Silver

Reuters reports the London Metal Exchange has been approached by several   potential bidders and will consider takeover proposals in late February according to its CEO. The LME handles some 80% of global trade in metals futures and a takeover will help the the 134-year old trading floor to compete against rapidly-expanding Asian metal trading hubs.

US mine safety authorities on Wednesday ordered Hecla to shut down the silver shaft at its Lucky Friday mine for the rest of the year following a rockburst in December and a string of accidents, two of them fatal, at the Idhaho mine during 2011.

Hard Assets Investor reports precious metals ETFs enjoyed solid $5.9 billion inflows last year that brought total assets in the sector to just under $98.5 billion; a figure that represents just under two-thirds of all exchange-traded products including energy and agriculture.

In the midst of mine ramp-up, Mark Cruise, Trevali Mining president, says cash should start flowing from commercial operations in the second quarter this year.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty (TSE:SLR) said today that its drilling results at its Bongará zinc joint venture project in Peru were "outstanding".

With gold trading $40 higer, silver up nearly $2, crude oil rising $4.25 a barrel and mining shares on the move, today […]

The argument over whether it is better to hold mining shares or real assets has now been dramatized and animated.

Imperial Metals Corporation (TSX:III) reports permit amendments for Huckleberry mine have been received. The board of directors of Huckleberry Mines Ltd. (HML) has formally approved the Main Zone Optimization (MZO) plan(1) to extend the life of Huckleberry mine to 2021.

Canada-based RX Exploration has applied for an operating permit to expand a gold and silver mine northwest of Helena after regulatory officials became concerned the company was pushing the limits of its existing permit.