Bluestone & Partners Advisory

14/05/2019

INVESTIRE IN - INVESTMENT FORUM

Il giorno 10 giugno 2019 a Milano si terrà un importante Forum alla presenza di personalità del paese africano tra cui il Presidente dell'agenzia per la promozione degli investimenti e delle esportazioni. Al nostro gruppo è demandata la ricerca di 20 aziende per un meeting B2B nei settori dell' , , , , , e .
L'Angola, un Paese africano emergente, considerato il più caro del mondo, con quasi 30 milioni di abitanti e un tasso di crescita elevato e ingenti risorse minerarie, tra cui i di cui l'Angola è il quarto produttore mondiale e che rappresenta il secondo prodotto per importanza delle esportazioni dopo il . Leggi l'articolo: https://bit.ly/2U2GCGF

21/03/2019

Investire in

Un Paese africano emergente, considerato il più caro del mondo, con quasi 30 milioni di abitanti e un tasso di crescita elevato e ingenti risorse minerarie, tra cui i di cui l'Angola è il quarto produttore mondiale e che rappresenta il secondo prodotto per importanza delle esportazioni dopo il .

Un Paese dalle mille contraddizioni comunque considerato quasi un «miracolo» di sviluppo nella regione, tanto che moltissime sono le acquisizioni angolane in , l'ex potenza coloniale.

Un Paese che ha voltato con la vendita del petrolio e che oggi si trova a dover riconvertire velocemente la sua . E per questo guarda con grandissimo interesse all'Italia, alle sue piccole e medie imprese e all'alta tecnologia.

L'Angola spera nella collaborazione dell'Italia per diversificare la sua economia e ridurre la sua dipendenza dal petrolio invitando ad investire nel Paese africano che sta cercando di ridurre la corruzione e facilitare gli esteri.

È un momento favorevole per gli imprenditori italiani che vogliono investire in Angola nei settori dell' , della , del , dell’ industria , e di trasformazione . L'obiettivo principale del è quello di aumentare la produzione nazionale, oltre a rendere il settore imprenditoriale privato più solido e competitivo, promuovere le esportazioni non legate al settore petrolifero e ridurre le dei beni essenziali di consumo.

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15/11/2018

Ultra-rare ‘Pink Legacy’ diamond fetches record $50 million

An exceptionally large pink diamond – nearly 19 carats – has set a price-per-carat record after being sold for $50 million to US luxury jewelry brand Harry Winston at the Christie’s auction in Geneva.
“The Pink Legacy brought this extremely high price of $50 million, so $2.6 million per carat which is a world record price for a pink diamond,” Francois Curiel, Christie’s chairman for Europe, told journalists.

“This stone for me is the Leonardo Da Vinci of diamonds, I don’t think there is anything better.”

The previous record was reportedly established by a stone of more than 50 carats, which was sold at $2.1 million per carat.

The diamond was sold to US luxury brand Harry Winston, which is owned by the Swiss Swatch group. According to the auction house, the new owner of the Pink Legacy has promptly renamed the precious stone ‘The Winston Pink Legacy’, adding it to its collection of unique jewels.

The rare stone is categorized as a ‘Fancy Vivid’ diamond, the highest grade of color intensity. Only one in one hundred thousand diamonds receive this grading. The size makes it an even more exceptional find, as Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds larger than 10 carats are “virtually unheard of,” according to Christie’s.

“You have to acknowledge first that the Pink Legacy diamond was a very special diamond,” Christie’s international head of jewelry, Rahul Kadakia, said.

“It is one of the best and finest examples of pink diamonds at this size and color and it proved it with a new world record price per carat.”

The auction house didn’t disclose the name of the former owner of the huge stone.

Previously, the diamond was reportedly owned by the Oppenheimer family, which operated the De Beers diamond mines for three generations until selling the stake seven years ago.

04/11/2018

The latest data from the World Gold Council (WGC) shows that central banks in Eastern Europe and Asia significantly boosted their gold holdings. The regulators purchased 148 metric tons of gold in the third quarter of 2018.

