Metal Heads is a section dedicated to expert opinions of market analysts,
company executives and the like. Columnists are invited to write on whatever subject takes their fancy as long as it's about mining, preferably African mining, or the markets. If you have any suggestions on topics or certain market participants you'd like to hear from, please email the editor (david@miningmx.com) with your suggestions.


 
Gold coins outshine gold shares
 Posted: 09 Jun 2008 - | South African Krugerrands are an investment that has grown 412% since 2000, completely overshadowing gold miners' shares, write Alan Demby, the executive chairman of the South African Gold Coin Exchange.


The challenges of raising exploration capital
 Posted: 05 May 2008 - | Innovative and unconventional ways to raise capital for early stage exploration have to be developed as it becomes increasingly difficult to find cash for such projects, writes Dean Cunningham, CEO TWP Finance.


A dichotomy of attitudes
 Posted: 14 Apr 2008 - | A comparison of attitudes in Cape Town and Toronto towards a little glitch throws up an interesting insight, writes Noah Greenhill, Head of Marketing and Business Development, Johannesburg Stock Exchange.


Technology onslaught for mining companies
 Posted: 07 Apr 2008 - | Specialist consulting companies are flourishing as mining companies reduce inhouse expertise, writes Richard Gundersen, MD of mining projects company Bluhm Burton Engineering (BBE) Projects.

 
No clarity on SA junior mining tax incentives
 Posted: 25 Mar 2008 - | The South African government wants to stimulate investment in the junior mining and exploration sector, but there is no real clarity yet on how the proposed tax incentives will work, writes Di Seccombe, a senior tax consultant at BDO Spencer Steward Services.


Is it too late to buy platinum stocks?
 Posted: 17 Mar 2008 - | Platinum shares are sky-high in line with the metal price but Paul Theron of Vestact stockbrokers reckons it's still not too late for investors to get into the sector. His preferred pick is Impala Platinum


Has the commodity cycle hit a tipping point?
 Posted: 11 Mar 2008 - | There are other investments offering better relative value than commodity-related stocks and it's time for a switch, says Peter Major from Cadiz Green.


Platinum producers get more for less
 Posted: 05 Mar 2008 - | China, India, M&A and South Africa's power crisis. What do these mean for commodities? James Allan of Allan Hochreiter gives his view.

 
 
Electricity crisis sends a clear message
 Posted: 27 Feb 2008 - | South African economic growth faces downside risks and the mining industry could lose tens of thousands of jobs because of the power crisis, write Fanie Joubert and Doret Els, economists at the Efficient Group.


The only alarm would be to do nothing
 Posted: 22 Feb 2008 - | The government calls a warning from Bell Dewar & Hall to prospecting companies to check their licences "alarmist", but the only alarm would be for companies not to do anything, Bell Dewar & Hall's senior partner Andrew Mitchell says.


Pressure mounts on Eskom coal demands
Posted: 19 Feb 2008 - | Increased coal demand from South African power utility Eskom could suck up all available coal in the domestic market, affecting other sectors needing coal in their processes, writes Xavier Prevost, a senior coal analyst at Wood MacKenzie.
Metals shares as portfolio diversifiers
 Posted: 28 Jan 2008 - | A balanced commodities portfolio's relationship with stocks, bonds and inflation clearly makes for a great portfolio diversifier, according to this Miningmx commentator.


Gold's time is now
 Posted: 14 Jan 2008 - | No more pondering about when gold was last a record levels. The record is now, says Jessica Cross, CEO of the VM Group.

 Gold bursts through $900/oz


How to evaluate junior diamond firms
 Posted: 09 Jan 2008 - | Junior diamond companies face unique challenges, which makes it difficult to evaluate them using methods applied to precious and base metal miners. Theo Botoulas, CEO of Diamond Core, gives some pointers.


Challenges abound for S.Africa's coal sector
 Posted: 31 Dec 2007 - | Years of under-investment in South Africa's coal sector by the large companies has impacted negatively on productivity and the burgeoning junior sector is unlikely to fill the gap, writes Xavier Prevost, the senior coal analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

 

Miningmx and its employees may or may not agree with the views and opinions expressed in these columns. However, we invite comment that is fair. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions that may be deemed offensive to the reasonable reader.