Given the current inclement state of the diamond industry, I thought it would be useful to take a few steps back and break the convoluted dynamics of the industry down into the simplest fundamental concept in economics: supply and demand. Despite the fact that the diamond industry is heavily concentrated, and still possesses tones congruent… Continue Reading

Via Energy & Gold.com: The Federal Reserve finds itself in a tricky situation heading into Wednesday’s FOMC announcement. There has been a considerable build-up over the past several weeks (primarily from strong employment reports) which has led to the market anticipating a 25 basis point hike the Fed Funds Rate. However, the shakeout in the… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: Since the odds of a Fed rate hike at its December meeting shot up above 80% gold has actually outperformed the S&P 500: Gold vs. S&P 500 since November 20th     This outperformance is widening further today as gold is .4% higher on the session while the S&P 500 is… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: While the gold miners (GDX) continue to experience significant day to day volatility the ratio chart of GDX relative to the S&P 500 (SPY) shows a clean double-bottom pattern with a notable bullish momentum divergence:   GDX/SPY (Daily)  The October/November decline in the miners made a marginal new low in the… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: Gold futures speculators have moved into full capitulation mode in recent weeks. The liquidation we have seen in gold since the October highs is one for the record books; a more than 135,000 contract reduction in net long exposure for a net notional amount of more than $15 billion:   There… Continue Reading

In the midst of a gruelling bear market, companies that provide services to publicly traded resource ventures have been hit almost as hard as those operating in the space. However, advising and consulting to junior miners also provides an intimate view into the company, a perspective many individuals are not granted. This, in turn, offers… Continue Reading

I caught up with royalty specialist John Budreski recently for an update on Morien Resources, a small resource royalty play with two long-life assets in Nova Scotia. The shares had recently slumped below 20 cents from a 52-week high of 28 cents, and I took a position. Budreski, Morien’s president and CEO, didn’t seem too… Continue Reading

Via EnergyandGold.com: Precious metals have had an awful month of November thus far with both silver and gold suffering significant declines while posting record losing streaks. Most notably silver has posted a record 14 consecutive losing sessions and is currently working on a 15th as I write this:   Silver (Daily) Several things stand out to me… Continue Reading

I had the chance to visit once again with Rick Rule, Chairman of Sprott US Holdings. It was a great conversation, focusing on the state of metals and mining, a $20 billion opportunity now available due to market chaos, and ‘multiples of potential return’ in mining equities, should historical measures reassert themselves. “I’ve seen this… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: Noted market technician and fund manager J.C. Parets is a long time friend of CEO.CA and EnergyandGold.com. We had the pleasure of sitting down with J.C. and picking his chart filled brain as to what he’s seeing right now across global markets and asset classes. As is his style, J.C. did… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: This morning’s stronger than expected monthly payrolls report has sent the US dollar index soaring and gold tumbling: US Dollar Index (December futures)   Gold (December futures) Gold smashed through minor support around US$1100 and now finds itself perilously close to making fresh 5+ year lows. The summer low at $1072.30… Continue Reading

by CEO.CA on Bay St. Legendary investor and author Jim Rogers urged students to scrap career plans for Wall Street or London’s financial district during a Nov. 4, 2010 speech at Oxford University’s Balliol College (one of his alma maters). He recommended studying agriculture and mining instead. “The power is shifting again from the financial… Continue Reading

Fission Uranium CEO Dev Randhawa says he’s determined to fight through both negative market sentiment and the opposition of some retail shareholders who want him to step down after the failed merger with Denison Mines. Randhawa said in a phone interview late this morning that it’s business as usual as he advances and markets Fission’s… Continue Reading

Michael Berry of Disruptive Discoveries Journal is out with a good slide deck on macro and metals themes that he presented earlier this month for the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association. Mining investors know the story well – excess supply and insufficient demand have hit commodity prices hard, as well as the energy-reliant Canadian economy. Meanwhile, debt… Continue Reading

Via Energy and Gold.com: Here’s the quick take on gold via Morgan Stanley:     Clearly a bearish view on gold from MS, also not a very deep view either. This is a classic example of what Howard Marks calls “first-level thinking”. All of the points mentioned are known and already discounted by the market;… Continue Reading