29/06/2018

08/06/2018

European Steel Association Expects Major Influx of Steel in EU Over US Tariffs

The European Steel Association (Eurofer) is expecting a significant increase in steel imports in the EU member states due to the imposition of tariffs on metal imports from the third countries by the United States, Eurofer President Geert Van Poelvoorde said on Thursday.

"When the US is closing its borders … we will be confronted with 30 million tonnes of additional steel floating into Europe. And we have seen this, this is already happening, because the imports increased in the first quarter of 2018 by 8 percent which is not the low number. It is vital that Europe acts against this," Poelvoorde said at the European Steel Day in Brussels.

US President Donald Trump initially voiced his plans to introduce duties on aluminum and steel tariffs in March, prompting criticism from trade organizations inside and outside the United States, as well as threats of backlash from its allies and trade partners.Last week, Washington announced it would impose tariffs of 25 percenton steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports on the European Union, Mexico, and Canada beginning from June 1.

Brussels expressed its opposition to the US tariffs. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has called the US move pure protectionism, and said that the bloc would retaliate with its own duties against US goods, and complain to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the US trade policies.

03/06/2018

Russia to double gold extraction becoming world's second biggest producer

Major Russian gold mining companies are planning to almost double production. The increase could make Russia the world's second largest producer of the precious metal.

The country is currently third in the global rating of gold miners after Australia and China. However, that could change in less than a decade, according to Mikhail Leskov, deputy CEO at the Moscow-based Institute of Geotechnology, as quoted by Vedomosti.

In 2017, Russia extracted 8.8 million ounces, accounting for 8.3 percent of total global production, according to data by the UK consultancy Metals Focus, as quoted by the media. The newly discovered gold deposits will reportedly allow miners to increase extraction by half in seven years. By 2030, extraction is expected to grow by nearly eight million ounces.

Earlier this year, state exploration company Rosgeo said that a new discovery, holding some 900 tons of silver and gold, was found in the Republic of Bashkortostan. According to initial estimates, there are some 87 tons-worth of gold in the area. Silver deposits, meanwhile, are estimated at 787 tons.

The Russian gold mining industry has almost doubled its volume of extraction over the last two decades. The country’s producers mined 2,189 tons of gold over the last 10 years, according to the Russian Union of Gold Producers.

There’s a number of major gold mining regions in Russia, including the most prospective in the world. Krasnoyarsk region in central Russia has two of major operations – Olimpiada and Blagodatnoye. Chukotka region in Russia’s Far East is home to one of the biggest Russian miners, the Dvoinoye and the Kupol operations.

The regions of Amur and Magadan are the fastest growing gold hubs while Siberian city of Irkutsk is also one of the most prominent mining areas in the country.

09/05/2018

Uncertainty surrounding Iran nuclear deal could send gold prices higher – analyst

Political uncertainty, especially the geopolitical risk with Iran, could send gold prices higher according to analyst Boris Schlossberg.

“Gold has been going up and down in fits and starts. But, right now it is suffering the pullback because of the US dollar strength,” Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management, told CNBC.

According to the analyst, gold prices have fallen because of the stronger dollar and rising interests rates in the US. “Gold really suffers when real rates start to rise because gold offers no carry whatsoever,” he said.

However, geopolitical risks can help the bullion to rally, since investors usually see it is a safe haven in times of turbulence. “If we had some sort of geopolitical risk, especially geopolitical risk with Iran, gold will always be a harbor of safety and will have a sharp spike higher,” he said.

Markets have been worried that US President Donald Trump could pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran brokered by the UK, China, Russia, France, Germany and the US. Iran has said it is not interested in re-negotiating the deal. Trump has given until May 12 to “fix” the supposed flaws of the 2015 deal.

Gold prices have slid recently. The precious metal was trading at $1,311 this Friday, while it peaked at $1,361 this January.

30/04/2018

If you want to preserve your wealth, buy physical gold

Gold, which is traditionally seen as a safe haven, is usually subject to the whims of supply and demand. Its value changes quickly, pushing the bullion price to extremely high levels at times.

The yellow metal also makes a habit of performing poorly when the stock market is doing well. But gold is the ultimate store of value, according to precious metals expert Ronan Manly of Singapore’s BullionStar.

