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Monday, February 6, 2012

[CPSI NewsWire: Altan Rio Grants Options, MEC Receives Partial Xinjiang Settlement]

CPSI NewsWire brings you market updates on Mongolia, compiled by CPS International, a Mongolian marketing arm of CPS Securities, a Perth, WA based stockbroking and corporate advisory firm, specialising in capital raising for mining and junior stocks.

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See Mongolia related quotes at bottom of newsletter

 

AMO closed at 53c

Altan Rio Grants Stock Options

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 3, 2012) - The Board of Directors of Altan Rio Minerals Limited, (TSX VENTURE:AMO) ("Altan Rio" or "the Company") has authorized the Company to grant 1,992,400 stock options ("Options") to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. The Options will: (i) vest over an 18 month period for directors with 33.3% vesting every 6 months and over a 12 month period for officers and consultants with 25% vesting every 3 months; (ii) be exercisable to acquire one common share of Altan Rio at CA$0.53 per share; and (iii) expire February 1st, 2017.

Options are granted subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Option Plan (filed on SEDAR) and are subject to TSX.V approval. Options are administered by the Board of Directors who may authorize the Company to make allocations to eligible persons after considering their present and future potential contributions and value to the Company.

Link to article

 

276 closed +9.21% to HK$0.83 with HK$95.2M turnover

MEC: ANNOUNCEMENT PARTIAL SETTLEMENT AND EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SETTLEMENT OF THE REPAYMENT SUM

February 3, Mongolia Energy Corporation Limited (HK:276) --

Reference is made to the Company’s announcement in relation to the termination of the Transaction on 5 January 2012 regarding acquisition of resources in Xinjiang, the People’s Republic of China.

The Company reports that it has on 2 February 2012 received a partial repayment of HK$50 million from Mr. Liu, leaving the balance of HK$150 million remains to be settled. Mr. Liu has also requested a further period of up to 31 March 2012 to be granted to him for settlement of the Repayment Sum.

In view of the immediate partial settlement made by Mr. Liu and the reasons set out in this announcement, the Board agrees to grant an extension of time for settlement of the Repayment Sum up to 31 March 2012.

Link to release

 

XAM, AKM responds to NGOs report on environmental impact of miners in Southgobi on herders

Australian miners test Mongolian frontier

February 3 (AAP) Mongolia is not being short-changed as foreign miners rush to take a slice of its enormous mineral wealth, Australian explorers operating in the vast Asian nation say.

A report released this week by non-government organisations (NGOs) claimed that a surge in mine developments have pushed herders in the South Gobi region out of traditional camps, fragmented pasture land and put pressure on water resources.

The report, produced by NGOs including the Czech Republic's CEE Bankwatch Network and Oyu Tolgoi Watch in Mongolia, also said that increased dust caused by mining and trucks was exacerbating desertification.

But Brian Thornton, chairman of the NSW-based Xanadu Mines, said a lot of NGOs are exaggerating the side effects of Mongolia's mining boom.

There is some truth to the claim that mining trucks are stirring up dust, Mr Thornton said, with some coal mining operations currently trucking across the South Gobi to the Chinese border 400-500 times a day.

But this was not extending Mongolia's deserts and was being alleviated as new roads were being built from major mines to China, the nation's main market for coal, he said.

David Paull, managing director of Perth-based Aspire Mining, said dust problems will further improve when the Mongolian government in 2015 completes a new rail line linking the world's largest undeveloped coal deposit, Tavan Tolgoi, to the existing Trans-Mongolian Railway, which runs from Russia through to China.

"That will tidy a lot of things up," Mr Paull told AAP.

"It takes time for infrastructure to catch up."

While development is racing ahead in a "wild west" way, Mr Thornton says it is important to remember just how impoverished the average Mongolian is.

With the jobs and wealth brought by foreign-run mining operations, Mongolians would enjoy a better standard of living.

"As development takes place anywhere in any country, you'll get some sort of environmental stress," Mr Thornton told AAP.

"But fundamentally in terms of the enhancement of people's lives - and people are very poor in Mongolia - it's a way to some sort of better lifestyle, whether it's running hot water, electricity or some of the mod cons that we take for granted.

"You try living in minus 45 degrees in a gur (Mongolian traditional tents) with no heating except camel dung and no visible means of support.

"It's pretty tough."

Without foreign capital, Mongolians could not develop massive projects like the Rio Tinto-managed Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold operation, or the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit, which was being auctioned off by the government amid fierce interest from Asian entities, Mr Thornton said.

There was also a security imperative to Mongolia's rapid development, Mr Thornton said, given it is sandwiched between Russia and China.

"Unless it develops, the superpowers will take control of it," he said.

"That's my personal view after being there for seven years."

Both Mr Thornton and Mr Paull agree that Mongolia's government is no pushover, which it has demonstrated in recent years by legislating that 75 per cent of foreign mineral explorers' workforce must be local, increasing to more than 90 per cent once a project reached production.

Even more notably, it has been driving hard deals with foreign miners.

That approach has come after a wave of nationalism swept the nation in 2006 as Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Mines stepped up work on the Oyu Tolgoi project after years of an increasing Canadian mining presence in Mongolia.

Protesters called on the government to demand strong returns from foreign miners in exchange for allowing them to extract the nation's mineral wealth and amend a 1997 minerals law that they believed favoured the companies.

The Mongolian government attempted to bring in a 68 per cent "windfall tax", stymieing development plans for Oyu Tolgoi, but the tax was scrapped in 2009 after its negative affect on the mining sector became apparent.

The Mongolian government eventually negotiated a 34 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, but found the major miners were also good at playing hardball, last year unsuccessfully attempting to convince Ivanhoe and Rio Tinto to sell it a further 16 per cent interest after the companies' initial investment was recouped.

