Copper prices hit by Japan growth outlook

The Japanese government also lowered its assessment of the country’s growth prospects, stating that “the economy is showing weakness due to the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake”.

“Markets were rattled by both the rise in severity of the Japanese nuclear situation to the same level as Chernobyl and concerns over crude oil price ascent and its impact on global economic growth,” Barclays Capital analyst Nicholas Snowdon explained.

The softening in price comes in the same week that US banking giant Goldman Sachs advised investors to sell a basket of commodities, with a suggestion that the recent rally could be nearing an end.

“We believe that copper will face near-term headwinds as higher oil prices potentially translate into a negative demand shock for the metal and this commodity is exposed to supply chain problems resulting from the earthquakes in Japan.

“Copper also remains vulnerable to slowing observed demand as high prices and tight credit motivate tight inventory management from key consumer China, which tempers the inventory draw we had expected and the risk of price spikes,” the bank’s analysts said in a note.

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SMF would like to tell you that if you would like a quotation for any of the services that we provide then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Even if its a question about what we do, or how much a particular service you require is.

A - Special Metals Fabrication Ltd
Unit 31 Fanton Hall Farm
Wickford
Essex
SS12 9JF

T: 01268 761188
F: 01268 761722
E: sales@special-metals.co.uk

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Here at SMF we like to have all the easy ways of contacting and using our services, and we think this box is simpler than sending us an email etc.

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Metal prices buoy Hochschild Mining

Latin America focused gold and silver miner Hochschild has released record revenues and record net income last year as metal prices soared.

He said “Revenues climbed 39% to $752m, underlying profits by 59% to $398m and net income by 79% to $95m. The final dividend rises by 50% to bring the total for the year to 5c”.

“2010 production rose to 26.4m attributable silver equivalent ounces comprised of 17.8m ounces of silver and 144.4 thousand ounces of gold. Silver and gold prices also rose by 83% and 30% year-on-year respectively. The 2011 production target is 22.5 million silver equivalent ounces.”

“We remain extremely confident about the prospects for our three advanced projects following positive scoping studies, particularly at Inmaculada where we have recently announced an increase in total resources to 128.3 million silver equivalent ounces,” chief executive Ignacio Bustamante said.

Metal Theft in Basildon

Officers have launched Operation Bodwin to stop and check vehicles travelling to scrap dealers in the area.

There is so much of this going on now throughout Essex and it has to stop and theft of metal has be dealt with seriously.

“By ensuring scrapyards have their books in order and they work with police, we can make sure thieves do not have anywhere to sell on their goods.

“Metal theft is not a victimless crime – it not only causes building owners and councils the hassle and expense of replacing stolen items, but can cause significant building damage too. We have seen the consequences of that recently, as a local school had to close its doors because of the damage.

“The operation has been successful, as we have caused disruption to people travelling to scrapyards, giving out the strong message metaltheft will not be tolerated, and we will catch you if you commit crime in this area.”

Copper news

Copper steadied by the close recovering from a previous 3 month low, as investors reassessed the
likely fallout from Japan’s massive earthquake.

A big move in Chinese inflation in February only added to the negativness, extending copper’s weekly losses to as much as 10 percent before the sale began to show signs of fatigue.

“The market is picking and choosing which indicators it wants to respond to.
In the extent of the earlier correction … it didn’t need too much for a rebound in prices,”
said GFMS Metals Consulting Managing Director Neil Buxton.
Despite the late recovery, copper prices still managed to suffer their biggest weekly
decline since early June 2010

Metal crisis

Gold and silver was up and down in Asia, helped by a weaker dollar, higher equity markets and oil prices keep rising as action in Libya loomed.

Markets seemed less bothered to severe nuclear crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, with hopes growing that a major leak of radioactivity may be avoided.

“There’s a feeling that by early next week this might be behind us,” said Darren Heathcote, head of trading at Investec in Sydney.

“As with any of these stock market selloffs in recent years, gold suffered through margin calls, but that has turned around and it is trading up with equities,” Heathcote said.

Elements of heating

We have the capacity to manufacture a wide range of parts including heating elements to any given drawing, sample or customer requirement, using the most up to date Milling, Turning, Welding and Sheet Metal Working equipment available.

We specialize in the manufacture of components to very exacting quality standards, tight tolerance, customer specific requirements and offer a very responsive repair service.

We pride ourselves on our levels of customer care and our ‘Total Quality’ approach ensures that our customers receive their orders on time, well packed and in perfect condition.

If you would like any heating elements made to size or order then please contact us.

Motorbike/Moped parts blasted

If so we carry out just that!

Motorcycle and scooter parts: cylinder heads, engine pots, crank cases, forks, wheels, exhausts, frames.

This piece has been carried out before and on the right is what it looked like before and on the left is what it looked like after we blastedit.

If there is anything you would like to know about it, or you would like to find out how to book in to have this done then why not drop us an email or phone us.

Niobium Suppliers

Niobium has a similar structure to Tantalum and is produced in a similar method.

It too has a very high melting point of around 2470°C. It has excellent corrosive resistance and has good cold ductility. It is however half as dense as Tantalum.

Applications include; sintering trays and boats, special chemical applications, superconductors, medical components, jet engine parts and is used in the lighting industry.

If you need or would like Niobium for equipment or if you would like us to help you out using the Niobium then please contact us.

T - 01268 761188
E - sales@special-metals.co.uk

South Africa source for molybdenum

After one of Canada’s  reactors was taken offline in May 2009 for more than a year due to a massive water leak medical radioisotope suppliers have been looking to broaden their sources.

Covidien, having received FDA approval a year ago to sourcemolybdenum from Poland’s nuclear research reactor, has now can try to purchase molybdenum left from low balanced uranium from a South African reactor.

Molybdenum is used to generate technetium, which is most commonly used in nuclear medicine.

Special metals

Precious metals were up for investment for the second good year during 2010 with their value increasing by 42% as people sought a safe haven from inflation, research indicates.

The value of precious metals has surged in the past decade.

The steep increase in precious metal prices seen during 2010 was driven by silver, with its value jumping, dramatically making a rise in the price of gold and platinum.

Tantalum supply

Tantalum is generally produced from sintering the powdered ore to make a metal with an very high melting point of an estimated 2990°C.

It has a high resistance to corrosion against molten metals and liquids, is biocompatible and has very high conductivity.

Applications include; heat exchanger tubes, charge carriers, capacitors, electrodes and grounding rings, jet engine parts, missile parts and vacuum furnace parts.