COMMODITIES

First Cab Off the Rank for Aussie Shale Oil and Gas

Your editor continues to gently pound the table in favour of an Australian energy revolution. Technological advances have made enhanced oil and gas extraction possible all over the world. In practical terms, it means countries that don't have a lot of high-quality easy-to-produce hydrocarbons can still become more energy self-sufficient, if they're willing to embrace the technology.

A Simple Interpretation on Gold for Times of Monetary Madness

Another day, another beating for the precious metals. After gold and silver fell in New York trading on Friday, Asian futures markets have opened in a panic, with leveraged holders no doubt getting margin calls over the weekend. The result? Stump up more cash or sell. Clearly, selling is the preferred option.
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Breaking Down Gold’s Comeback

It's only been two weeks since the big crash. But that hasn't stopped the yellow metal from staging a comeback. For the first time in five weeks, gold ended trading Friday night with a weekly gain under its belt.

Gold Demand: The Great Disconnect Between Paper and Bullion

So have we found a bottom in gold? Following last week's plunge to around US$1320/oz, the gold price is now up to around US$1,470/oz, for a gain of US$150/oz. And the gold miners rallied strongly in the US on Wednesday night (as they are in Australia today), suggesting we may have seen an end to the capitulation selling.

Don’t Buy Gold (Yet)

Is your desire to buy gold now based on reasonable analysis of market conditions? Or is it simply an emotional reaction to the selloff?

Gold Slides Down with $560 Billion from Central Banks Equities Rally

April 16 was a far cry from previous two years when 'Gold' enjoyed the most-favored-investment status. Not only did the Gold-bubble finally burst, but it also led to bringing the value of central bank reserves down around $560 billion as investors now prefer equities to gold-investments.

Floating on Liquid Natural Gas

It's easy to waste energy getting wound up about politicians, thieves, cheats, and hypocrites. But there's nothing new under the sun when it comes to powerful people using the authority of the State or Crown to steal other people's money. In the meantime, the real world rolls on, and to roll, it needs energy. Enter Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

BP Aims to Get Rid of its US Wind Arm

If one thinks that renewable energy is the future, then s/he can be surprised with a new decision made by BP Plc. Surprising or not, BP Plc has informed that it wants to get rid of its US wind arm.

Exxon Cleans up Arkansas Oil Spill as Concerns Rise

Exxon Mobil Corp. is incessantly continuing its attempts to clean up mess caused by the Arkansas oil spill. Another oil spill adds to concerns over the safety of pipeline systems and their conservation. But the Arkansas oil spill has also led to the beginning of a debate on the pipeline sector and the safety in general, not to mention the prospects of the Keystone XL project as well.

Are We Wrong About Gold?

'Are you new to Aiken?' said an attractive 70-something woman with a soft, local cotton accent, named Sissy. We were coming out of the Willcox hotel. She spotted us as visitors and offered help.

Prediction for 2013: Days of Abundant Natural Resources to Continue

An old bit of advice says, 'Never eat at a place called Mom's or play poker with a man named Doc.' That's a joke, but this isn't: Never fall for an argument that says we'll run out of some natural resource or bet on the 'end' of cheap anything. Such views will cost you money in the long run.

Palladium: Platinum’s Neglected Cousin

It's a whitish, ductile metal. It is No. 46 on the Periodic Table of Elements...and it is a "Buy". I don't just mean that it is a solid investment opportunity in which you can buy shares. I'm talking about an opportunity so big, you could literally pull a truck up to the front door - but make sure it's an armored truck, as I'll explain below - and drive home with the stuff.

India’s Gold Mania

Less than 1% of the world's gold is mined in India. The rest comes from somewhere else. Still, India can't get enough. It is the largest consumer of gold in the world, buying nearly a third of production in recent years. Some estimates say that 10% of all gold is held in India.

Why Gold Hasn’t Risen

We were on RT television. The pretty interviewer, Lauren Lyster, wanted to know what would happen after the election.

Kalgoorlie Gold Nugget Weighing Up to 60 Kg: A Hoax?

A photograph of a large gold nugget allegedly found near Kalgoorlio-Boulder is stirring Australia's gold mining community. However, because of the lack of ownership and unknown origin of the photograph, there are doubts that the gold find is just a hoax.

‘Petrol From Air’ Produced by UK Company

Air Fuel Syndication, a company located in the UK, claims that it has developed a revolutionary technology that enables production of "petrol from air". "Petrol from air" is produced by using technology that captures water vapor and carbon dioxide present in air. By using this method the company produces a synthetic version of the fossil fuel.

Iron Ore, a Love Story Between China and Australia

Arguably the most romantic line from 2004's The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, comes on the pier in a driving rainstorm. The star crossed lovers discover their relationship has been thwarted by a meddling mother. But love saves the day.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/9/2012

The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the fourth straight day, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 0.2 pct or 8.7 pts to 4341.6. Some better than expected employment numbers have helped lift the market, while economic news in China so far today has been largely in-line with forecasts.

Miner Blames Paper Market for Weaker Price of Gold

Kingsgate Consolidated (ASX: KCN) Chief Executive Gavin Thomas is perplexed by the continuous fall in gold prices despite the high demand for the yellow metal. He opined that the decline by prices by about 16 per cent since September 2011 may be caused by the paper market, including the derivative gold futures markets.

Petrol Prices Soar with no Respite in Sight

Between February and March this year, petrol costs have risen by 3%, causing a downward drift in the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index. This has many economists worrying, as the fear of recession looms and unemployment figures do not look too uplifting either.

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