Chilean state miner Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, is targeting production of 1.391 million metric tons of the red metal this year, according to an unpublished government decree approving its 2025 budget reviewed by Reuters.
In calculating its budget, Codelco forecast a copper price of $4.30 per pound and expects a cash cost of $1.98 per pound, the document showed.
Source – Reuters
A 12% y/y drop in Q4 gold jewellery consumption to 547t- took the annual total down to 1,877t, down 11%, as unrelenting gold price strength impacted consumers’ ability to buy, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report on Wednesday.
For 2025, the WGC said central banks and “ETF investors likely to drive demand with economic uncertainty supporting gold’s role as a risk hedge, but on the flipside, keeping pressure on jewellery.”
Source – Seeking Alpha
Central banks are expected to help keep gold’s stunning rally going this year with buying aimed at further diversifying reserves away from the dollar due to risks stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies.
Spot gold hit its latest record at $3,167.57 a troy ounce on Thursday for a gain of 19% since the start of 2025 and a hefty 71% rise since the end of 2022.
“Emerging market central banks currently hold around 10% of their assets in gold. They should really hold 30% of their assets in gold,” said BofA commodity strategist Michael Widmer.
“From the central banking perspective (uncertainty) means less incentive to add Treasuries into portfolios and more incentive to actually de-dollarise it,” he said.
Source – Reuters
“Over the past quarter, we have experienced significant challenges in our Zambian operations brought on by a combination of extraordinary circumstances outside of our direct control. We have addressed the power supply challenge by entering into an additional power supply agreement that sources power across a broader generation network to avoid localised exposure to network instabilities and a single power generation plant,” said Leon Coetzer the CEO of Jubilee Metals
Copper run-of-mine (ROM) and in process stock for Jubilee also increased sharply, reaching 1.21 million tons containing an estimated 8 466 tons of copper units now earmarked for future processing.
Source – Business Report
“I’m basing this whole forecast on the fact that the Fed is going to be wrong,” Hemke stated, emphasizing his belief that the current economic strength is overstated.
Craig Hemke is a precious metals analyst.
Source – The Jerusalem Post
Gold
Gold tests resistance at $2930 – $2940 as traders bet that demand from central banks will stay strong in the upcoming months.
Silver
Silver gains ground as traders react to the strong performance of gold markets. RSI is in the moderate territory, and there is enough room to gain momentum in the near term.
Platinum
Platinum is stuck near the $1000 level as traders wait for additional catalysts.
Source – FXEMPIRE
It appears that the Federal Reserve is on hold when it comes to moving interest rates until midyear, said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals. But “most of the other major central banks remain in easing mode, providing an additional tailwind for gold.” Ongoing trade and geopolitical uncertainty suggest upside potential to the psychologically important $3,000 level, he said.
Source – Market Watch