“What this means is that gold retains its purchasing power over long periods. Gold's purchasing power is not eroded by inflation as it is an inflation hedge,” the analyst told. “In contrast, fiat currencies such as the US dollar are not stores of value. Fiat currency purchasing power is consistently eroded by inflation, and over time fiat currencies, such as the US dollar, lose nearly all of their purchasing power relative to gold.”

Widely accepted as a safe haven, gold is commonly seen as financial insurance in times of crisis, conflict or war, with investors rushing to the asset during these periods, according to Manly. He compares the precious commodity to a “safe harbor when there is geopolitical turmoil.”

The expert points out that the physical commodity has a low correlation with the prices of other financial assets and securities, as it is less impacted by business and macro-economic cycles compared to most other assets.

“Gold therefore also aids portfolio diversification since by adding an investment in gold to an existing portfolio of other assets such as stocks and bonds, the overall volatility or risk of an investment portfolio can be reduced while boosting portfolio returns,” Manly said.

Accept no paper substitute: Buy physical gold
The research analyst stresses that the best way to invest in the precious asset is to buy physical gold as opposed to gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or gold futures. “Physical gold has a limited supply unlike fiat currencies because gold is difficult and costly to mine and process, and is therefore scarce,” the precious metals expert said.

According to the expert, gold-backed ETFs only provide exposure to the gold price and not to gold. Unit holders of gold-backed ETFs are shareholders, not gold holders. Gold-backed ETFs are also complex trusts or securitized products, where the trust owns the gold, and there are many moving parts and a lot of counterparty risk to the various entities-backed ETFs, there is also no option to take delivery of the underlying gold or to convert the units or shares into physical gold.

The expert adds that the advantage of physical gold is that it is portable and anonymous, difficult to counterfeit, cannot be debased and is highly stable to counterparty risk or default risk since it’s not issued by any corporation, government, central bank or other entity.

“It’s also portable across international borders and due to the universal acceptance of gold around the world, the gold market is highly liquid and gold bars and coins, as long as they are recognized as being fabricated by well-respected mints and refineries, can be sold in almost any city in the world so as to raise cash at any time,” Manly said.

According to the precious metals expert, physical gold is beyond the banking system and ring-fenced from financial repression, as well as from the risks that are essential for the current global monetary system.

“So if you want wealth preservation that is outside the banking system and that doesn't have any counterparty and no contract or entity that can default, then you have to choose physical gold or at least something that has a direct claim on allocated physical gold,” concludes Manly.

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24/04/2018

THE HOTTEST COMMODITY PLAY IN 2018

This might be the smartest mining opportunity in 2018.

It’s not coal, oil, copper. Nor is it silver, gold or platinum.

But one little-known miner called Vatic Ventures (TSXV:VCV.V) with a simple business strategy... is sitting on a potential find that could make a real difference in Asia.

Their strategy?

Scour the globe with the latest technology for a commodity that is needed right where the commodity is found.

In simple terms: Find something everyone needs... in the region where it’s most needed.

And that’s what they hope they’ve done.

In fact, they are hoping to be sitting on one of the largest finds of its kind... in the PERFECT location.

• It has the infrastructure... electricity, water, roads and labor.

• It has incredible local and regional demand from Southeast Asia, India and China.

The commodity?

It’s critical to rice and other crop production... in a region experiencing tremendous growth.

Potash.

It’s a vital component in fertilizers, and it is crucial for increasing crop yields.

Without it, the world’s population could go hungry.

The price of potash is hovering around $225 per ton and could well increase over the course of 2018.

And as the world’s population continues to grow, demand for potash is set to rise higher and higher and higher.

And that’s where Vatic Ventures Corp. (TSXV:VCV.V) comes in.

Right now, the potash market is cornered by several major producers—Canada and Russia, where production and transportation costs are high, and reserves are dwindling.

To meet future demand, potash miners are seeking out new deposits.

The UN projects the world’s population to rise 42 percent to 10 billion people by 2050, and farmers are going to need a lot of potash to help grow enough food to fill all those stomachs.

Potash demand is very likely to rise—along with Vatic’s chances of success if it finds what it hopes to on its project.

