Despite beating production targets, nickel miner Mincor Resources reported a total net loss after tax of A$34.26-million for the full year ended June, compared with a profit of A$1.85-million in the previous financial year.

Nickel, copper and aluminum hit six-year lows on Wednesday after China allowed the yuan to weaken further, prompting fears that metals demand from the world¡¯s top buyer would wither and sending nickel down 15 per cent before prices recovered.

First Quantum, which primarily mines copper, but also nickel and gold, is trying to alleviate the impact of a 24 percent reduction in power supply in Zambia.

The average LME nickel price in H1 2015 was USD 6.2/lb, down from USD 7.8/lb in H2 2014 and USD 7.5/lb in H1 2014. ERAMET Nickel posted current operating income of -€98 million in H1 2015, compared with -€27 million in H1 2014.

Reuters reported that while the prospect of nickel supply tightness has ¡°put a floor under prices,¡± a true recovery won¡¯t happen until Chinese stainless steel mills increase their orders. When that happens, global stockpiles of the metal should begin to sin...

Even longer term, the picture is much the same. BMO anticipates a nickel price of $7.25 in 2017 and $8 in 2018; earlier it had predicted a nickel price of $11 in both years.

At the end of 2014, many market watchers anticipated positive price action in the nickel space in the near term.

Base metals prices are feeling the undertow but Stefan Ioannou, mining analyst with Haywood Securities, says that this is temporary¡ªand that investors may not have to wait long for the next wave of higher zinc and nickel prices. Ioannou says zinc prices could...