti,... 

Moody's cuts Botswana's rating by a notch to 'Baa1' amid diamond industry slump

Global credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded Botswana's rating to 'Baa1' from 'A3' on Friday, citing the government's challenges in adjusting to a structural downturn in the diamond industry and... 

Russia attacks Ukraine coal mine, second energy site, companies say

Russian forces on Sunday attacked a coal mine in southeastern Ukraine and an unidentified energy site in the north near the Russian border, the operators of the sites said, adding to a series of... 

Rio Tinto ramps up Simandou stockpiles to 2Mt for first shipment

Rio Tinto has stockpiled two-million metric tons of high-grade iron ore at its Simandou project in Guinea for a mid-November shipment, three sources told Reuters, which would be the first from the... 

Hindustan Zinc posts quarterly profit rise on strong silver, zinc prices

India's Hindustan Zinc reported a nearly 14% rise in second-quarter profit on Friday, as silver prices hit record high levels and zinc prices climbed steadily, amid resilient demand. India's top... 

State-run gold body has boosted Ghana's foreign reserves, central bank chief says

Ghana's central bank has rebuilt its foreign reserves to the equivalent of four and a half months of import cover after they were nearly depleted during a 2022 economic crisis, Governor Johnson... 

South African rand weaker on risk aversion, geopolitical jitters

The South African rand weakened in early trade on Friday as investors pared exposure to riskier assets on geopolitical tensions, speculation about US rate cuts, and the prolonged US government... 

BHP's China Jimblebar iron-ore stocks rise as trade stalls amid contract talks, sources say

Stocks of a type of iron-ore supplied by BHP are piling up at major Chinese ports to the highest levels in three months, with trade stalled as the miner remained in talks with China's state-run... 

HSBC raises average gold price forecasts for 2025 and 2026

HSBC has raised its 2025 average gold price forecast to $3 355 per ounce from $3 215 due to safe-haven demand driven by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and a weakening US dollar.... 

South Africa to lift shale gas moratorium this month

South Africa will lift a long-standing moratorium on shale gas exploration as soon as new regulations, expected this month, are published, the petroleum resources minister said on Thursday. A ban... 

Guinea bauxite exports jump 23% in 3rd quarter despite rains, regulatory pressure

Guinea’s bauxite exports surged 23% year-on-year in the third quarter, defying heavy rains and regulatory headwinds, official data showed. Shipments of the critical aluminium feedstock rose to... 

Botswana's ODC sets first contract diamond sales for November

Botswana's State-owned Okavango Diamond Company will start selling diamonds to contracted buyers next month, as it diversifies its sales channels under the government's new deal with De Beers, MD... 

Namibia central bank chief calls for diamond royalty relief extension

Namibia's central bank governor Johannes !Gawaxab called on Wednesday for an extension to a royalty discount granted to Namdeb to help the diamond miner through a protracted global market downturn,... 

Global debt tops G20 agenda, South African central bank chief says

Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago warned on Wednesday that rising global debt poses a risk to financial stability. The Financial Stability Board, which reports to the G20, has elevated debt... 

US may seek more stakes in strategic companies to counter China, Bessent says

he Trump administration will seek to tighten control over strategic sectors by taking more equity stakes in key companies to counter China's economic policies and export restrictions, Treasury... 

Greer, Bessent blast China's rare earths curbs, urge Beijing not to implement them

Top US officials on Wednesday blasted China's major expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains, but said Beijing could still change course and avoid steps by... 

ANZ forecasts gold prices to hit $4 400/oz by year-end

ANZ on Thursday forecasts gold prices to surge to $4 400 per ounce by year-end, with a peak near $4 600 by June 2026, before a potential decline in the second half as the US Federal Reserve... 

Santos trims 2025 output forecast again on technical issue at Barossa project

Australia's Santos narrowed its annual output forecast for a second time on Thursday due to a technical issue delaying the ramp-up of its key Barossa oil & gas project, as well as a slow recovery... 

US judge set to approve Rio Tinto's $138.75m Mongolia mine settlement

A US judge on Wednesday said he was ready to approve Rio Tinto's agreement to pay $138.75-million to settle a lawsuit that accused the Anglo-Australian mining giant of defrauding investors by... 

Record global renewable energy growth remains short of climate target, report says

A record amount of renewable energy capacity was added globally last year, but that still left countries short of targets towards meeting a UN climate goal to triple capacity by 2030, a report by...