2020 to be pivotal for coal miners — report

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has announced further retrenchments and cost cutting measures due to concerns that the slowdown in China's economic growth will be more pronounced than expected.

Global production of diamonds reached 124 million carats last year and, according Bain & Company consultants, 13 new mines should be adding 23 million carats by the end of 2012. But Money Week’s analyst Tom Bulford is warning those and other figures are not sufficient to avoid a looming supply crunch.

Illegal gold mining by Chinese nationals using heavy machinery has fueled resentment and hostility amongst local communities in Ghana.

On Monday upbeat Chinese traders came back from a week-long break and chased the price of the commodity to $110.40.

Veteran finance expert Richard Russell claims China has plans to obtain leadership of the global economy by fortifying its official currency with precious metal backing.

China has unveiled ambitious plans for the conversion of coal extracted in remote mining regions into gas for usage in urban areas.

Despite an abrupt decline in the wake of an upbeat US employment report, gold is likely to regain losses on several factors which should strongly favor the precious metal.

The power of commodities enhances a portfolio

Some businesses still believe the commodity supercycle is intact