The magnitude of wealth contained within the Oyu Tolgoi project, which was expected to be the size of Manhattan, was further illustrated last month when Rio Tinto increased its interest in Ivanhoe Mines to 51 per cent, from 49 per cent, to gain greater exposure to the monster deposit.

With first production from Oyu Tolgoi slated for the middle of 2012, miners in Mongolia are just starting to scratch the surface, Mr Paull said.

Mr Thornton said the nation offers some of the world's best copper, coal, gold and uranium targets.

"It's a real explorer's delight for opportunity," he said.

Link to article

Link to NGO report

 

Sales of gold to Mongol Bank being investigated

February 4 (news.mn) News.mn previously reported that about 20 kg of gold that did not meet international standards for quality was sold through Mongol Bank.

The bank asked the Ulaanbaatar Prosecutors Office (UPO) to investigate the matter and Deputy Prosecutor Ye.Sagsai tells our correspondent that the State Investigation Office’s Economic Crime Investigation Department is investigating the case and the UPO is monitoring the investigation. This is not an isolated incident. Poor quality gold has been supplied through Mongol Bank Treasury on different occasions from 2003 to 2011.

Ye.Sagsai said an official with Mongol Bank’s Economic Department and three officials from the Standardization Measurement Office have been detained in connection with the sale of the 20 kg of bad gold. He said other Mongol Bank officials are being questioned, and organizations that sell gold to Mongol Bank should be monitored. 

Link to article

 

Batj.Batbayar: Gasoline prices could fall by MNT 500

February 4 (news.mn) MP Batj.Batbayar told journalists on Friday that he has submitted a draft law on oil exploration and importation to Parliament.

He said the law would give the Government control of petroleum imports, while the current importers would be allowed to continue retail sales of fuel. The MP believes this would curb gasoline price increases.

Batj.Batbayar said the price of a liter of gas could be reduced by MNT 500, because citizens use just 30 percent of the country’s imported gasoline. The rest is used by large mining operations. Mongolia annually imports one million tons of gasoline. 

He also said that if the Government subsidized the import of petroleum, a liter of gas could cost MNT 500 less. He added that the Oil Association and the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority are have prepared opinions on the draft law.

Link to article

 

ERDENET CORPORATION INTRODUCES NEW TECHNOLOGY

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, February 3 /MONTSAME/ The Erdenet Mining Corporation has conducted a test outcome of which is to contribute to a development of blasting works. It has been done at an ore open-cast mine.

Engineers and technicians from the "Mera" national company, Austin Power company (USA) and Chemical Industry Group (China) have performed the test blasting using for the first time an electronic detonator, one of the latest tools.

The detonator is equipped with the latest technologies and allows engineers to set the blasting time in any options, to control a consumption of explosive substance, to determine directions of rocks movement, to start the blasting at any points, and to reduce a pollution of minerals.

Link to article

 

D.Zorigt: “People’s Development” program will benefit the country

February 4 (news.mn) Delegates attending the third MPP conference on Thursday ratified the party’s “People’s Development” program, a twenty-year plan to develop society and the economy. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister D.Zorigt answered our correspondent’s questions about the program.

Q: MPP members have different opinions about the program. What is your opinion?

A: The “People’s Development” program focuses on goals from 2012 to 2031. Any political force needs goals for developing the state, and the program’s purpose is to develop the country. Political parties and citizens should work hard to implement the goals. The program outlines the goals and purposes. The MPP members discussed what to implement and how to implement it.

Q: What sector was deemed most important to implement the goals of the program?

A: The mining sector will be the leading sector in the economy for the next ten years, according to the MPP. But the infrastructure sector will boost development in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Construction of roads, railways and power plants will develop the country. Economic growth has reached 20 percent and we should implement infrastructure projects to continue economic growth. We could build oil refineries, and iron, steel, and coking coal plants that produce value-added products during implementation of the program. And agriculture and animal husbandry should be developed at the same time. 

Q: What is the role of citizens in the program?

A: The ultimate focus of the program is the Mongolian citizen. Mongolian citizens will earn higher salaries after the country’s economy and society are developed. Citizens will have high incomes after two decades, if the program is implemented. The most important goal is that citizens will gain employment through economic growth. The prime minister has said the Government will implement a policy that small- and medium-sized businesses will be exempted from taxes for a certain period, and the conference discussed this.

Q: But economists say small- and medium-sized businesses can not develop the nation as well as large corporations that compete on the world market. What about that?

A: Look at Japan and South Korea. They developed small -and medium-sized business like Mitsubishi and Honda in Japan and Samsung and Hyundai in South Korea. Also, large factories in Mongolia could be developed in the mining sector and by producing value-added products. Small- and medium-sized businesses could be developed around these large factories. Mongolia is remote from the world market and the cost of our imports is high. We can see examples of state support for small- and medium- sized production in any country’s experience. Small- and medium-sized businesses can not be developed without a government policy of support, such as reduced electric rates. But the state will not interfere in the development of large factories. 

Link to article

 

Herders enjoying a relatively easy winter – so far

February 4 (news.mn) Despite cold weather in recent days, an official from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry who is touring the countryside with Speaker D.Demberel tells the newspaper Uls Turiin Toim that winter is normal in the aimags, and herders have faced few challenges so far.

Although snow is covering pastureland, herders prepared sufficient stocks of hay in the autumn. According to the State Emergency Office and the Government, there has been no dzud, or dangerously heavy snow, in the country. The State Emergency Office is going to send reserved hay to Uvs, Bayan-Ulgii, and Khovd aimags, where herders could face shortages. 

The official said that some soums of Arkhangai and Bayankhongor aimags had temperatures as low as -40 C (-40 F), but herders there have declined any assistance from the state. About 72 families with 46,000 animals are in winter migration for better places.  

