Mexico massively ramped up its gold reserves in the first quarter of this year, buying over $4 billion of bullion as emerging economies move away from the ailing U.S. dollar, which has dipped to 2-1/2-year lows. The third biggest one-off purchase of gold by any country over the past decade took Mexico's reserves to 100.15 tonnes -- or 3.22 million ounces -- by the end of March from just 6.84 tonnes at the end of January, according to the International Monetary Fund and Mexico's central bank.

NioGold Mining Corporation (TSX-V: NOX) is pleased to report on the on-going exploration drilling program within the southern portion of company's wholly-owned Malartic Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of Quebec. The first three holes of the program intersected two important altered, veined and sulphide mineralised shear zones cutting sedimentary rocks.

IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX:IMG)(NYSE:IAG) today announced the results of an independently prepared NI 43-101 compliant preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") on the company's wholly-owned Niobec niobium mine in the province of Quebec, Canada. The PEA shows a significant increase in the measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates at Niobec with the potential for a significant production expansion. The PEA examined the impact of changing the existing underground mine to an alternative bulk mining method. IAMGOLD technical personnel then compared the economics of the open pit scenario and a block caving scenario. The work done on the PEA and the study will be advanced in a 2011 pre-feasibility study to confirm the potential upside of Niobec.

[Highlights from] Stillwater Mining Company:

• Net income of $36.2 million or $0.34 per diluted share -- nearly triple first quarter 2010 earnings
• Mined PGM production increased to 131,200 ounces
• Continued strong prices for palladium and platinum

Stillwater Mining Company today reported record net income for the 2011 first quarter of $36.2 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, on revenues of $170.1 million. This compares to first quarter of 2010 net income of $13.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, on revenues of $133.5 million.

Lake Shore Gold Corp. (TSX:LSG) today released production results for the first quarter of 2011. Ore processed in the quarter amounted to 148,400 tonnes at a grade of 4.89 grams per tonne ("gpt") at a recovery rate 95.8% for recovered gold of 22,300 ounces. Gold poured related to mill production totaled 25,900 ounces. Total gold sold during the first quarter of 2011 was 34,000 ounces at an average gold price of US$1,387 per ounce. Image by Lake Shore Gold

South Africa's Northam Platinum (NHMJ.J: Quote) said on Wednesday it would sell part of the mineral rights for its Booysendal property to Aquarius Platinum (AQP.L: Quote) for 1.2 billion rand ($180.6 million). Northam said Aquarius would buy the mineral rights attached to the southern part of Booysendal, which is adjacent to Aquarius' own Everest mine.

Anglo-Swiss miner Xstrata (XTA.L: Quote) reported a 6 percent decline in copper output in the first quarter due to severe weather conditions at its Collahuasi mine in Chile and lower grades at its Alumbrera mine in Argentina. Overall, the miner said adverse weather conditions including flooding in Queensland and Western Australia, tropical cyclone Yasi and heavy rainfall in South Africa, Colombia and other parts of South America impacted production during the period.

CSN, Brazil's largest diversified steel group, said on Tuesday that net income jumped 38 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier thanks to robust sales of iron ore and lower sales costs. Sao Paulo-based CSN (CSNA3.SA)(SID.N) earned 616 million reais ($390 million) in the period, up from 447 million reais a year earlier, according to a securities filing. But this fell short of the 697 million reais profit estimate by five analysts in a Reuters poll.

While most fund managers seemed to stick with the status quo and remain in gold and silver last week, some notable hedgies are taking profits and looking elsewhere, reports the Wall Street Journal. Sources tell the paper those include: George Soros. His $28 billion hedge fund firm, now run by Keith Anderson, believes deflation is less of a threat. Flickr image is from the World Economic Forum.