Here are five reasons to keep a close eye on this breakout company:

#1 Major Discovery

The Saksrithai potash project in northeastern Thailand is 32 sq. kms of prime real estate, 270 kms from Bangkok, Thailand. So, transportation costs of the potash to end users would be low compared to current transport routes that must cross the world to get into the local market. Local production will also cut down on the premium that is paid by regional potash importers. This is important because potash is shipped by the ton and is very bulky.

Vatic (TSXV:VCV.V) obtained an 80 percent interest in Saksrithai in early 2017, and immediately proceeded with an initial seismic survey, environmental study and geological survey. Drilling is set to commence around May 1, 2018, and Vatic plans to spend $1.5 million over 15-18 months to prove the project’s feasibility.

Thailand is believed to have the world’s largest untapped potash deposits. The Khorat Evaporite basin contains billions of tons of sylvanite and carnallite, covering about 300,000 sq km. It was formed millions of years ago and is prime potash mining real estate.

The deposit at Udon Thani, which the CEO of Vatic first developed in the 1990s, was estimated to hold 908 million tons—at current prices, worth $206 billion.

Recognizing the bonanza, the Thai government put together a steering committee in 2014 to attract investment in potash mining.

Even better, the project at Saskrithai is said to be shallow and easy to mine. So, mining costs are low.

Those deposits are situated a mere 150-350m below the surface. Around the world, similar deposits can be as deep as 1.9 km—and cost a lot more to dig up.

At Dan Khun Thot, drilling has found deposits close together, at grades as high as 34.03 percent. That property, which is directly adjacent to Vatic’s Saksrithai, is already projected to produce 500,000 tons per year, or about $113 million per year at current prices.

Vatic’s property is hoped to be bountiful or more. Its surveys have uncovered promising signs of deposits of high grade, and the potential of the deposit could be as large as the property itself.

#2 Location, Location, Location

The key to Vatic’s (TSXV:VCV.V) future is the location of its big discovery: Thailand.

Nearly all the world’s potash comes from a handful of exporters, all of them in Russia, Europe or North America. But the major import markets are in Asia, and one of the biggest markets is Southeast Asia. And that’s where Vatic comes in.

According to the USGA, “Global scarcity is not the issue with potash—transportation costs are.”

Vatic (TSXV:VCV.V) has the solution: its potash exploration property is close to major markets. Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia make up 75 percent of all Asian potash imports, excluding China and India.

Vatic’s goal is that its potash would enjoy a major transportation cost advantage from potash imported from Europe or North America—up to $60/ton, enough to make Vatic’s product 26 percent cheaper than imports.

It will also benefit from the support of the Thai government, which is directly investing in potash, and cheap labor costs.

Thailand currently imports 100 percent of its potash, which means that a Saksrithai find could fill a major hole in the Southeast Asian market. Imports have kept up with demand since 2011, and demand is expected to rise steadily until 2027.

Currently, the four biggest countries in Southeast Asia excluding China and India (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia) import about 5 million tons of potash each year, worth $1.25 billion—a market that Vatic hopes to tap almost immediately after it proves up its resources and builds its mine.

And in China and India, potash demand is massive—it’s crucial to regional rice and palm oil production.

From the Saksrithai property, Vatic has excellent access to excellent infrastructure: it can drive potash down the road to market with a relatively low transportation investment.

So, thanks to advantages in cost and a superb geographic location, the opportunities for Vatic (TSXV:VCV.V) to tap major market demand for potash are massive.

#3 Steady Margins, Lower Volatility

The world needs potash: it’s a crucial ingredient in fertilizer and is in hot demand all over the world.

In 2016, consumption of potash exceeded shipments, indicating a tight market.

Supply is expected to quadruple between 2020-2027 to keep up with demand, but there’s a chance that delays in bringing new production on-line would lead to a tight market, potentially for the next decade.

Vatic’s (TSXV:VCV.V) project in Thailand is on the doorstep of the world’s largest potash markets—China and India. Demand for potash has been growing strong at 6 percent per year and shows no signs of slowing down.

In Southeast Asia, demand for potash is off the charts—it’s 4.25X local production, requiring mass imports from Russia and Canada.

But Vatic’s potash play in Thailand is aimed to help meet that demand, at a lower price than competitors.