Link to article

 

AMBASSADOR S.BADRAL WORKS IN GENEVA

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, February 3 /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador-at-Large of Mongolia to the Community of Democracies (CD) S.Badral met on Thursday with Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Ambassador introduced to him activities and priorities of the CD, and told about a plan to set up a group of the CD at Geneva in a scope of the UN organizations at Geneva and the Human Rights Council. Then, he asked the UN Office director to give a support to this plan.

In turn, Mr. Tokayev said he will render comprehensive support to the CD's activities at Geneva in organizing and regulatory matters.

Present at the meeting were G.Jargalsaikhan, the Minister-Counselor of Mongolia to the Permanent Representative in Geneva, and Charlotte Warakaulle, Chief of the Political Affairs, External Relations and Inter-Agency Affairs Section of the UN Office at Geneva.

The same day, S.Badral held meeting with ambassadors of member countries of the CD's board to the UN Office at Geneva, and gave them detailed information on activities and priorities of Mongolia as for the CD's chairman.

S.Badral pointed out that the CD chaired by Mongolia is seeking opportunities and ways to cooperate with the UN branch organizations, including the Human Rights Council (HRC). He also gave a report on a preparation for the 3rd meeting of the CD's board to be held March 1 in Geneva.

The Mongolia's Ambassador also shared views with Laura Lasserre, a head of the HRC and ambassador of Uruguay; and with Christian Strohal, a deputy head of the HRC and ambassador of Austria.

Link to article

 

Alexander Zakharov: Mongolians are allowing the value of their camel fur to drop

February 5 (UB Post) An interview with Alexander Zakharov, a Russian businessman who exports camel fur from Mongolia to Russia. Translated from “Udriin Sonin” newspaper.

What are the difficulties you face when exporting fur from Mongolia?

I export camel fur products to Russia in partnership with a Mongolian woman, Yo. Odonchimeg. I have worked in the business for four years and I notice how the decisions by the Government and administration affect the operations in this business. 

Russian people like camel fur but unfortunately there are a high number of fake camel fur products being exported to the Russian market. The camel fur market is overwhelmed with fake fur products made in China; made mostly of cloth and fabric and painted to mimic a real camel fur. 

We brought camel fur socks that were being sold in Moscow to Mongolia, and did an analysis of them. The results showed that they consisted of only 2.9 percent camel wool and the rest was made of materials from other animals, mostly sheep wool. 

This kind of product is being exported to Russia en masse. It is not possible to make fur products from camels in the Middle East, camel fur products are found nowhere but in Mongolia. Because camels live in a relatively cold environment their fur is very warm while still being thin. Mongolians themselves are letting the value of their camel fur drop. 

Is it fair to say that fake camel fur products are negatively affecting Russian consumers’ opinion about camel fur products? 

Yes, that is the biggest difficulty we face. Russian people know that there are clothes made from camel fur. But since they are used to clothes made from fake camel fur, they do not know how good it actually is. 

Mongolia has too many factories that produce fake camel fur products. For Mongolia, the biggest camel fur market is in Russia – but because there are too many fake products being exported to Russia, consumers already have the wrong ideas about camel fur products. They believe that camel fur clothes are uncomfortable. They say that it often has an unwelcome odor and causes various allergies. 

Yo. Odonchimeg and I have spent considerable time explaining to our partners that camel fur is very soft, odorless, and is not artificially coloured.  Once Russian consumers are exposed to genuine camel fur, they will begin rejecting fake camel fur.

What actions need to be taken to introduce genuine camel fur to the Russian fur market?

Mongolians prioritize cashmere and forget about camel fur. 

The world economy will not be as steady in the next few years, and it will be a lot more difficult to export fur products to Russia. 

Even so, camel fur has a lot of potential in the future; a huge market is waiting for it. But Mongolia is failing to take any steps towards this great opportunity. I think the time has come for the Mongolian administration to begin protecting camel fur products and decreasing the production of fake camel products before it is too late. 

It would not be wise to sit back and stay silent. Mongolian inactivity and lack of attention to its camel fur products will result in Russians not coming to Mongolia for camel fur. Many people will be left jobless. 

There is not a single genuine camel fur product at Narantuul Market. Even Made in Mongolia, a store mostly visited by foreign travelers has so many fake camel fur products. I am surprised and concerned that the administration and organizations remain silent on this issue.  

Where do you purchase your products?

I purchase genuine camel fur from Goyo and have them made into clothes. If I don’t specify the exact material to use, clothes producers will use cloths and other materials from everywhere to make clothes and claim they are of camel fur. 

Do you export cashmere products too?

Yes. Mongolia has also been unsuccessful at introducing their cashmere to the world. Aside from Goyo and Gobi, Mongolians fail to unite and work together in promoting cashmere products. 

I go to exhibitions in Moscow to look at Mongolian cashmere. There is a Goyo exhibition stand and a Gobi stand not far away – because of this separation their products do not attract as many people as they could have if they were together in a larger stand under the name Mongolia. 

On the other hand, there is an Italian stand and every cashmere company from Italy is there. Mongolia should be known and famous worldwide for its cashmere and camel fur. 

Lately, Mongolians are working well to promote their cashmere products, but as I have said, there is still a lot of work needed to introduce genuine Mongolian camel fur to the world market.

Link to article

 

The Crippling Cost of Luxury: Mongolian Cashmere

February 5 (UB Post) Buyers cruised the makeshift aisles of Ulaanbaatar’s State Circus building this Saturday, taking in some of Mongolia’s finest textiles at a one off wool leather and cashmere market. The lookers may have well outweighed the buyers however, as the cost of Mongolian cashmere continues to spike.

