News

December 03, 2008

Day Two At Mines And Money: The Crowds Leave Early As Patience Wears A Little Thin, But Deals Did Get Done, And Some People Left Smiling

Alastair Ford

By late afternoon on the second day of the Mines and Money conference the crowds had worn a little thin. Paradoxically many of the conference’s more pessimistic delegates stuck around till the end, just so they could watch the enthusiasm dwindle and witness the fulfilment of their own worst prognostications.

This time round, as metals prices continue to scrape along the floor, it would probably be fair to say that the smiles were specific rather than general. Thus you could raise a smile from Courtney Chamberlain by mentioning that his company had been referred to as the “darling of Aim”, by an envious peer. But then Minera IRL is producing gold at huge margins and on the hunt for deals, at a time when many other companies are cutting budgets and running for cover, and hoping against hope that that...