The Silver demand in China is on up. Imports of silver to the China have reached new highs, and analysts maintain that demand for this year will only continue to grow. The growth comes not only from industrial and jewelry demand, but also from the increased investments in silver as a hedge against market losses and inflation.

A diamond trader of Surat died, while three others sustained serious injuries in the bomb blast that took place at Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai, on Wednesday evening. Part of a group of traders that went to Mumbai for business, they were caught up in the bomb. Image from YouTube.

Joy Global, one of the world's leading heavy-equipment mining companies, will take over China-Based International Mining Machinery Holdings Ltd. According to a statement released on Thursday, Joy Global will purchase 534.8 million shares of IMM for HKD 8.50 a share representing 41% of the company. Total cost will be USD$538 million. Subject to regulations, Joy Global will purchase the remaining shares of IMM at a later date.

BHP Billiton Ltd. says it will buy U.S.-based oil company Petrohawk Energy for $12.1 billion in cash, giving it greater access to U.S. shale gas assets. The world's largest miner said Friday it would pay $38.75 for each Petrohawk share in an all-cash tender offer. The total value of the deal is $15.1 billion, including Petrohawk's debt.

Harmony Gold said on Friday that its Tshepong mine in South Africa remained shut and that lost production was expected to be 20 to 25 kgs of gold per day. South Africa's third largest gold miner said on Tuesday operations at Tshepong had shut after a worker died there following a rock fall.

Shareholders are advised that DRDGOLD expects its group gold production for the year ended 30 June 2011 (FY2011) to be about 10% higher than in the previous year, at around 265 200oz. Cash operating unit costs for FY2011 are expected to be about 8% higher. It is estimated that capital expenditure for FY2011 will be about 70% higher than the previous year, reflecting the continued development of the Crown/Ergo pipeline.

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) announces that higher production from its growth assets resulted in overall production being higher quarter on quarter. Gold production for the June 2011 quarter is likely to be 3% higher than the previous

Local shares have closed lower, dragged down by losses in Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.The market also had a weak lead from overseas markets, after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke deflated investors' stimulus hopes.The All Ordinaries

European Goldfields has raised its total resource and reserve estimates due to revised figures from its Skouries and Olympias projects in Greece, prompting a rise in its shares.