Mongolia’s top cashmere brands were forced to pass the costs on, with single scarves selling for over MNT 200 000 each. It’s symptomatic of a trend that has been developing over the past year, and according to leading cashmere retailers, the high rates are here to stay.

“We are now paying for the cheaper cashmere prices from the past 4-5 years” said Don Fox of Rhode Island based Alashan Cashmere. “The costs to raise cashmere goats continue to rise and the returns on these animals have not risen for some years.”

The high cost of cashmere production in Mongolia is due to an unfortunate mix of environmental and economic factors. 

The demand for luxury textiles in Asia, particularly China, has risen markedly in the last decade.

According to a Reuters article published last year, the pull of the Asian market is causing a global vacuum, forcing up the prices of raw textiles such as wool and cashmere.

At the same time, the world's second biggest producer of cashmere, Mongolia, has experienced a drop in supply. Goats made up half of the country's livestock in 2009, a 300 percent rise on the 1990 figure according to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO. However a vicious dzud in 2010 has a drastic effect on the numbers of cashmere goats, culling millions.

The 2010 dzud not only reduced numbers of cashmere goats but also changed the age and sex composition of the herds, producing a poorer product. According to USAid report, the damaging weather conditions kill of younger goats, who have a finer hair composition. Similarly, while female goats have finer hair, male goats were better equipped to survive the cold conditions.

The drop in quality has damaged the country’s international reputation in textiles, creating a widening gap between Mongolian and Chinese production rates.

The country is yet to recover from the 2010 dzud, as is its cashmere industry. However the disaster has also highlighted another critical issue in Mongolia's cashmere production. The absence of  vertically integrated cooperations has stunted the country’s growth on the international market.

Vertical integration is the combination of production, manufacturing and retail processes under a single institution, done in order to take advantage of consistent market values. A large majority of Mongolia's cashmere is sold in raw form, directly to China. While price rises in manufactured cashmere products such as clothing are often absorbed to some extent, raw cashmere is much more susceptible to massive fluctuation. 

Similarly, much of the raw cashmere bought for manufacturing in Mongolia is sourced from China, highlighting the critical inefficiencies in cashmere production chains. 

Aside from the financially unstable elements of selling and buying raw cashmere, the absence of vertically integrated production chains means that producers find it difficult to arrange formal market agreements with local manufacturers, thus missing out on programs to enhance farming and breeding techniques.

In many ways, Mongolia’s sporadic cashmere industry is a symptom of its young free market economy. During the Soviet era, Mongolia had Quantative Restrictions in place that stopped certain imports from flooding the market and destroying local textile production. after the fall of communism the country faced a shaky economic period, whereby it was still reliant on the restrictions.

In 1995, the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on Textiles and Clothing provided a ten year transitional program to remove the restriction quotas, in favour of more market friendly tariffs. Despite the efforts made in the decade long operation, the Mongolian cashmere industry still experienced a crash when the restrictions were annulled in 2005.

According to a report from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the growth rate of Mongolia’s cashmere industry dropped to just a third of its previous rate. There was also a 42 percent decline in US imports, one of the key buyers at the time.

Despite the initial crash, the Mongolian cashmere industry enjoyed some substantial growth in the second half of the decade, mostly due to intervention. Temporary safeguards on Chinese imports, which resembled Quantitative Restrictions in many ways, allowed Mongolia’s cashmere industry to gain a slightly firmer foothold.

The trend of economic intervention measures continues on a local scale in Mongolia. Last year, the Government committed MNT 110 billion in loans to key cashmere companies in an attempt to raise the profile of the country’s cashmere manufacturing sector. 

Unfortunately the move was overshadowed by controversy when Altai Cashmere LLC owned by Prime Minister Batbold, was forced to leave the umbrella organisation of cashmere producers eligible for the fund due to a conflict of interest.

The economic issues of the current global market pose a present threat to the growth of Mongolia’s cashmere industry. Environmental factors pose a future threat.

Along with mining, the industry shares a daunting reputation for desertification. In Inner Mongolia and parts of China goat farmers are required to pay a larger premium for grazing land if they run goats. It’s a policy that is reaching up into Mongolia.

While sheep merely sheer vegetation, goats remove the whole plant, causing desertification. The cashmere producing animals have been blamed for the expansion of the Gobi desert. According to a 2010 CNN article, “The sheer number of animals grazing is putting a considerable strain on the limited pastureland. Goats are much more voracious eaters than other livestock”

While cashmere remains one of the most sought after luxury clothing items in the world, the Mongolian industry can expect numerous issues in supply and manufacturing in the years to come. The future of the world’s second biggest cashmere producer is uncertain, dwarfed by it’s industrial neighbour, and crippled by its young economy.

Link to article

 

Misc

Mongolia: Ballet, a Soviet Legacy Continues To Thrive in Ulaanbaatar

February 3 (EURASIANET.org) When a new performance opens at the Mongolian State Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet, the hall sells out quickly. The country, which, according to some estimates, possesses as much as $1 trillion-worth of mineral reserves, can afford it. Some of those already reaping economic benefits from the anticipated mining-sector bonanza are fast becoming patrons of the arts.

Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories, Burberry clothing and other geegaws of capitalism stand out when set against the fading pink, neoclassical opera and ballet hall on Ulaanbaatar’s posh Sukhbaatar Square. The theater first opened with a performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Evgenii Onegin in the spring of 1963, coming up on a half-century ago. Over the years, the in-house troupe has performed 49 ballets including classics like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote.

During the 1950s and ‘60s, Moscow promoted the classical arts among its Communist allies as part of its self-proclaimed “civilization” mission. Hundreds of musicians, poets, writers, composers and dancers from Mongolia were sent to Russia to train at the country’s finest theaters and conservatories. Many returned home, establishing a lively Western classical movement in Mongolia with government subsidies.

