Europe Top Stories

Australian environmental watchdog approves Cameco uranium mine

Western Australia's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended state approval for…

Scotiabank, Deutsche, HSBC accused of rigging silver price

The three banks have been accused of fixing the price…

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Big 3 profits threatened as iron ore to begin first price drop since 1982

Iron ore's 20-year price run is likely to come to an end in the next three years, according to new data from Bloomberg, with a surge in supply set to knock $50 off the price of the crucial steelmaking ingredient by 2015: Global prices may fall 29 percent to an average $123 a metric ton in 2015 from a record $173 this year, according to the median estimates of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. The decline contrasts with estimates for little change in copper and a 10 percent increase for aluminum in the same period, London Metal Exchange futures prices show.

Stornoway sees over 2 million carats a year, longer life for Renard

Stornoway Diamond Corporation, involved in the discovery of over 200 kimberlites in seven Canadian diamond districts, has provided an update on its 100%-owned Renard Diamond Project saying it now expects a longer life and increased annual output of some 2 million carats. The company said the release of the feasibility study for the $450 million project is imminent and it could start producing in 2015. Stornoway last week joined the S&P/TSX SmallCap Index, a move which should increase the appeal of the counter among institutional investors.

Precious metals ‘shot to pieces’ as losses continue to mount

Gold failed to capitalize on the stock market rout and December futures tumbled 4% or $74/oz to $1,734/oz by early Thursday afternoon as the Fed warned of "significant downside risks" and pessimistic economic data from China further damaged sentiment. Silver was hardest hit and platinum and palladium prices came under pressure as well. December silver slid -9.8% or almost $4 to $36.50 an ounce while October platinum lost -4.9% or $87 and palladium for December delivery traded down -8.1% to $655. One trader summed up the day this way: “The textbook ideas, the things we follow, the things we believe to be so are being shot to pieces for the moment and it’s very difficult to trade other than for a long-term view.”

Teck to spend $685 million on upgrades

Teck Resources Limited (NYSE: TCK) will invest $210 million at its Trail Operations to increase its capacity to recycle end-of-life electronic waste and $475 million in a mill modernization project at Highland Valley Copper. Both operations are located in British Columbia. The No. 4 Furnace Project at Trail Operations includes the construction of a new slag fuming furnace and settling furnace that will integrate into the existing lead smelting process. Construction on the project will begin in 2012 with completion scheduled for 2014.

Franco-Nevada to acquire Lumina Royalty Corp. for $66 million

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 22, 2011) - Franco-Nevada Corporation (TSX:FNV)(NYSE:FNV) ("Franco-Nevada") and Lumina Royalty Corp. ("Lumina Royalty") have entered into an arrangement agreement whereby Franco-Nevada will acquire all of the common shares of Lumina Royalty by way of a court approved plan of arrangement for US$60 million in Franco-Nevada common shares and US$6 million in listed Franco-Nevada warrants ((TSX:FNV.WT.A) with a C$75.00 exercise price, expiring June 16, 2017). Under the arrangement, Lumina Royalty shareholders will receive 0.03487 Franco-Nevada common shares and 0.01917 Franco-Nevada warrants for each Lumina Royalty common share held.

World markets are in the red

World markets tumbled overnight as bad news mounts and investors turn pessimistic. The Hang Seng fell 4.95%, the S&P ASX was down 2.63% and the Shanghai composite index is down -2.78%. Even gold, the traditional fear trade, was off three percent and trading at $1,739.

Fluke Products Take Top Honors in the Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year Awards

EVERETT, WA--(Marketwire - Sep 22, 2011) - Two products from Fluke Corporation, the global leader in portable electronic test and measurement technology, have been recognized as best new products in the Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year Awards. The Fluke® TiS Thermal Imager was named Most Valuable Product of 2011 and won the test instruments, meters, data-loggers category gold award. The 810 Vibration Tester took the bronze award in the same category.

Silvercorp repurchases approx. $35 million of shares under NCIB

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 22, 2011) - Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX:SVM)(NYSE:SVM) announced it has acquired a total of 4,468,012 of its common shares at a total cost of $34,949,140 (average price of CDN$7.82 pursuant to its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") announced on June 17, 2011. Under the existing NCIB the Company intends to acquire up to 10 million common shares. All common shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.