That means its market is ready when Vatic is ready with product.

#4 Management Team

Vatic Ventures (TSXV:VCV.V) is a Western company making a play for Thai potash—because it’s led by a management team with the skill set needed to pull off a this very promising venture.

CEO Dr. Gerald Wright already has one big success under his belt. He was part of the first Thai potash play by a Western company—Udon Thani, which he helped fund and develop in the mid-1990s. As CEO of Asia Pacific, Wright took a struggling firm to an almost $1 billion valuation, raising over $100 million in the 1990s. He’s CEO of Hong-Kong based Red Branch Investments Ltd., and he has thirty years of experience in mineral exploration across four continents.

The Board of Directors is dominated by Nasim Tyab, a financier with twenty years of experience in international capital markets, and Barry Coughlan, a Vancouver-based businessman with thirty-years of experience in financing and a string of successful mining ventures under his belt.

Together with Wright, they have excellent connections in Thailand and a partnership with a Thai firm to develop the Saksrithai property.

As a Western firm to get into Thai potash mining, Vatic has an open field in which to expand—and hopes to seize opportunities other companies haven’t recognized yet.

#5 On the Edge of Discovery

Vatic (TSXV:VCV.V) has already begun picking up steam.

In February the company’s stock uplisted from the NEX to the TSX Venture Exchange, where it qualifies as a Tier Two stock.

This is sure to attract more investor attention for a company that has a tiny $3.6 million market cap.

Other mining plays have been hugely successful. A non-western firm in the potash business, Danakali Resources working in Eritrea, Africa and an Australian company HighField Resources working in Spain, have realized market caps of $186 million and $347 million, respectively. And Vatic aims to be next, once operations start up.

But then again, the Vatic play could be much, much bigger. Dr. Wright, the CEO, has very high hopes.

The pre-drilling indications are promising, and the nearby potash property is already projected to bring in hundreds of thousands of tons.

The Thai market depends on imports, which local production could be in a great position to undercut, capturing a huge share of the market.

Thailand’s strategic location makes it the perfect place from which to jump into the lucrative Southeast Asian markets—

Vatic (TSXV:VCV.V) is one to look at carefully... before the extent of its resources becomes known.

Other companies poised to take advantage of the commodities boom:

Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) is relatively new on the scene, founded in the early 90s, but it certainly isn’t lacking drive or experience. In 2015, the company received the highest ranking for of any Canadian miner in Maclean's magazine's annual assessment of socially responsible companies. With over 30 million ounces of proven or probable gold reserves, Kinross makes for a solid bet for investors.

The company has managed to outperform the gold miners index GDX as well as its peers Barrick and Newmont in 2017. Investors should expect Kinross to come out with its 2018 production guidance in early February 2018.

Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) is the world’s largest publicly traded uranium company, accounting for nearly 18 percent of the world’s uranium production. Cameco made it onto this list of miners due to its mining expertise and wide range of assets.

Cameco’s operations are primarily based in North America, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Challenged with lower uranium prices, Cameco’s stock has suffered in the past year, but 2018 is looking promising for the company, with some suggesting a huge rebound is in sight.

First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG): There’s a lot of bullishness around this stock, with earnings growth expected to be high over the next 3-5 years. The optimism is absolutely justified as this Canadian mining company has been operating in Mexico for nearly a decade and has over $770 million in assets including 5 of the most promising locations in the country.

First Majestic’s 2017 results were largely in line with the company’s guidance. Total production consisted of 9.7 million ounces of silver, 62,991 ounces of gold. The company is due to announce its 2018 production and cost guidance in February.

Pretium Resources (NYSE:PVG): This impressive Canadian company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal resource properties in the Americas. Pretium has an impressive portfolio and if you can catch the stock while the price is right, there could be huge opportunity for upside. Additionally, construction and engineering activities at its top location continue to advance, and commercial production is targeted for this year.

With Pretium’s variety of assets, this mining giant is a key figure in Canada’s resource realm. Investors know a good thing when they see it, and have definitely taken note of this company’s ambitious and forward-looking drive.