The embrace of Western classical culture, especially ballet, counts among “the greatest achievements Mongolia made in the 20th century," says Bold Sergelen, director of the State Academic Theater. A former ballerina trained at the Perm State Ballet Academy in Russia, Sergelen believes ballet has enjoyed wider popularity than other Western classical arts like opera in Mongolia: "Ballet is a visual art and all about anatomical beauty—Mongolian people love beauty and come to see beautiful movement."

For Baljinnyam Jamyandagva, Mongolia's first ballet master, the strong heritage and discipline inherited from Russian academic training is why the tradition continues in Mongolia. Jamyandagva was among the first group of dancers sent to the Russian Institute of Theater Arts in Moscow, in 1957, where he trained under Leonid Lavrovsky, a celebrated Russian choreographer. In 1962, Jamyandagva returned to Mongolia to help set up the State Academic Theater and promote ballet. By 1980, the theater had 80 dancers. For his efforts, he was awarded the titles Hero of Socialist Labor and People's Artist by the communist government.

"It was the golden age of our ballet history,” Jamyandagva recalls. “We were counted as number one in Asia.” Every other year, Ulaanbaatar sent about a dozen 10-year-olds to Russia to train in the best ballet schools. In 1964, a ballet faculty was added to the National Music and Dance College, which continues training children today. "Ballet would not have been developed here without government support," said Jamyandagva.

When government funding dried up at the end of the communist period, the arts suffered. "Many artists left the theater to become small-time traders,” says Jamyandagva. “It was a hard time.”

In the early 1990s, the 500-seat opera and ballet theater remained mostly empty: tickets were unaffordable for most Mongolians. The situation improved in the last decade with rising middle-class incomes and the resumption of government funding. About 40 dancers and 60 musicians comprise the company today. After years of lobbying, the State Academic Theater also regained government support, sending 12 students to Perm in 2009.

Many Mongolians still romanticize ballet, says Tuguldur Badral, who started Ulaanbaatar's first private ballet school – The Royal Ballet Academy – in 2006. Demand is so great that the school has opened four branches, offering lessons to students of all ages. "So many people dream of being ballet dancers. We help them experience this dream,” she said.

Rigorous training in the respected Russian tradition has opened doors abroad for Mongolian dancers; lured by better income and international exposure, dozens have made it to stages in America and Europe. A chance to experiment with modern dance is also why dancers like Odsuren Davga, with Germany's Gera Ballet Company, moved to the West. "I've always told myself there is much more than this [Mongolian stage] in the world and I wanted to try different styles," Davga said in an email interview of his decision to go abroad.

Theater director Sergelen says she is happy for the recognition brought to Mongolia by dancers who perform internationally, but counts each departure as a loss. "I hope one day we can afford to keep all our best artists,” she says. “Saving classical art is expensive business."

Link to article

 

A 5000-SEAT FOOTBALL STADIUM TO BE BUILT IN ULAANBAATAR

February 2 (InfoMongolia.com) The first official football team of Ulaanbaatar city, the "FC Ulaanbaatar" which was established in 2011 upon the initiation of the Governor of Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar G. Munkhbayar was received by the Mayor on February 01, 2012.

During the meeting, the Mayor G.Munkhbayar handed over a full set of football gear and accessories. 'This is one of the staged processes to consolidate resource base and to bring the athletes to the international level", said the Mayor.

Also, the biggest surprising announcement for the team was the fact that the decision to construct a retractable-roof stadium had been approved. The stadium will be the main venue where the athletes can train, conduct football matches and to spent their leisure time productively and efficiently.

A new modern 5,000-seat stadium is planned to be built in the open football area in the 15th micro-district of Bayanzurkh district, and it is going to be the first ever biggest football stadium in Mongolia.

Link to article

 

Ser-Od Bat-Ochir comes 2nd at Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon

OITA, February 5 (Kyodo) -- Kenyan runner Harun Njoroge pulled away with five kilometers to go to win his first Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon title on Sunday.

Njoroge crossed the finish line at Oita Athletics Stadium in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 38 seconds and Mongolia's Serod Batochir was a distant second in 2:11:05. Ethiopia's Yakob Jarso finished a further eight seconds back.

In a field that had been weakened by the withdrawal of Kenya's Daniel Njenga because of an enflamed Achilles tendon, marathon debutant Kohei Matsumura was the top Japanese finisher coming in fourth in 2:11:18.

Comedian-turned runner Hiroshi Neko, who obtained Cambodian citizenship so that he could have a shot at running in this summer's London Olympics, slashed his personal best by more than seven minutes to finish 50th at 2:30:26.

Chiyuki Mochizuki won the women's race for the second straight year, clocking 2:43:12.

The Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon is not an Olympic qualifier for Japanese runners.

Link to article

 

Table: Mongolia Related Stocks (Source: Bloomberg)

 

Name

Symbol

$

Price

Change

+-%

Open

High

Low

Volume

Time

% YTD

% 12 m

Indices

ASX 200

AS51:IND

4,251.17

-16.68

-0.39%

4,271.60

4,275.50

4,248.90

0

3-Feb

 

 

Nikkei 225

NKY:IND

8,831.93

-44.89

-0.51%

8,849.17

8,877.57

8,825.98

0

3-Feb

 

 

Hang Seng

HSI:IND

20,756.98

17.53

0.08%

20,680.71

20,796.74

20,639.49

0

3-Feb

 

 

MSE Top 20

MSETOP:IND

20,064.70

-94.20

-0.47%

20,064.70

20,064.70

20,064.70

0

3-Feb

 

 

FTSE 100

UKX:IND

5,901.07

105.00

1.81%

5,796.07

5,901.07

5,784.23

1,125,230

3-Feb

 

 

TSX Composite

SPTSX:IND

12,577.28

23.80

0.19%

12,580.68

12,623.98

12,553.48

213,276,207

3-Feb

 

