Many view tiny Hong Kong as something of an anathema — a hangover from the days of the British empire, part of China but not part of China, often missing the point that that is exactly its strength (or has been).
Stuart Burns
Renewables take a bashing, but their application will grow in the longer term
Renewables are not normally a core topic of ours. In recognition of the growing importance of the sector and the legal and incentive landscape that is encouraging investment in such technologies, MetalMiner does produce a Renewables Monthly Metals Index (MMI) that tracks metal input costs to the sector. But, as a rule, we tend not […]
How reliable are India and Pakistan’s supply chains in the current environment?
A disturbing article in the usually sober British newspaper The Telegraph makes for difficult reading for consumers with supply chains dependent on the Pakistan or Indian subcontinent. It suggests, for different reasons, both countries are significantly underreporting the level of coronavirus deaths. In the process, both countries could be a ticking time bomb for a […]
Economists debate whether inflation will follow the pandemic
Economists and parts of the media are openly debating whether the massive financial support that is being injected into the economy and the resulting unprecedented levels of debt governments are taking on will fuel inflation down the line.
Public transportation concerns amid COVID-19 pandemic drive renewed automotive interest
From a position of nearly crushing the automotive industry, the coronavirus pandemic could ironically be its savior. A recent article in the Financial Times explores the issues driving — no pun intended — an increase in buyer activity as lockdowns around the world are gradually eased and the impact imperatives of social distancing and virus […]
Europe is beating the virus … now it faces the economy
France, heartbeat of the European social ideal, is facing an existential crisis caused by the impact of the lockdown of its economy. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, termed the heart of the country’s auto industry, according to the Financial Times.
India charts its own path through the coronavirus pandemic
The fear, so far largely unfounded, at the start of the pandemic outbreak is that it would be bad for developed economies with well-funded health care systems but disastrous for developing economies with immature or underfunded health care systems. The reality has been much more mixed.
Stainless price rises offer a hint of support for nickel
Nickel prices have seen support in recent months more from supply-side concerns. Initially, support came from bringing forward of Indonesia’s raw material export ban. More recently, support came from concerns the coronavirus pandemic would shut down mines in the Philippines and Indonesia, in addition to disruption of shipping to top consumer China.
Novelis loses Lewisport in approval of Aleris deal
It was never going to be a straightforward takeover. India’s Aditya Birla Group as the owner of Hindalco — and, therefore, Novelis — cemented its position as the world’s largest producer of value-added aluminium products with the completion of the USD 2.8 billion acquisition of Aleris last year. However, approval from the U.S. Justice Department […]
Go to work, don’t go to work — confusion in U.K.’s virus policy
While many people are asking why Britain did not do it sooner — logically, at the beginning of the lockdown like most other countries — the U.K. has just announced this week it will be forcing all arrivals at its airports to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
