Is This the Swan Song of a South Africa's Mining Industry?
Source: Geoff Candy, Mineweb  (7/17/12)
"South Africa's gold mining sector is undergoing a dramatic change, the question is, what will it end up looking like?" More >

Bernanke Keeps the Stock Market Waiting for QE3
Source: Ben Gersten, Money Morning  (7/17/12)
"Some are beginning to wonder if QE3 will ever happen and how much worse things have to get before we see it." More >

A Historic Window of Opportunity in Mongolia: James Passin
Source: Brian Sylvester of The Gold Report   (7/16/12)
Investor fears about mining stocks are misplaced, says James Passin, a hedge fund manager with New York-based Firebird Management, especially if those companies are mining in Mongolia. Firebird manages a portfolio of private equity funds that invest in Mongolia, one of the fastest growing economies with some of the most extensive, untapped resources in the world. The country is already home to the largest copper deposit and in this exclusive Gold Report interview, Passin explains why there is potential for dozens more similar finds. More >

Gold Market 'Nervous and Thin' Ahead of Bernanke Testimony
Source: Ben Traynor, BullionVault  (7/16/12)
"'Keep an eye on the dollar and the stock market for clues as to the next direction [for gold],' says David Govett, precious metals manager at brokers Marex Spectron." More >

Australian Mining Boom Generates Huge Wealth
Source: The Telegraph, Jonathan Pearlman  (7/16/12)
"Western Australia, which contains 13 of the nation's richest towns, is the center of the mining boom." More >

Zimbabwe Jan–June Gold Output Up 29%
Source: Reuters, MacDonald Dzirutwe  (7/16/12)
"The southern African nation's gold mining sector is recovering from an economic crisis that peaked in 2008 when hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent and forced most mines to shut." More >

What Graphene Means for Ontario's Economy
Source: NetNewsLedger, James Murray  (7/16/12)
"Across Northwestern Ontario, there are a number of very promising graphite finds." More >

Manganese: Twin Brother or Ugly Stepchild of the Rare Earth Metal Family?
Source: MetalMiner, Lisa Reisman  (7/16/12)
"One can see many similarities between the manganese metal market and the rare earth metal market. Both share significant supply constraints." More >

Diversify Your Precious Metals
Source: Financial Chronicle, Sangeetha G.  (7/15/12)
"Gold is an essential part of any investment portfolio, but silver and platinum may serve the same purpose, even though they are also used in industrial manufacturing." More >

The Rare Earth Element Black Market
Source: RareMetalBlog, Tracy Weslosky  (7/15/12)
"Western consumers of rare earths are more reliant on illegal material than they may realize." More >

The Next Major Move in Precious Metals Is Close
Source: Chris Vermeulen, The Gold and Oil Guy  (7/13/12)
"I am still a firm believer that gold in most respects is a currency and the only one that can maintain its value. There are very serious issues looming in Europe and across the world that are far from resolution. With few tools left in the toolbox to stimulate world economies, further easing can never be ruled out." More >

When Will Gold Stocks Start to Sparkle?
Source: Bob Kirtley, SK Options Trading  (7/13/12)
"We need a turnaround in sentiment to cause gold prices to rally strongly thus setting the stage for a massive rebound in the mining sector." More >

Gold as a Hedge Against Deflation
Source: Reuters  (7/13/12)
"Stresses in the banking sector add weight to the argument that deflationary fears should underpin gold prices." More >

Gold Now Flat on a Year Ago
Source: Adrian Ash, BullionVault  (7/13/12)
"Barring a sharp jump in the next two weeks, gold in dollars will soon be so far underwater, it'll be drowning compared to the record highs of August and September 2011." More >

Does Central Bank Gold Buying Signal the Top Is Near?
Source: Jeff Clark, Casey Research  (7/13/12)
"The World Gold Council is so confident that central banks will continue to buy gold that it's changed its reporting structure: It's added 'official sector purchases' as a new element of gold demand, while eliminating 'official sector sales' as a negative supply factor." More >

Precious Metals in Summer Doldrums
Source: Adam Hamilton, Zeal Intelligence  (7/13/12)
"While worldwide gold demand sees big spikes in autumn, winter and spring for various income cycle and cultural reasons, there are simply none during the summer." More >

Chart of the Day: Rare Earth Reversal
Source: Adam English, Resource Investor  (7/13/12)
"There is way too much government interference on both sides of the Pacific. Uncertainties about export quotas and tariffs on finished goods could easily shatter the current trend." More >

What the GLD ETF Chart Tells Us About Gold
Source: David Banister, The Market Trend Forecast  (7/12/12)
"What gold needs to do, in terms of the GLD ETF, is clear the 158 hurdle on a closing basis to set the stage for a new advance." More >

Employment in the Mining Industry Is a Pocket of Strength
Source: Frank Holmes, U.S. Global Investors  (7/12/12)
"U.S. employment in the mining sector has increased 16%. This change is far better than any other sector, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics." More >

Sprott Sees Record Gold Price in 2012
Source: Bloomberg, Liezel Hill  (7/12/12)
"Eric Sprott, the founder and chairman of Canadian fund manager Sprott Inc., expects bullion will rise as investors seek the safest assets while governments spend to stimulate their economies, increasing chances that inflation will accelerate." More >

Too Close to Call
Source: Toby Connor, Gold Scents  (7/12/12)
"For the bulls, the S&P needs to move above $1,375, the CRB commodities index must generate another leg up and gold must make a higher high by reclaiming the $1,622/oz level. These are the bullish lines in the sand." More >

Short Supply, High Demand for Platinum Group Metals: George Topping and Michael Scoon
Source: Brian Sylvester of The Gold Report   (7/11/12)
Labor problems and low prices have platinum mines closing up shop in South Africa, and the potential for acquisitions is ripening. Senior Mining Analyst and Managing Director at Stifel Nicolaus in Toronto, George Topping believes that companies with shallow deposits and near-term production will be prime targets. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, Topping and Associate Analyst Michael Scoon discuss how supply shortages are shaping the landscape for platinum group metals and some bulk commodities. More >

China Blocks WTO Rare Earths Dispute Settlement Panel
Source: Dorothy Kosich, Mineweb  (7/11/12)
"China says it is not in a position to accept establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel regarding its restrictions related to rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum exports." More >

US Gold Production Declines During April
Source: Kitco, Allen Sykora  (7/11/12)
"U.S. mines produced 17,400kg of gold in April, a 7% decrease compared with revised March production of 18,800kg, the U.S. Geological Survey reported." More >

Grade Is King: Andrew Richmond
Source: Brian Sylvester of The Gold Report   (7/11/12)
It's time for investors to brush up on their knowledge of NI-43-101-compliant resources and deposit grades with one of the world's foremost experts. Andrew Richmond, a principal at geological consulting firm Martlet Consultants in Brisbane, Australia, discusses the importance of grade, selectivity and size in establishing the economic value of deposits in this exclusive interview with The Gold Report. More >