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Commodities guru Bill O’Neill says crude oil has bottomed out

Bill O'Neill, former director of commodities research at Merrill Lynch, has said in a recent interview that crude oil prices have bottomed out, and that he expects a desultory recovery in prices from the third quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of next year.

Marc Howe | July 16, 2012 | 11:51 am

Gold manipulation ‘next big scandal to break,’ ‘more scandalous than Libor’

One of the UK’s leading broadsheets has castigated the manipulation of gold prices by key market players, saying that the issue could explode into a bigger scandal than the Libor rate manipulation controversy.

Marc Howe | July 16, 2012 | 12:52 am

Glencore obtains government go-ahead for $6.1 billion Viterra bid

Swiss commodity supplier Glencore International obtained approval from the Canadian federal government on Sunday for its application to buy up Canadian agribusiness titan Viterra Inc., bringing the $6.1 billion deal that much closer to completion.

Marc Howe | July 16, 2012 | 12:49 am

BHP considers withdrawal from aluminum and other non-essentials

BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP), the world's largest diversified miner, is considering a withdrawal from aluminum and nickel operations as part of a general retreat from non-profitable sides projects by key mining players, and the company has appointed advisors to look into the possible sale of these assets.

Marc Howe | July 13, 2012 | 6:37 am

Millions in Saskatchewan potash assets at centre of international legal saga

An acrimonious legal wrangle over millions in potash assets and is currently being played out in the Saskatchewan courts, involving Byzantine business intrigues and a bevy of international players.

Marc Howe | July 13, 2012 | 3:56 am

Chinese thermal coal prices see longest losing streak in four years

Market pressure from high inventories and a flood of cheap overseas supply, as well as the lackluster performance of the Chinese economy were to blame for sending the average price to its lowest point in over two and a half years.

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 9:34 pm

Eerie photos in the wake of Hungary’s toxic aluminum spill

Spanish photographer Palindromo Meszaros has released a series of haunting photos depicting the devastating impact of a toxic aluminum spill in 2010 upon forests and rural communities in Western Hungary.

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 3:11 pm

Platinum prices set to recover in the second half of 2012 on sliding supply

Platinum prices are set for a recovery in the second half of this year due to declining mine production, although palladium prices will remain tepid due to thin investment demand, according to the latest forecasts from Thomson Reuters GFMS.

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 6:58 am

Liberals pursue compromise approach on oil sands

The federal Liberals have shunned both of the antagonistic stances of the Harper government and the leading opposition party on Alberta’s oil sands, by announcing a “new approach” which will seek to pursue oil sands development while minimizing any adverse environmental impact.

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 6:51 am

Health Canada’s wind turbine research triggers calls for halt to Ontario wind farms

Health Canada’s plans for a research study exploring the impact of wind turbine noise upon human health has triggered calls for the suspension of approvals for large-scale wind farms in Ontario from public health groups.

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 6:48 am

Alberta energy regulator approves Shell carbon capture project north of Edmonton

Shell Canada’s application for the Quest project, a proposed $1.3 billion carbon capture and storage operation situated northeast of Edmonton, has obtained approval from Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).

Marc Howe | July 12, 2012 | 6:27 am

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