The US shale oil market is thriving, and this is helping keep US oil prices down, especially in relation to the Baltic Sea’s Brent Oil which is popular in northern Europe. This increased production is also helping the US reduce their reliance on foreign oil supplies. The US Gulf Coast’s Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS) is […]

Crude oil prices rose for the 3rd day in a rose as US data showed poor employment numbers. The US economy failed to generate more new jobs, and investors are speculating that this will force the US Federal Reserve to actively stimulate the economy. Oil rose 1.1% on Friday as reports showed that businesses hired […]

Copper investors are the most optimistic in 11 months, as traders speculate that the US Federal Reserve with announce a new round of quantitative easing (QE3). Hedge funds are buying copper – the largest buys since May 2012 as London Metal Exchange warehouse stockpiles drop to their lowest level in 4 years. Currently, global demand […]

The Kurds – an ethnic group in northern Iraq – have resumed exporting crude oil. The Iraqi government pipeline had been shut down for 4 months over a payment dispute. Kurdistan is an autonomous region but still part of Iraq and reliant on the central government. The pipeline is currently transporting 100,000 barrels per day. […]

Copper prices rose to a one-week high today as we saw a bit of inflation out of China – the largest manufacturer in the world and massive consumer of raw materials including gold, silver, and copper. However manufacturing levels are not as high as expected, and consequently demand for copper is down. Slower demand is […]

Silver Wheaton has agreed to buy all of HudBay Minerals’ silver production and most of their gold production from 2 mines, paying $750 million plus royalties. The 2 mines in the agreement are HudBay’s 777 Mine in Canada, and the Constancia mine in Peru. Silver Wheaton is paying $750 million in addition to the cost of […]

After an up-and-down day, Brent crude oil closed up slightly as US crude oil inventories fell, and North Sea oil production slows down. Brent oil September futures rose $0.14 to $112.14, after ranging from $110.85 to $113.27   This volatility is what traders profit from. Open a free $100,000 demo practice account today with Ava […]

Kinross Gold has announced the replacement of long-running CEO Tye Burt. Burt has been CEO since 2005, but had made some controversial decisions lately while share prices have fallen 34% in 2012. Paul Rollinson, formerly Vice President of Corporate Development, is taking over as CEO. Burt’s most contentious decision was the takeover of Red Back Mining […]

Russian gas giant Gazprom has announced significantly lower sales to Europe so far in 2012 – down 12% to 82 billion cubic meters. This is very surprising as Europe experienced one of their coldest winters ever which caused an increased demand for power and gas. This opens the door to other European gas giants, like France’s […]

Sudan and South Sudan have come to an agreement over disputed oil payments, preventing a possible war as tensions rise. South Sudan – the world’s newest country – separated from Sudan in 2011 keeping 75% of the oil production along the border region. This greatly hurt relations with the Sudan, who claimed the oil-producing regions […]