Lithium – Roskill provided analysis on the future of the lithium market. The company determined that rechargeable batteries accounted for 27 percent of global lithium consumption in 2012. The end use of batteries was responsible for 44 percent of the net increase in lithium consumption over the lat ten years and 70 percent over the last five.
Diamond – Forbes reported that Harry Winston Inc. paid over $26.7 million for a 101.73-carat, pear-shaped flawless diamond at Christie's Geneva-based Magnificent Jewels sale, a record price for a colorless diamond.
Gas – USA Today reported that a drop in the price of gas has pulled April's consumer price indext figures down 0.4% from March — the lowest since December 2008.
Palladium – MetalMiner reported that yesterday, Chinese palladium bar prices fell by 5.7 percent, while prices for US palladium bars went up by 1.7 percent.
Rare Earth – KRWG reported that the Mescalero Apache Tribe is looking to capitalize economically on the vast rare earth deposits that are in their area. As quoted in the market report:
Silver – The Financial Post reported that silver tracked gold down, registering significant declines.
Gold – Reuters reported that gold is continuing its descent and is nearing a one-month low, while heading towards the largest downturn since 2009.
Zinc – MetalBulletin reported that London Metal Exchange warehouses received large deliveries of zinc, with a delivery of 92,000 tonnes in Antwerp bringing the port's total zinc inventories up to 192,875 tonnes.
Cobalt – MetalBulletin reported that if prices for cobalt metal remain under $13 per pound, Chinese buyers will likely switch to metal from concentrate.
Cobalt – MetalBulletin reported that both low- and high-grade cobalt prices are steady as market players wait for direction from the Cobalt Development Institute conference scheduled for next week. Prices for low-grade cobalt sit between $12.50 and $14 per pound, while high-grade prices are between $12.90 and $14.10 per pound.
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