Gold

Spot gold and U.S. gold futures rose 1 percent on Friday after German approval of a stronger bailout fund to counter the euro zone debt crisis.

Rio Alto Mining (CVE:RIO) said that an illegal work stoppage at La Arena Gold Oxide Mine forced it to suspend mining operations. The company's stock opened down 6.82% to $2.46. The company, issuing a statement on Thursday, says that it is in discussions with government representatives, community groups and others to resolve the issue.

President Ollanta Humala signed Peru's new mining law on Wednesday, which will raise about $1 billion a year. The money is to be directed to the poorest parts of the country and help build schools and infrastructure. Mining companies will now pay taxes based on their operating profits, ranging from 1% to 12%, rather than old regime where they paid 1% to 3% based on sales. There will also be a windfall profits tax ranging from 2% to 8.4% of a company's net profits.

Fear that Germany may not pass a crucial vote to shore up the eurozone's rescue fund savaged commodities overnight, with copper falling to its lowest level in 14 months, and taking crude oil and grains down with it. The red metal — widely considered to be a bellwether of the global economy — lost 7% of its value and sustained the second largest drop since the recession of 2008, Melbourne Age reported:

Researchers have discovered a new way to separate gold, silver, copper and other valuable metals from ore using the flotation processing method, reports MEI Online.

Temex Resources (CVE:TME) Wednesday reported additional high grade assay results over significant core widths from surface exploration drilling on the Broulan Reef Mine area of the Whitney Property in Ontario, extending mineralization to the east. Shares in the company were up 14% at 24 cents on the TSX Venture Exchange Wednesday morning.

Australia’s Green Party wants gold companies to be subject to the country’s proposed Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT), Xinhua reports. The tax, […]

Central Rand Gold (JNB:CRD) is seeking help from the Pretoria High Court to keep operating after its mining license was set aside by the South African Department of Mineral Resources. On Monday Central Rand Gold, a company focused on gold prospecting and mining in the Central Rand Goldfield of South Africa, learned its mining license would be cancelled because it failed to carry through with various environmental and labour guidelines.

Pacific Gold Corp. ("PCFG") today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program, effective immediately. Under the program, PCFG is authorized to repurchase up to 5 million of its issued and outstanding common shares in the open market or in negotiated transactions, from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors as well as subject to relevant rules under Untied States securities regulations.