 

S&P 500

SPX:IND

1,344.90

19.36

1.46%

1,326.21

1,345.34

1,326.21

0

3-Feb

ASX

Aspire Mining

AKM:AU

AUD

0.4

-0.015

-3.61%

0.42

0.43

0.4

2,866,466

3-Feb

8.11%

-44.44%

Blina Minerals

BDI:AU

AUD

0.005

0

0.00%

0.005

0.005

0.005

0

2-Feb

0.00%

-81.48%

Cougar Energy

CXY:AU

AUD

0.015

0

0.00%

0.015

0.015

0.015

722,000

3-Feb

-6.25%

-11.76%

Draig Resources

DRG:AU

AUD

0.49

0

0.00%

0.49

0.5

0.46

620,600

3-Feb

-43.02%

FeOre

FEO:AU

AUD

0.28

0

0.00%

0.28

0.28

0.28

0

31-Jan

0.00%

General Mining

GMM:AU

AUD

0.11

-0.005

-4.35%

0.115

0.115

0.11

305,260

3-Feb

168.29%

-24.14%

Guildford Coal

GUF:AU

AUD

0.82

0

0.00%

0.82

0.83

0.805

424,740

3-Feb

9.33%

13.89%

Haranga Resources

HAR:AU

AUD

0.33

0

0.00%

0.33

0.33

0.325

32,700

3-Feb

15.79%

-46.34%

Modun Resources

MOU:AU

AUD

0.043

-0.001

-2.27%

0.043

0.043

0.043

1,158,000

3-Feb

-4.44%

258.33%

Mongolian Res Corp

MUB:AU

AUD

0.125

0

0.00%

0.125

0.125

0.125

300

3-Feb

0.00%

-72.22%

Robe Australia

ROB:AU

AUD

0.016

0.001

6.67%

0.016

0.017

0.016

700,000

3-Feb

14.29%

25.49%

Voyager Resources

VOR:AU

AUD

0.068

-0.001

-1.45%

0.068

0.068

0.067

6,460,596

3-Feb

0.00%

-47.33%

Xanadu Mines

XAM:AU

AUD

0.375

0.03

8.70%

0.345

0.385

0.345

361,474

3-Feb

8.70%

-46.43%

MSE

A Board

Aduunchuluun 

ADL:MO

MNT

4,999

89

1.81%

4,910

4,999

4,910

343

3-Feb

-16.68%

-75.55%

APU

APU:MO

MNT

3,700

-50

-1.33%

3,750

3,750

3,700

4,567

3-Feb

-11.90%

7.25%

Atar Urguu

ATR:MO

MNT

38,000

0

0.00%

38,000

38,000

38,000

0

2-Feb

31.03%

Baganuur 

BAN:MO

MNT

8,001

1

0.01%

8,000

8,002

8,000

1,005

3-Feb

-38.92%

-61.72%

Mogoin Gol

BDL:MO

MNT

26,000

0

0.00%

25,999

26,000

25,999

0

2-Feb

-16.13%

-9.57%

BDSec 

BDS:MO

MNT

3,200

0

0.00%

3,200

3,200

3,200

0

2-Feb

-8.57%

1.59%

Bayangol Hotel

BNG:MO

MNT

36,000

0

0.00%

36,000

36,000

36,000

340

3-Feb

0.14%

15.38%

Bayanteeg 

BTG:MO

MNT

36,500

0

0.00%

31,600

36,500

31,600

0

30-Jan

1.39%

87.10%

UB BUK

BUK:MO

MNT

30,000

0

0.00%

29,000

30,000

29,000

0

27-Jan

-7.69%

267.38%

Eermel

EER:MO

MNT

2,701

-99

-3.54%

2,800

2,800

2,701

245

3-Feb

-3.54%

-25.43%

Gobi 

GOV:MO

MNT

5,000

0

0.00%

5,050

5,050

5,000

404

3-Feb

-2.91%

-30.07%

Gutal

GTL:MO

MNT

3,300

0

0.00%

3,850

3,850

3,300

0

27-Jan

57.29%

Hi B Oil

HBO:MO

MNT

179

0

0.00%

179

179

170

80,280

3-Feb

-5.79%

-5.79%

Khukh Gan

HGN:MO

MNT

179

0

0.00%

180

180

179

0

2-Feb

-10.50%

-0.56%

Hermes Centre

HRM:MO

MNT

75

-5

-6.25%

80

80

70

30,019

3-Feb

33.93%

22.95%

Jenko Tour Bureau

JTB:MO

MNT

95

2

2.15%

93

95

93

25,982

3-Feb

1.06%

-7.77%

