CHART: Hedge fund commodity bulls misread the market

During 2010, London- and Johannesburg-listed Central Rand Gold (CRG) produced 9,321 ounces of gold. This is the company that categorically stated in its 2007 annual report that it is "intended that CRG will begin gold production in early 2009 at an annualized rate of 100,000 ounces. This production rate is forecast to increase to around one million ounces a year by 2012."

Amid growing interest in bullion as a hedge against the dollar and inflation and a renewed rally in gold and precious metals prices, Christian Science Monitor, documents gold’s journey around the globe in a fascinating and extensive photo-essay.

Levon Resources announced that it has today closed a previously announced financing pursuant to which the Company has issued 20,600,000 common shares at a price of $1.95 per share for gross proceeds of $40,170,000. The company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for continued exploration of the Cordero property located in Chihuahua, Mexico, and for working capital.

The gold bears and doubters - and the silver bears in particular - have had great success in driving the prices of these two precious metals downwards but are we looking at more of the same to come, or perhaps consolidation and another take-off? The pattern of price movements we are seeing currently, with strong upwards and downwards fluctuations for both metals.

(RTTNews) - The UK market is trading higher in afternoon trading Thursday, amid some positive earnings news as well as consolidation in commodities prices.

Gold and silver fell on Thursday, as weak U.S. housing and manufacturing data and uncertainty about the end of the Federal Reserve's bond-buying program dragged down commodities across the board. Gold, which has fallen three out of the last four

On record cash flow La Mancha (TSX: LMA) doubled net earnings in its first quarter to C$7.5 million. La Mancha credited strong gold prices and production for the performance. In the first quarter last year La Mancha produced 21,654 ounces gold, but increased production at La Mancha's Hassai mine in Sudan and Frog's Leg mine in Australia pushed that number up by 50 percent to 32,426 ounces gold.

California-based Casablanca Mining reported first quarter results that consolidated the gains made by the exploration and intellectual property rights company in 2010. Total assets increased to $3.8m and net loss declined to $0.01/share. Construction of Sulfatos Chile Copper Sulfate plant using the company’s patented electrolysis extraction process was continued. Casablanca also said it is in negotiation to acquire further gold mining properties in Chile and has some 43-101 technical reports in progress.

Many investors are calling into question billionaire hedge-fund manager George Soros’s commitment to gold. With higher highs no longer a regular occurrence in the gold market, some see Soros’s dumping of gold ETFs as a clear sign that the party is over. But as trading in the first Asian precious metal futures contract opens on Wednesday, bearish investors may want to take a cue from the millions — maybe billions — of investors in India, China, Vietnam and across the region who are pouring money into gold and are willing to pay a premium.