Halifax-based Metals Economics Group (MEG) published Thursday its Pipeline Activity Index (PAI), which shows equity financing conditions continue to take their toll, as gold companies were able to raise only $445 million through equity placements in May-June—the lowest two-month total since late 2008.

Credit Suisse announced Wednesday it recruited David Hammond, the well-known mining banker from Morgan Stanley, to head up the mining and metals efforts of the Swiss bank worldwide.

China Mining United Fund plans to establish a collaborative China/Africa equity fund to pursue minority stakes in gold, iron-ore and metal companies in Africa and other parts of the world, and which could raise $2 billion in investment capital.

Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ CM:OMEX) announced on Wednesday that it had successfully retrieved a record-breaking 48 tons of sunken silver bullion from a World War II shipwreck lying approximately three miles below the ocean's surface.

Canadian potash suppliers Agrium Inc (NYSE:AGU) and Potash Corp. (NYSE:POT) both closed higher on the NYSE following the release of improved second-quarter earnings forecasts by Agrium on Wednesday.

Australian investment firm Quadrant Private Equity has executed an agreement for the purchase of Queensland-based mining equipment supplier CQMS Razer, valuing the company at over AUD$155 million.

Panamanian farmers in the country's rainforest regions have teamed up with environmental activists to protest the impact of Canadian mining operations on the local environment, as well as halt the construction of what is slated to be one of the world's largest copper mines by Inmet Mining (TSX:IMN).

The Vancouver-based gold junior's stock was worth a mere 7.5c when the first drill results from its Las Tres Palmas trend in the Dominican Republic was first released. By June 1 it had increased ten-fold. On Wednesday it gained another 22% after new drill results hinted just how rich the Romero discovery may eventually turn out to be.

The US is not at the beginning of a recovery, according to David Stockman, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget.