Noble’s into base metals with a Latin beat

The search for base metals will likely focus on major producing regions such as South America … It is also one of the few merchants still doing business in Venezuela, where the aluminum industry is in crisis.

Noble already has an array of iron ore and coal offtake deals and strength in alumina and aluminum through tolling deals. Last December, it signed a pact to supply a smelter in Azerbijan with alumina in return for aluminum output.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/26/noble-basemetals-expansion-idUSL2E8JHMDE20120826

Stock could fly again but its up against shume big mean boys. And is the founder still active in mgt? And if so gd or bad for co?

More bad news for Noble, Olam and Wilmar

The FT reports that Chinese importers are requesting trading houses to defer shipments of commodities. Sometimes they have broken agreements by refusing to accept deliveries.

Commodities specifically mentioned are iron ore and thermal coal (Noble’s specialities), cotton (Olam speciality) and soyabeans (Wilmar is world’s boiggest crusher). No wonder the price of these stocks keep weakening.

BTW, until I read below, I didn’t realise Noble is a big player in coffee and cocoa (but revenue is “peanuts” compared to iron ore and energy).

http://seekingalpha.com/article/572831-commodity-trading-firms-bunge-and-noble-offer-investors-good-value

CIMB bearish on commodity supply chain stocks

CIMB doesn’t like commodity plays and has made negative comments abt midstream commodity supply chain players Mewah, Noble and Olam.

Not time to buy yet: Noble is trading at its eight-year historical mean, while Olam is trading at 1.5 standard deviations below its mean and Mewah is trading at 2.5 standard deviations below mean. Despite their more modest valuations, we believe it is too early to turn bullish on this sector. Consensus estimates do not appear to have fully reflected their earnings risks, in our view. Our FY12 earnings per share estimates for all three stocks are 4-46 per cent below consensus. Further downgrades by the Street may be de-rating catalysts.