Diversified Metals & Mining

It is always constructive to look at the "other side" - if nothing else to see what the herd might be thinking.  This is the first time I have heard of Ms. Thouin but in as much of a recovery as we do have, I do agree with her themes that it is going to be focused on the corporation, or Eastern...

Analysts at BMO Capital have upgraded Freeport-McMoRan’s (NYSE: FCX) rating to Outperform from Market perform. The rating has been based on the performance and future opportunities for specialist copper miners. Genuine copper miners around the world have not had much to worry about, even in the...

Asian shares opened mixed today, with technology stocks leading the gainers. Asian technology stocks got a boost after Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) posted blowout Q4 results, despite the $1.25 billion legal settlement with Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD). While Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.3% and South...

• Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) said Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is likely to unveil its new iPhone as soon as June, with a more advanced camera and perhaps a touch-sensitive casing • Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP) reported a 49% surge in iron ore production, beating its prior projections, to 47.2 million tonnes in the...

Southern Copper Corporation (USA) (NYSE: PCU) was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. The share price for the company went down from $36.30 to $34.78. Southern Copper Corporation produces and sells copper, molybdenum, zinc, silver, lead, and gold worldwide....

This is quite an interesting development as mining giant BHP Billiton (BHP) has been mentioned often as a suitor for one of the few, huge potash miners.  Instead it appears (for now at least) the company is going to strike out on its own to develop potash assets.  As long time readers know, a...

U.S. stocks ended the day little changed as a mixed bag of economic data and caution ahead of the government’s employment report on Friday kept traders on the sidelines.  The FOMC minutes did not sound too convincing on the economy’s upturn, and traders pondered over the economy’s direction. US...

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast, commodity prices are set to rise higher this year, with faster expansion in the global economy. The IMF stated that the industrialization of emerging countries supports consumption, as a result of which commodity prices might remain high...

Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. (NYSE: FCX) had an amazing run in 2009 and the stock is 3.72% higher again today. The shares are currently trading at $83.32, which represents a one year return of 211%. According to Google Finance, "Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX), through...

A lot of money has been moving into U.S. equity markets this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is 136 points higher at 10,564 and the Nasdaq is up 34 points at 2,302. So where are the professionals placing their bets on the first trading day of 2010? The same place that they have been for...

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) was today downgraded by BMO Capital Markets to Market Perform from Outperform. The 52-week trading range for Compass Minerals is $45.64 - $70.27. In the last trading session, CMP closed at $69.87. The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) was today downgraded...

U.S. stocks closed higher for a fourth day on Wednesday as disappointment over a surprise drop in home sales was offset by strength in technology and commodities-related shares.  Stocks declined in early trading after a Commerce Department report noted new home sales fell to their lowest level...

Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP), the world's third-largest iron ore producer, accepted a $2.03 billion offer for its Alcan packaging business made by Amcor in August. Rio Tinto has parted with $10.3 billion in assets since February 2008, according to press reports.

One must always be cautious when analyzing any sort of deals, purchases, or mergers because if you listen to CEOs every deal done in the history of man has been a "win".  That said, the more I look at the Bucyrus (BUCY) - Terex (TEX) deal the more this one is appealing for both sides; for different...