Amur Minerals* (LON:AMC) – ASL assays for the MKF point to a resource upgrade
ASA Resource Group* (LON:ASA) – Mr Muganyi to become Group COO
Equities are off slightly with markets focused on the FOMC monetary policy announcement due later today
The US$ together with precious and base metals is little changed this morning.
Iron ore prices are down despite positive economic data released in China.
Uranium - Nuclear scandal in France has potential to damage uranium demand
Manufacturing flaws in critical parts covered up. Problem is that these critical parts have been used in nuclear reactors world-wide.
The parts are from Areva’s Le Creusot Forge in Central France.
Cautious nuclear authorities will be examining the problem and may take reactors offline as recently seen in France as a precaution.
China – Party newspaper calls Trump ignorant as a child
It looks like Donald Trump is set to stand against China starting with his refusal to go with the One-China Policy over Taiwan.
The scene is set for a showdown over trade as well as politics as the US starts to exercise its new confidence.
We reckon Trump is unlikely to take much notice of the comment.
Will be interesting to see what headlines appear when Trump raises further anti-dumping trade barriers against China
Copper continues to arrive in LME warehouses dampening price rise
Copper stocks rose by 19,950t to 278,125t this morning
Aluminium also rose 22,200 to 2,092,175t
Nickel rose 1,140t to 369,738t
Zinc stocks fell 900t exacerbating potential for shortage to 434,975t
Lead fell by just 50t to 187,225t
Tin stocks remain unchanged at just 3,375t
Dow Jones Industrials +0.58% at 19,911
Nikkei 225 +0.02% at 19,254
HK Hang Seng +0.04% at 22,457
Shanghai Composite -0.46% at 3,141
FTSE 350 Mining -0.68% at 14,887 FTSE 350 +103% since 1st January
AIM Basic Resources -1.10% at 2,360 AIM Basic Resources +45% since 1st January
Economic News
US – Futures markets are pricing in a 100% chance of the Fed raising rates today with markets to be closely watching for changes in the pace of monetary policy tightening.
Median FOMC members forecast is for rates to climb by another 50bp next year, implying a potential for two rate hike decisions.
China – Lending accelerated more than forecast in Nov according to the latest numbers with credit expansion providing support to state economic growth targets.
Aggregate Financing (CNY bn): 1,740 v 896 in Oct and 1,100 forecast.
Eurozone – Industrial output falls through October against positive expectations
The fall appears to have been partially driven by a pullback in non-durable consumer goods including clothing
Output of durable goods, like cars and white goods picked up 1.5% after a marked 5.5% fall in September.
UK – Employment numbers came in worse than forecast while earnings growth surprisingly strengthened in three months to Oct.
Employment Change (3m v previous 3m): -6k v 49k in 3m through Sep/16 and 50k forecast.
Unemployment Rate (%): 4.8 v 4.8 in 3m through Sep/16 and 4.8 forecast.
Av Weekly Earnings (3m %yoy): 2.5 v 2.4 (revised from 2.3) in 3m through Sep/16 and 2.3 forecast.
The pound is trading lower against the US$ following the release of employment report.
France – Inflation confirmed at 0.7%yoy (EU Harmonised reading) in Nov.
An upwards trend in the national consumer prices is a positive news for the ECB that is pressing forwards with its expanded QE programme.
Currencies
US$1.0629/eur vs 1.0609/eur yesterday. Yen 115.22/$ vs 115.43/$. SAr 13.675/$ vs 13.752/$. $1.264/gbp vs $1.270/gbp.
0.750/aud vs 0.748/aud. CNY 6.900/$ vs 6.903/$
Sterling gains on higher than forecast UK Inflation
Commodity News
Precious metals:
Gold US$1,161/oz vs US$1,158/oz yesterday – Indonesian ban on copper concentrate shipments to come into force from mid-January. The move could threaten exports from Freeport / Rio Tinto’s the giant Grasberg mine.
