Junior miners almost never dive right in into successful producers with large-scale operations and happy shareholders. But Stornoway Diamond Corp., which is on the right track to create Quebec’s first diamond mine into production this year, showed it truly can be done, even in a tough market. Unfortunately, it might be pretty difficult to replicate the Stornoway model. It required ...
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PDAC 2016: How lithium has become a rare winner amid the commodity slaughter
The commodity slaughter of the last five years has left very little metal unscathed. Almost. There is really a notable exception. Little-known lithium has been a solid performer for the last several years, and has simply skyrocketed recently due to expectations of soaring demand from electric vehicles and market distortions in China. “You could argue it’s done better than anything,” ...
Read More »Avingstone abandons its plan to become a SPAC, withdraws amended prospectus
The ranks of would-be special purpose acquisition companies within the Canadian market have been reduced by one with the news that Avingstone Acquisition Corp. has “withdrawn” its prospectus. The scorecard now reads this way: filings have been made for seven SPACs, five have raised capital; the first is still in the market and one has been withdrawn. SPACs are new ...
Read More »Canadians’ consumer confidence remains weak amid job security concerns, polls show
OTTAWA – As the Canadian economy entered 2016 with a little more oomph than anticipated, consumers still appear reluctant to open their wallets and start spending more – a sign that many are involved about employment at a time when the country’s unemployment rates are running at a two-year high. Given that uncertainty, it’s not surprising that Canadians continue to ...
Read More »Saudi Arabia faces new oil titan when — and if — it wins battle with U.S. shale
Even if Saudi Arabia wins its struggle with U.S. shale producers over share of the market, it will face a new billion-barrel adversary. Natural gas prices may plunge below $1 on ‘insane’ storage glut not seen in 18 years A lukewarm winter and record gas storage are conspiring to bring Canadian gas prices down, and such affordable prices could force ...
Read More »PDAC 2016: Large miners should work flexibility into their production profiles
The mantra in mining has more often than not been bigger is better. Miners, especially in the bulk commodity space, are continually trying to maximize production from their operations in an effort to gain scale and lower costs. The downside of that strategy is becoming apparent in the last couple of years, as it can certainly result in massive oversupply ...
Read More »U.S. jobs growth storms past expectations, boosting Fed rate hike prospects
WASHINGTON – U.S. employment gains surged in February, the clearest sign yet of labour market strength that could further ease fears the economy was heading into recession and permit the Federal Reserve to gradually raise interest rates this season. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 242,000 jobs recently, the Labor Department said on Friday. The unemployment rate held at an eight-year low ...
Read More »Cheap flights for transatlantic flyers coming this summer in ‘ultra-competitive’ market
The market for transatlantic flights will be “ultra-competitive” come july 1st with 15.5 per cent more capacity on Canada-to-Europe routes, based on a brand new analysis by National Bank. London will be the most competitive market undoubtedly, with WestJet Airlines Ltd. launching flights from six Canadian cities in the spring and Air Canada increasing its ability to the city by ...
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