Nickel

Rare earth producer is down more than 13% after SEC launches formal investigation into the accuracy of the company's public disclosures.

Shares of nickel producer Talvivaara (LON:TALV) dropped down over 10% on Friday over reports the firm had failed to solve a waste water leak at a nickel and zinc mine in eastern Finland, where nuclear safety officials confirmed to have radioactive uranium levels 50 times higher or more than normal volumes.

Rare earth producer Molycorp reported a Q3 loss on Thursday, but investors liked top line growth that jumped 49% to $205.6 million.

Australian miners in the western part of the country are allegedly turning to a new version of the synthetic drug known as Venom, which is made with chemicals imported from China.

Australia's Lynas Corp (ASX:LYC) won Thursday the latest of a series of long-dragged legal battles against activists, which took the company to court for allegedly causing major health and environmental damages to the Malaysian population.

Vancouver-based Baja Mining Corp. (TSX: BAJ) announced this morning that it has landed two extensions of a standstill agreement with lenders to its Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo S.A. de C.V. subsidiary.

Molycorp Inc. (NYSE:MCP), one of the only non-Chinese producers of rare earths, has sued the engineering company responsible for designing the chemical processes at its troubled Project Phoenix for over $45 million in damages.

Institutional advisor ISS now says tie-up is a good thing for Xstrata, but they still don't like the $200 million retention package.

Shareholders will celebrate as lower supply boosts prices and profits, but consumers of metal and minerals will be hard hit.