Telecom Mongolia

MCH:MO

MNT

2,500

-100

-3.85%

2,552

2,560

2,500

332

3-Feb

-7.41%

-37.48%

Mongolia Dev Res

MDR:MO

MNT

950

0

0.00%

950

950

950

3,835

3-Feb

-5.94%

-44.12%

Moninjbar

MIB:MO

MNT

141

1

0.71%

140

141

140

8,987

3-Feb

8.46%

-17.06%

Mongol Nekhmel

MNH:MO

MNT

4,000

500

14.29%

3,100

4,000

3,100

147

3-Feb

21.95%

102.02%

Hotel Mongolia

MSH:MO

MNT

800

-15

-1.84%

750

800

750

1,820

3-Feb

-11.01%

6.67%

Darkhan Nekhii

NEH:MO

MNT

6,500

0

0.00%

6,500

6,500

6,500

0

2-Feb

4.84%

-33.67%

Nak Tulsh

NKT:MO

MNT

186

24

14.81%

162

186

162

252,529

3-Feb

6.29%

-41.32%

Olloo

OLL:MO

MNT

160

0

0.00%

160

160

160

2,225

3-Feb

-33.05%

-5.33%

Remikon 

RMC:MO

MNT

170

-3

-1.73%

172

172

170

59,982

3-Feb

-3.41%

31.78%

Sharyn Gol 

SHG:MO

MNT

11,500

20

0.17%

11,400

11,599

11,400

1,405

3-Feb

1.32%

-42.50%

Shivee Ovoo

SHV:MO

MNT

14,200

0

0.00%

14,000

14,200

14,000

0

2-Feb

-7.19%

-46.42%

Sor

SOR:MO

MNT

3,200

100

3.23%

3,120

3,200

3,120

139

3-Feb

-16.23%

88.24%

Suu 

SUU:MO

MNT

70,000

0

0.00%

66,666

70,000

66,666

0

2-Feb

7.69%

145.61%

Tav

TAV:MO

MNT

Talkh Chikher

TCK:MO

MNT

11,100

100

0.91%

11,100

11,100

11,100

3

3-Feb

5.71%

48.99%

Tavantolgoi

TTL:MO

MNT

10,900

-1

-0.01%

10,900

10,950

10,900

3,516

3-Feb

-0.91%

9.05%

State Dept Store 

UID:MO

MNT

475

-5

-1.04%

480

480

475

750

3-Feb

-18.10%

-29.42%

Ulaanbaatar Hotel

ULN:MO

MNT

51,000

-1,000

-1.92%

51,000

51,000

51,000

27

3-Feb

13.33%

60.13%

Mongol Savkhi

UYN:MO

MNT

1,962

2

0.10%

1,961

1,962

1,961

93

3-Feb

-24.16%

209.95%

Zoos Goyol

ZOO:MO

MNT

850

-30

-3.41%

850

850

850

897

3-Feb

-9.57%

-20.49%

HKEx

Solartech Int’l

1166:HK

HKD

0.179

-0.004

-2.19%

0.181

0.183

0.178

15,998,000

3-Feb

1.13%

-77.05%

Winsway

1733:HK

HKD

1.96

0.03

1.55%

1.95

1.97

1.89

10,521,000

3-Feb

-14.41%

-54.44%

SouthGobi Resources

1878:HK

HKD

56.8

1.2

2.16%

55.65

57

55.6

27,050

3-Feb

24.70%

-51.03%

China Gold

2099:HK

HKD

24.9

0.5

2.05%

24.55

25

24.55

87,300

3-Feb

36.81%

-39.27%

CNNC Int’l

2302:HK

HKD

2.54

-0.03

-1.17%

2.55

2.59

2.48

915,000

3-Feb

25.74%

-64.48%

Real Gold Mining

246:HK

HKD

8.81

0

0.00%

8.81

8.81

8.81

0

3-Feb

0.00%

-25.97%

Mongolia Energy

276:HK

HKD

0.82

0.06

7.89%

0.76

0.85

0.75

116,837,000

3-Feb

17.14%

-63.56%

Zijin Mining

2899:HK

HKD

3.78

0.06

1.61%

3.63

3.81

3.63

61,787,920

3-Feb

29.45%

-5.59%

Mongolia Inv Group

402:HK

HKD

0.052

0

0.00%

0.052

0.053

0.051

6,154,000

3-Feb

13.04%

-50.48%

North Asia Resources

61:HK

HKD

0.27

0

0.00%

0.26

0.27

0.26

325,000

3-Feb

21.62%

-79.39%

China Daye Non-Fer.