Wheaton Precious Metals Corps. (NYSE: WPM) In the volatile mining sector, Wheaton Precious Metals Corps. has risen above its competition by offering regular dividends to investors.

The company has a dividend model based on returning 30 percent of the cash generated through operations over a twelve-month period.

That has delivered regular earnings for investors from a sector that is usually marked by boom-and-bust oscillations.

The world’s major “streaming” mining company, Wheaton is increasing its activities. It recently announced a purchase agreement with First Majestic Silver Corp. Wheaton will take on shares of First Majestic equal to $151 million.

24/04/2018

Sudan Invites Russia to Take Part in Country's Oil, Gas Projects - Ministry

Sudan invites Russian companies to participate in oil and gas projects on the territory of the country, Abdel Zahir Mohamed, the adviser to the Sudanese petroleum and gas minister, told Sputnik on Monday.

"In the fields of drilling and oil production there are some sites. These sites have been offered to Russian companies so that they can run these sites and invest in them. These sites do not produce [oil] but they are located close to the main pipelines… There are also [oil] producing sites, they are wholly owned by the state or are occupied by several foreign companies, the Russian companies may also work there and help to increase these companies' production," Abdel Zahir said.

The politician added that Russian firms might also work in the service sector, export oil products to Sudan and invest in the production of energy and liquefied gas.Abdel Zahir also suggested that Russian firms might engage in natural gas exploration in Sudan, adding that the gas would nevertheless be used on the territory of Sudan as its reserves were limited in the country.

According to the adviser, Sudan intends to cooperate with such Russian companies as Rosneft, Tatneft, Gazprom and LUKoil.

20/04/2018

Metal Prices Go Bananas Over Latest Batch of US Sanctions

The US Treasury Department announced on April 6 that it was imposing sanctions against 38 Russian businessmen and senior government officials, including Oleg Deripaska, owner of one of the biggest aluminum producers – Rusal.

The latest US economic sanctions against Russian businessmen have affected not only aluminum prices, but other metals too, reports the Bloomberg agency. Nickel prices have risen to a three-year high, gaining 5.4% on April 19. Aluminum alone has gained 7.1% and since the beginning of the month prices have risen 30%.

The growth in prices for aluminum was justifiable as the market understood the extent to which Rusal had penetrated the aluminum market, explains Bloomberg's expert Mark Keenan head of Asia commodities research at Societe Generale SA. Rusal produces about 6% of the world's aluminum and thus it is one of the biggest suppliers in the world.

However, Deripaska's business or any other sanctioned businessmen's is not directly tied to nickel production. While Mark Keenan suggests that Deripaska's 25% share in Nornickel, one of the biggest nickel producers in Russia, may be behind this, another Bloomberg expert Colin Hamilton believes it was just "misinterpretation" by the market. Keenan supports his idea by pointing to the fact that palladium, which is produced along with nickel, didn't see the same rise.

Bloomberg itself suggests that traders might have speculated that other Russian mining and refining companies could face the same fate as Rusal, being struck down by sanctions.

Rusal is Russia's biggest aluminum producer and one of the world's biggest suppliers of the metal as well as alumina. Its production is traded on the world's most prominent commodities markets. The company owns mines, refineries and smelters not only in Russia, but all over the world, for example in Ireland and Jamaica. Its aluminum is used in the production of all sorts of goods, ranging from cans to Boeing airplanes and Ford cars.

On April 6 the US imposed economic sanctions on 38 Russian businessmen and senior government officials in response to an alleged poisoning attack on the country's former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK. Oleg Deripaska's company Rusal has suffered the most from the recent sanctions.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. The pair was found on a bench near a shopping mall in critical condition. UK officials, namely Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Theresa May, have accused Russia of poisoning both with the A-234 nerve agent, allegedly produced in the USSR, although proper investigations of the incident have not been conducted. In a subsequent show of solidarity with the UK, several other western countries expelled Russian diplomats over the purported poisoning.

Russian has denied all the accusations being levelled at the country and demanded access to the investigation materials in accordance with international law, as well as consular access to its citizens. However, those requests have fallen on deaf ears. Moscow later expelled the diplomats from those countries that joined the British punitive measures and ordered the British Council to cease its activities in Russia in response to London's move.