In an exclusive interview with Rare Earth Investing News, Christopher Ecclestone mining strategist for Hallgarten and Co, shares some insight on the future trade disputes with China and the effect on rare earth mining firms.

Mineweb reported that India wants to increase gold and silver imports to meet higher demand. The market news is quoted as saying: The state-run trading company called Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC), expects to import around 275 tonnes of gold in 2011-12, as compared to the 245 tonnes that it brought in a year ago. As for silver, imports are expected to jump by around 30% to 1,200 plus tonnes during the same period.

The Street reported that gold prices increased and silver was flat following a poor report on US jobs. The market news is quoted as saying: Before the jobs number, the metals had been in wait and see mode. After a powerful three day rally, gold and silver prices are up 3.2% and 8%, respectively, and some investors were taking profits.

Mining Weekly reports that the development of a new iron-ore province in South Australia would require an estimated A$7.6-billion in infrastructure investment. The market news is quoted as saying, Promoting the iron-ore province at the Australian Resources Chinese Investment Congress in Adelaide, Alliance spokesperson Andrew Woskett said that any individual components of the overall infrastructure proposals could make stand-alone investment opportunities, in their own right.

Metminco Limited (ASX:MNC) announced that its subsidiary intends to acquire the La Piedra project in Chile.

Asia Sentinel reported that Strikeforce Mining wants to be the first Russian company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Solar Panel Installation Store writes on the potential for vanadium to be a key component in green energy solutions. In the case of electric cars, vanadium is being combined with lithium to act as a “supercharger” that increases the battery’s energy density and, hence, the distance a car can travel.

Transit Holdings Ltd (ASX: TRH) announces that the total JORC exploration target estimate for the Paradox Basin Potash Project, Utah (TRH: 90%), has increased by over 1.0 billion tonnes and the average projected grades of the individual beds have increased by about 5% KCl in grade. In total, the exploration target for the company's flagship US potash asset has been upgraded from 2.5 to 3.8 billion tonnes of sylvinite ore at an average grade of 19% to 29% KCl to 3.4 to 5.2 billion tonnes of sylvinite ore at an average grade of 23% to 34% KCl.

Reuters reported that Germany is set to approve funding to develop cleaner coal technology. The market news is quoted as saying: Germany, Europe’s largest economy and a global manufacturing powerhouse, has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 40 percent in 2020 compared with 1990, with further cuts to come over the following three decades.

Reuters reports that diamond prices are now above pre-crisis levels after a 35 to 40 percent rise so far this year. De Beers’ Executive Director, Stephen Lussier says, Diamonds are more scarce than before the crisis. And there are three markets where demand is very strong: China, India and the United States.

Mining Weekly reports Lucara Diamond Corporation (CVE:LUC) has raised $50-million in debt for two gem projects. The market news is quoted as saying, Lucara said it had concluded that the debenture, which matures at the end of 2013, provided the best value to shareholders. The company will make quarterly repayments, and no interest is payable during the facility’s term, though Lucara will pay the lenders nine-million shares instead.

Reuters reports that diamond prices are now above pre-crisis levels after a 35 to 40 percent rise so far this year.