An endless battening down of hatches is under way in the mining industry, where bearish macroeconomic news out of China and a now-likely US interest rate rise in December continue to hurl commodity prices in stormy waters. The threat of rising financing costs in the current environment is additionally leaving indebted companies increasingly exposed. Little wonder that several mining analysts are making ‘sell’ recommendations for once-hallowed mining stock. As the headwinds grow stronger, one wonders how long it is before the dead winds kill off the limp and the lame.