Metso cutting 44 jobs from minerals division in Finland

Storied investment guru Jean-Marie Eveillard says frenzied money printing by central banks and Neo-Keynesian stimulus programs adopted by governments around the world could jointly push the price of gold to $15,000.

Petaquilla Minerals (TSX:PTQ) was up 7% to 61 cents this morning as the gold producer announced Wednesday that the Department of Mineral Resources of the Republic of Panama rejected a petition filed by Minera Panama, S.A., a subsidiary of Inmet Mining Corporation, in respect to the area known as the San Juan concession.

Philippines-based Philex Mining Corp. (PX:PM), the country's biggest miner, may have to pay fines for violations of the Clean Water Act and the company’s own Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said Thursday.

Australia's Dragon Mining announced the discovery of a promising new area of gold deposits in Kuusamo, Finland, only hours after the country was announced as the top destination for mining and oil investment by a trade magazine.

China National Offshore Oil Corp's (CNOOC) believes its proposed $15.1 billion takeover of Canadian oil producer Nexen Inc. (TSX & NYSE:NXY) should go ahead without major hiccups as talks with provincial leaders reaffirmed the country values China as an investor in its oil sands sector.

Gold, copper and silver producer Anglo Asian Mining posted Thursday pre-tax profits of $10.5 million for the six months to the end of June - down from $14.2 million a year ago.

BHP Billiton, the world's number one miner, has put its $30 billion Olympic Dam copper-uranium expansion back in the spotlight by asking South Australia state for a 46-month extension for the project.

China's Zhongrun Resources Investment Corp is on track to acquire 42% of Australia's Noble Mineral Resources (ASX:NMG) for AUD$85 million as well as options to obtain a majority stake.

The head of Paris-based energy giant Total is dismissive of the possibility of oil extraction in the Arctic.