661:HK

HKD

0.415

-0.005

-1.19%

0.415

0.42

0.41

1,196,000

3-Feb

-9.78%

-36.15%

Bestway Int’l

718:HK

HKD

0.052

0

0.00%

0.052

0.052

0.052

20,000

3-Feb

-14.75%

-58.40%

Asia Coal

835:HK

HKD

0.097

-0.001

-1.02%

0.097

0.097

0.097

0

3-Feb

-7.62%

-61.20%

Mongolian Mining

975:HK

HKD

6.54

0.3

4.81%

6.44

6.64

6.26

3,473,433

3-Feb

11.99%

-38.65%

SGX

LionGold

LIGO:SP

SGD

0.895

-0.005

-0.56%

0.89

0.9

0.89

9,016,000

3-Feb

2.87%

25.17%

LSE

Central Asia Metals

CAML:LN

GBp

86

9

11.69%

79

86

79

140,776

3-Feb

51.21%

-4.97%

Petro Matad

MATD:LN

GBp

30.25

0

0.00%

30.25

30.25

30.25

386,998

3-Feb

22.22%

-76.64%

Metal-Tech

MTT:LN

GBp

4.25

0

0.00%

4.25

4.25

4.25

5,480

3-Feb

13.33%

-66.00%

Nova Resources

NOVA:LN

GBp

9.25

0.75

8.82%

9

9.25

8

848,524

3-Feb

289.47%

362.50%

Origo Partners

OPP:LN

GBp

31.5

0

0.00%

31.5

31.5

31.5

79,197

3-Feb

-10.00%

-24.55%

Canada

Aberdeen Int’l

AAB:CN

CAD

0.62

0.02

3.33%

0.61

0.62

0.61

277,132

3-Feb

-4.62%

-19.44%

Altan Rio Minerals

AMO:CN

CAD

0.53

0

0.00%

0.53

0.53

0.53

6,000

3-Feb

Blue Zen Mem. Parks

BZM:CN

CAD

0.06

-0.11

-64.71%

0.06

0.06

0.06

1,050

3-Feb

20.00%

-88.00%

Centerra Gold

CG:CN

CAD

18.67

-0.4

-2.10%

19.19

19.47

18.67

542,539

3-Feb

3.72%

12.64%

China Gold

CGG:CN

CAD

3.2

-0.04

-1.23%

3.29

3.3

3.2

215,075

3-Feb

25.00%

-40.52%

Desert Eagle Res

DER:CN

CAD

0.45

0

0.00%

0.275

0.45

0.275

0

27-Jan

-72.22%

Denison Mines

DML:CN

CAD

1.77

0

0.00%

1.8

1.84

1.752

1,438,077

3-Feb

39.37%

-54.26%

East Asia Minerals

EAS:CN

CAD

0.64

0.01

1.59%

0.66

0.67

0.64

218,246

3-Feb

36.17%

-90.27%

Erdene Resource

ERD:CN

CAD

0.44

-0.02

-4.35%

0.465

0.47

0.44

61,625

3-Feb

17.33%

-71.97%

Entree Gold

ETG:CN

CAD

1.36

0

0.00%

1.38

1.38

1.33

41,116

3-Feb

9.68%

-54.97%

Fortress Minerals

FST:CN

CAD

3.76

0

0.00%

3.76

3.76

3.76

400

3-Feb

-8.29%

-30.37%

Gulfside Minerals

GMG:CN

CAD

0.07

0

0.00%

0.075

0.075

0.065

0

2-Feb

-17.65%

-17.65%

Global Met Coal Corp

GMZ:CN

CAD

0.14

0

0.00%

0.14

0.14

0.14

25,000

3-Feb

12.00%

Ivanhoe Energy

IE:CN

CAD

0.98

-0.016

-1.61%

1.01

1.01

0.97

627,535

3-Feb

-12.50%

-71.18%

Ivanhoe Mines

IVN:CN

CAD

16.94

0.57

3.48%

16.6

17.1

16.41

1,924,996

3-Feb

-6.36%

-39.82%

Kincora Copper

KCC:CN

CAD

0.3

0.015

5.26%

0.3

0.3

0.3

36,613

3-Feb

-3.23%

20.00%

Khan Resources

KRI:CN

CAD

0.175

-0.01

-5.41%

0.185

0.185

0.175

195,500

3-Feb

-12.50%

-69.30%

Lucky Strike

LKY:CN

CAD

0.28

-0.005

-1.75%

0.275

0.285

0.275

91,850

3-Feb

-21.13%

-61.64%

Meritus Minerals

MER:CN

CAD

0.035

-0.01

-22.22%

0.035

0.035

0.035

6,000

3-Feb

40.00%

-80.56%

Manas Petroleum

MNP:CN

CAD

0.28

0

0.00%

0.28

0.28

0.225

0

2-Feb

93.10%

Prophecy Coal

PCY:CN

CAD

0.455

0

0.00%

0.465

0.465

0.455

327,490

3-Feb

10.98%

-42.17%

Puget Ventures

PVS:CN

CAD

0.49

0

0.00%

0

17-Sep

SouthGobi Resources

SGQ:CN

CAD

7.16

-0.25

-3.37%

7.42

7.42

7.1

81,912

3-Feb

19.33%

-52.52%

Solomon Resources

SRB:CN

CAD

0.085

0

0.00%

0.085

0.085

0.085

0

2-Feb

21.43%

-59.52%

Undur Tolgoi Minerals

UTM:CN

CAD

0.2

0

0.00%

0.2

0.2

0.2

0

1-Feb

0.00%

Mongolia Growth Grp

YAK:CN

CAD

4.25

0.12

2.91%

4.29

4.29

4.17

14,386

3-Feb

8.97%

507.14%

US

Denison Mines

DNN:US

USD

1.77

-0.01

-0.56%

1.8

1.84

1.76

587,812

3-Feb

41.60%

-55.42%

Entree Gold

EGI:US

USD

1.38

0.02

1.47%

1.36

1.38

1.34

70,912

3-Feb

15.00%

-54.61%

Ivanhoe Energy

IVAN:US

USD

1

0.02

2.04%

1

1.01

0.98

701,491

3-Feb

-10.71%

-70.89%

Ivanhoe Mines

IVN:US

USD

17.04

0.64

3.90%

16.68

17.2

16.45

2,345,327

3-Feb

-3.84%

-40.06%

Manas Petroleum

MNAP:US

USD

0.239

-0.001

-0.42%

0.24

0.24

0.225

92,164

3-Feb

62.03%

-61.14%

Mongolia Growth Grp

MNGGF:US

USD

4.289

0.1162

2.78%

4.3122

4.32

4.1667

8,600

3-Feb

11.55%

Blue Wolf MGL

MNGL:US

USD

9.67

0

0.00%

9.67

9.67

9.67

0

27-Jan

0.52%

Blue Wolf MGL Unit

MNGLU:US

USD

10.31

0

0.00%

10.31

10.31

10.31

0

19-Jan

2.59%

 

 

---

"Mogi" Munkhdul Badral

Senior Client Manager / Executive Director

CPS International LLC

Telephone/Fax: +976-11-321326

Mobile: +976-99996779

Email: mogi@cpsinternational.mn

P Please consider the environment before printing a copy of this email.

 

Suite 1213 · Level 12 · 2 Sukhbaatar Square

Sukhbaatar District 8 · Ulaanbaatar 14200 · Mongolia

 

CPS International is a marketing arm of CPS Securities in Mongolia. CPS Securities is a Perth, Western Australia based AFSLicense Holder. To trade ASX and international stocks, feel free to contact me at mogi@cpsinternational.mn or +976-99996779.

 

Disclosure/Disclaimer

CPS Securities, its directors and employees advise that they may hold securities, may have an interest in and/or earn brokerage and other benefits or advantages, either directly or indirectly from client transactions mentioned in correspondence from CPS International.

CPS International advise this email contains general information only and does not include advice. In preparing this communication, CPS International did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any person. As with any speculative mining company there are significant risks.

 

 

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