One of the production lines at Rio Tinto Alcan's Lynemouth aluminium smelter was knocked off line by a power cut, while production was partially curtailed at the other.
Metallurgical specialist technology company Outotec has been awarded a tailings treatment package for the old Svappavaara iron ore mine in northern Sweden.
The country has decided to lift the state of emergency in the northern region of Cajamarca and reopen negotiations with protestors opposed to Newmont's $4.8bn Conga mine
According to a letter from UBS's investment chief, as the world enters 2012 neither the yellow metal nor the currency will provide investors with safe harbour.
While the price of gold recovered on Thursday after a sharp fall in the previous session, analysts say the metal is in for a lot of volatile, sideways trading.
Although earlier predicted to grow at a CAGR of around 10% between 2010 to 2013, steel consumption in India has slumped despite the government's proactive plans to boost economic growth.
The French bank has announced plans to stop trading commodities and cut down on commodities trade financing as it struggles to cope with a credit crunch.
Poland's finance ministry says it does not plan to alter its proposed mining tax aimed mainly at state-controlled copper miner KGHM, whose shares are at their lowest since August 2010.
Investors reckon the gold price could continue its slide through to the end of 2011 and are considering liquidating their positions to take safety in cash to end a difficult year.
