First Cobalt to produce battery-grade by year-end

The cut-back should help the miner lower all-in sustaining costs of production and generate free cash flow.

Ruling opens door for international claims against Kazakhstan.

The ratings agency expects physical supply/demand imbalance to widen further, leaving miners in extremely weak conditions.

Bullion prices are also set for a gradual recovery this year as demand increases in Asia and mine production contracts.

However, the company said it remains committed to having a presence in Greece and has budgeted $155 million in development spending at the Olympias project.

Top miners BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Vale and Anglo American are among the firms at risk of rating downgrade.

The asset writedown is primarily related to two Latin American assets — Pascua Lama project, on the border of Chile and Argentina and Pueblo Viejo, in Dominican Republic.

Should foreigners who allege human rights abuses against a Canadian company operating in a foreign land have their case heard in a Canadian court?

Biggest loss in the past 25 years.