Gold ETFs 58.9moz vs 58.9moz yesterday
Platinum US$939/oz vs US$925/oz yesterday
Palladium US$730/oz vs US$725/oz yesterday
Silver US$17.08/oz vs US$17.01/oz yesterday
Base metals:
Copper US$ 5,725/t vs US$5,756/t yesterday
Aluminium US$ 1,737/t vs US$1,745/t yesterday
Nickel US$ 11,460/t vs US$11,435/t yesterday
Zinc US$ 2,734/t vs US$2,760/t yesterday
Lead US$ 2,345/t vs US$2,388/t yesterday
Tin US$ 21,270/t vs US$21,280/t yesterday
Energy:
Oil US$55.1/bbl vs US$55.9/bbl yesterday
Natural Gas US$3.457/mmbtu vs US$3.494/mmbtu yesterday
Uranium US$19.25/lb vs US$18.40/lb yesterday
Bulk:
Iron ore 62% Fe spot (cfr Tianjin) US$75.9/t vs US$79.0/t – first significant pullback in iron ore prices for a couple of weeks despite smaller $2/t decline in Chinese iron ore futures
Chinese steel rebar 25mm US$529.6/t vs US$534.3/t – also pulls back
Thermal coal (1st year forward cif ARA) US$64.4/t vs US$65.0/t yesterday
Premium hard coking coal Aus fob US$262.7/t vs US$274.4/t
Other:
Tungsten - APT European prices $182-200/mtu vs $183-195/mtu – price range widens suggesting more poor quality material in the market.
Company News
Amur Minerals* (LON:AMC) 10.8p, Mkt Cap 55.4m – ASL assays for the MKF point to a resource upgrade
The Company received assay results on the 2016 drilling programme at the Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy deposit (MKF) from Alex Stewart Laboratories (ASL).
Assays have been sent to Runge, Pincock and Minarco for preparation of an updated mineral resource targeted for completion in Q1/17.
The majority of the new MKF mineral resource is expected to be classified in the Indicated category with a view for a subsequent upgrade into reserves.
The update will incorporate both an infill drilling data of the presently defined 2,100m long mineralisation as well as 900m extension identified in 2016.
ASL results have been broken down by two cut-off grades representative of different mining methods:
At 0.2% Ni open pit cut-off grade, an average mineralised thickness per hole was 23m with 13m per mineralised interval and the weighted average grades of 0.73% Ni and 0.21% Cu.
At 0.5% Ni underground cut-off grade, an average mineralised thickness per hole was 19m with 11m per mineralised interval and the weighted average grades of 0.88% Ni and 0.24% Cu.
Overall average grades along intersected mineralised intervals of 0.76% Ni and 0.88% Cu compare favourably to the current MKF mineral resources showing 90.6mt at 0.40% Ni and 0.12% Cu.
The management expects the revision to yield a resource increase in both tonnage and grade terms.
ASA Resource Group* (LON:ASA) 2.3 pence, Mkt Cap £38.9m – Mr Muganyi to become Group COO
Management changes at ASA Resources mean that Mr Muganyi, MD at the Freda Rebecca Gold mine is to become the Group Chief Operating Officer and Mr Manhando who is currently MD at the Bindura Nickel Company will become the Group Technical Officer.
The appointments bring consolidates these these roles to the Bindura site in Zimbabwe and cuts these functions from Johannesburg.
Going forward the board will hold at least two of its four quarterly meetings in Bindura each year.
The moves will further reduce the corporate overhead and should help to streamline the operations with better emphasis on managing the Zimbabwean business.
The move should help in the reconstruction and restoration of the Bindura smelting and refining operations.
ASA is also looking to start a basic gravity gold mining business at Zani Kodo in the DRC early next year. The resource is estimated to contain some 3moz of gold grading 2.43g/t. The move to mining should save on license costs.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe is trying to reintroduce its own currency in a move which is not entirely welcomed by population. The new Zimbabwean bond notes are officially interchangeable with the US dollar on a 1:1 basis though we suspect the interchangeability only goes the one way.
Foreign exchange earning companies like ASA should continue to be able to earn and repatriate US dollars on the sale of gold, nickel and other metals.
Conclusion: ASA continues to streamline, focus and reduce corporate costs. Today’s report is part of a process which is expected to realise significant new gains for shareholders.