An Insider's Guide to the Mining Sector, 2nd edition

Jacket text for An Insider's Guide to the Mining Sector, 2nd edition

The prospect of instant riches gives the mining sector an obvious glamour. And when the mining sector begins to run it can be an awesome sight and the excitement generated can be every bit as seductive and heady as that which enveloped markets during the internet boom. But due to the counter-cyclical nature of many mining stocks, they can also offer a valuable refuge when stock markets turn down.

In this book, Michael Coulson gives a masterly overview of the sector, explains both the rewards and the pitfalls of investing in mining shares and argues convincingly that mining should once again form a core sector for all investors.

The book is for anyone interested in mining, and particularly mining as an investment. Whilst it contains material which will be useful to even experienced followers of the sector, its main target is those who are interested in mining but perhaps not particularly familiar with the sector, and would like to know more. All the subjects are covered that are fundamental to acquiring sufficient knowledge about the mining sector to invest in it with confidence.

While the mining sector's global focus is both educational and rewarding, on a more basic level the sector has been (indeed still is) enormous fun to follow and invest in. This book reflects that and also provides some thoughts as to how this fun can be turned to profit.

Chapter headings for An Insider's Guide to the Mining Sector, 2nd edition

Acknowledgements
Foreword by Adam Fleming, Chairman, Wits Gold
Preface
Introduction

1. Industry Background
2. Mining Markets
3. Mining Shares
4. Valuing Mining Shares
5. Madness in Mining Markets
6. Dealing & Settlement
7. Information Sources
8. Ten Key Points to Grasp

Conclusion
Appendices
Index

About Michael Coulson

Born in 1945, Michael Coulson has been associated with the mining sector for over thirty years, although his university background is in economics where he holds a BSc from the University of London. He first worked as a graduate trainee on the legendary mining desk at James Capel in 1970, for many years the leading mining stockbroker in the City. After that he became a mining salesman at Sterling & Co and also developed the firm’s research coverage of the sector. In 1973 he joined Fielding Newson-Smith (later to become NatWest Markets) as a gold mining analyst where he began a long association with the South African gold mining industry. Two years later he became senior mining analyst at L Messel (latterly Lehman Bros) where he started to produce an annual gold review which he published every year until 1991. In 1979 he moved to Panmure Gordon and in 1982 he left and joined Phillips & Drew (UBS) with the task of establishing the firm in the mining market. After a successful four years there, where two years running he was voted No 2 gold analyst in the Extel Analysts Survey, he moved to Kitcat & Aitken where he set up a highly regarded integrated mining desk. In 1990 the firm’s Canadian owners closed the firm and he was briefly with County NatWest. The following year he set up a small mining team at Durlacher, but in 1992 was back in the mainstream at Credit Lyonnais Laing where he was a salesman/analyst on the firm’s specialist mining team and established an expertise in African shares. He was then approached by South African bank, Nedcor, to join a start-up broking operation the bank was establishing in London. This operation was closed in 1997 and the following year he joined Paribas to head its Global Mining Team. He left Paribas in 2000 following the completion of the merger with BNP. Since then he has been doing independent research, mainly on a commissioned basis, primarily for small UK brokers lacking mining expertise. He is currently a non executive director of City Natural Resources High Yield Trust and of Canadian exploration junior Moneta Porcupine. He lives in Wandsworth with his wife and has three daughters. He has a lifelong passion for cricket and football and also enjoys a glass or two of wine sitting in his moderately well cultivated garden listening to music from another age!

More about Michael Coulson

Reviews for An Insider's Guide to the Mining Sector, 2nd edition

Praise for first edition:

"Michael Coulson shows a keen insight into mining and his book Insider's Guide is a must read for both professional and new entrants to the resource sector."
- Tony Mahalski, Chairman Association of Mining Analysts

"An excellent and concise reference book to this fascinating and recently re-discovered sector."
- Jamie Strauss, Managing Director UK Equities, BMO Capital Markets.

"The City's gold guru shows how to play the mining market. Large cap and small cap - it's all here."
- Charles Kernot, Head oof Mining Research, Seymour Pierce

"It is aimed at analysts or fund managers who may be seriously examining investing in mining shares for the first time and need a thorough grounding in the industry's fundamentals. In my opinion the book does a good job in this respect."
- Russell Sparkes, Professional Investor

"The Insider's Guide is an excellent road map for new investors who want to know how the mining share market works and an entertaining read for experienced hands who want to keep up to date. Thoroughly recommended."
- Rod Whyte, Mining Communications