GFMS says that investment demand will continue to drive gold higher, and analysts at the firm would not be surprised to see gold break through $1,600 before the end of the year. The findings were published in GFMS's Gold Survey 2011 that were released today. "Investors continue to be concerned about the outlook for inflation, with governments in general showing little appetite to tighten monetary policy significantly," says Philip Klapwijk, chairman at GFMS, in a news release.

Each year, Dr Murenbeeld chooses this event to present his views and forecasts for gold for the year ahead, and over the years he has proved to be one of the most accurate forecasters out there - but with three scenarios - cautious, middle and optimistic - he usually comes close with one or more of these - but he does give weighted likelihoods for each of his prediction scenarios.

Aquarius Platinum (AQP.L: Quote), the world's fourth-largest primary platinum producer, said it would buy 74 percent of Afarak Platinum for $109.7 million to build up its reserves of the precious metal and cash in on rising prices. Spot platinum prices XPT= gained over 20 percent in 2010 and are expected to continue rising this year as risk aversion and low interest rates boost their allure.

An organisation operating out of Dillon in Nevada has been formed as "Jewelers for Japan" to raise funds for the thousands of victims in Japan and it is asking jewelers and consumers to donate scrap gold and silver jewellery in lieu of cash. The refiner Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico will refine the gold and silver scrap without a fee with all proceeds going directly to the American Red Cross.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed the adoption of rules governing sourcing of minerals from conflict areas around Central Africa, the SEC said on its website. The regulation, aimed at cutting the flow of money to armed rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries, is part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. The rules were expected to be adopted in April.

Fresnillo Plc (FRES.L: Quote), the world's largest primary silver producer, said silver output declined in the first quarter, although gold production rose to a record. The Mexican precious metals miner (FRES.MX: Quote) said silver production fell 2.2 percent to 10.1 million ounces, including output from the Silverstream agreement, on lower ore grades at the Fresnillo mine.

Australian coal miner Whitehaven Coal said a formal process to find a bidder for the company was nearing a conclusion and interested parties have completed due diligence. Whitehaven said on Wednesday it was in was in talks with the parties to decide which proposal, if any, would be recommended by its board

Crown Solutions, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, is to supply the initial equipment for a new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to Coeur […]

A coal project in northeastern B.C. that is being developed by a Chinese consortium could produce up to 2 million tonnes of met coal annually for the next 30 years, the Globe and Mail reports: A Chinese group is making a $1-billion bet on coal in British Columbia to secure a key raw material for its steel making industry, the latest in a series of moves this year by international companies to stake a claim on Canadian resources.