Even though gold prices can experience declines that appear to be unfounded, demand from various categories and parts of the world continue to provide support to prices.
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, global mining giant Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.
Gold demand in China may surge as much as 30 percent this year as rising incomes boost consumption, helping the country topple as the world's largest bullion market on an annual basis, according to the World Gold Council.
India could have trouble closing a shortfall in the supply of coal, after the world's largest coal company pulled out of a consortium to help India buy overseas coal reserves, The Economic Times reports.
Stricter environmental rules on new mining projects, combined with soaring labour costs, are making Vale SA, the world's leading iron ore exporter, less competitive against Australian rivals Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.