Gold, and perhaps silver, are still in a bull market phase which is likely to continue as governments print money, spin figures, manipulate markets and erode basic liberties.

The gold price rose above $1,640/oz on Wednesday after better-than-expected take up by European banks of ECB-tendered cheap loans, easing fears of a credit crunch.

While sentiment has turned rather bearish over the last month, Jason Hamlin believes the bull market for gold is far from over.

While the judge ruled in favour of ArcelorMittal in the dispute between it and Imperial Crown Trading, Kumba has emerged with some of the spoils

The JV will build an aluminium products company that will have annual production of about 200,000 tonnes of products, the companies said Wednesday.

It was déjà vu all over again as witnesses complained to a newly appointed Nevada mining oversight panel about mining pollution, mining taxation, mining safety, and mining environmental impacts.

The African-focused diamond miner has sold its 4.8 carat blue diamond, produced from South Africa's famous Cullinan mine, for $1.45 million.

The miner said the $1 billion Kolomela iron ore mine in South Africa has exported its first shipment, putting the project ahead of schedule and on track to achieve full production by 2013.

Shares in the Thai steelmaker fell sharply on Wednesday after ArcelorMittal pulled out of a deal to buy a 40% stake in it.

In a spat similar to one the two countries had over crude that has seen Iranian oil shipments bound for country halve for January, China has warned local firms about Iranian iron ore.

The companies have jointly agreed to proceed with the Eagle Downs coal mine in Australia, ending a lengthy dispute and averting a forced sale of Aquila's stake.

Cheer up! This permanent state of emergency is doing a wonderful nothing to unwind the bubble - yet gold may not have fallen quite as far as headlines suggest.