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Copper outputs up amid tariffs

BHP warned Thursday that a tariff war could slow the global economy and disrupt world trade, as the world’s biggest miner reported a slight decline in quarterly iron ore production and a 10% rise in copper output due to higher volumes from the giant Escondida mine in Chile.

“Despite the limited direct impact of tariffs on BHP, the implication of slower economic growth and a fragmented trading environment could be more significant,” CEO Mike Henry said. “China’s ability to shift toward a consumption-led economy and for trade flows to adapt to the new environment will be key to sustaining the global outlook.”

Source – Seeking Alpha

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    “Trump’s unpredictable trade policy has been the key driver for gold so far in 2025, with prices up by more than 16% year-to-date, extending its momentum from 2024,” ING analysts said.

    “We see uncertainty over trade and tariffs, along with central bank buying and inflows into ETF holdings continuing to buoy gold prices.”

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    Gold prices dipped on Monday as thin holiday trading kept momentum in check. After last week’s sharp decline, gold is attempting to recover but faces resistance between $2607.25 and $2607.35. A breakout above $2629.13 is possible, but traders will need stronger volumes to drive further gains—something unlikely until after the New Year.

    Treasury yields edged slightly higher to start the week, with the 10-year yield rising to 4.536% and the 2-year yield ticking up to 4.325%. Yields jumped last week following the Fed’s policy update but eased on Friday after softer-than-expected inflation data. The dollar held steady as markets processed the Fed’s outlook for 2025.

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    Platinum, palladium likely to lag gold and silver again – UBS

    Prospects for platinum group metals in 2025 look similar to previous years, UBS says, adding that it expects platinum to outperform palladium , and both to lag gold and silver once again.

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    “Hence, we hold a more nuanced outlook for the overall precious metal sector, with a more attractive risk-reward in gold/silver versus platinum/palladium. Within the platinum group of metals, platinum remains favored over palladium, considering the higher volatility and lower liquidity of the latter,” analysts added.

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    Gold prices rise higher, tariff concerns

    Gold prices ticked higher on Tuesday as focus turned to U.S. jobs and inflation data, that could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy decision in the face of rising economic growth concerns. 

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    Freeport – McMoRan Inc is developing new technology

    After 154 years of digging at Morenci, all the easily recoverable copper has been mined. Left behind are towering piles of waste rock that hold nearly 10 million tons of the metal seen as critical to global electrification. It’s a cache that could prove key to President Donald Trump’s ambition to boost US production of critical minerals.

    Freeport-McMoRan Inc., which owns Morenci, is trying to develop technology that can burrow within those gigantic waste piles and extract low-grade copper that miners previously saw as too expensive and difficult to process.

    “For a long time, we just didn’t think it was possible to recover any of this stuff,” said Robert Pollock, Morenci’s site manager, gazing up at a waste pile the size of a Manhattan office building. “But now, all this historical copper – we’re going after it.”

    Source – Bloomberg