CAPITAL MARKETS

Mixed markets await catalysts

Gold recovers losses after unexpectedly weak payroll numbers

Staff reporter
 The markets are awaiting direction early in the week

The markets are awaiting direction early in the week

The yellow metal fell to US$1,316 per ounce early on, before tracking back to just under $1,321/oz before midday in London.
 
Gold, which is up about 1.4% for the year, was expected to rise on Friday afternoon after a report on US December non-farm payroll numbers came in below estimates. 
 
However, the price actually fell following publication as market commentators shifted focus to expectations of multiple interest rate rises this year.
 
Even so, the price returned to $1,321/oz on Monday at around 11am London time.
 
In the US, gold miner Newmont Mining (US:NEM) was up 0.37% on Friday, while Australia-listed gold producer Newcrest Mining (AU:NCM) closed 0.69% down on Monday.
 
On the base metal side, the LME copper price (cash seller and settlement) dropped 1.4% on Friday to $7,097 per tonne. This was despite expectations of a strike proceeding at Glencore's (LN:GLEN) Lomas Bayas mine in Chile on Wednesday.
 
Iron ore continued to exceed expectations, closing on Friday at $73.2 per tonne, 3.4% up for the week. This is despite Australia's Department of Industry, Innovation and Science expecting prices to fall 20% in 2018 to $51.50/t. 
 
Both equities and commodities are expected to take their direction this week from a number of US, UK and European economic results, including both US CPI and retail spending numbers out on Friday.

 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2024: Net Zero

Gain insights into decarbonisation trends and strategies from interviews with 20+ top mining executives and experts plus an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Project Pipeline Handbook 2024

View our 50 top mining projects, handpicked using a unique, objective selection process from a database of 450+ global assets.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.