You’re too bearish on China growth

The world’s number one silver miner reported record gold production for the first quarter even as silver production numbers declined.

An organisation operating out of Dillon in Nevada has been formed as "Jewelers for Japan" to raise funds for the thousands of victims in Japan and it is asking jewelers and consumers to donate scrap gold and silver jewellery in lieu of cash. The refiner Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico will refine the gold and silver scrap without a fee with all proceeds going directly to the American Red Cross.

Fresnillo Plc (FRES.L: Quote), the world's largest primary silver producer, said silver output declined in the first quarter, although gold production rose to a record. The Mexican precious metals miner (FRES.MX: Quote) said silver production fell 2.2 percent to 10.1 million ounces, including output from the Silverstream agreement, on lower ore grades at the Fresnillo mine.

Endeavour Silver Corp's first-quarter revenue nearly doubled as production rose and bullion prices climbed sharply. For the quarter, revenue was $35.4 million, compared with $18.2 million last year.

Azure Minerals, a Mexico-focused precious and base metals explorer, said today it has entered into an agreement to form a joint venture with a Japanese state-owned corporation to explore the El Tecolote Project in Sonora, Mexico. According to the press release, Japan, Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), a Japanese state-owned entity, will spend $US5 million over three years, in order to earn a 51% interest in El Tecolote. The company can earn another 19% stake by spending a further $8 million, which would take its total equity in the project to 70%.

Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (“the Company” or “Buenaventura”) (NYSE: BVN; Lima Stock Exchange: BUE.LM), Peru’s largest publicly-traded precious metals mining company […]

GFMS Executive Chairman Philip Klapwijk isn't big on publishing prognostications for the research group's World Silver Survey 2011 report produced for Washington's Silver Institute. After some prodding by Mineweb, Klapwijk said he expect silver prices to remain in the "top $20s" this year.

International Minerals Corporation (TSX: IMZ) (SWISS: IMZ) reports updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Pallancata silver mine, Peru, jointly owned by IMZ (40% interest) and Hochschild Mining plc ("Hochschild", 60% interest) based on information supplied by Hochschild, the mine operator, as of December 31, 2010.

With gold breaking through $1460 and silver settling well above $39, mid tier and junior gold and silver mining stocks in particular […]