New low in oil prices drags BHP Billiton stock below 2009 levels

Continental Nickel Limited (TSX VENTURE:CNI) ("Continental" or "CNI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced a diamond drilling program on the St. Stephen nickel-copper sulphide project in New Brunswick.

Norsk Hydro, one of the world's top aluminum producers, sees growth in global aluminum demand weakening in 2012 as a result of economic turbulence that is creating a weak market and pushing many industry players into the red. In a press release, Hydro's President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg showed confidence in the market and he company, despite the fact Hydro's stocks dropped 2.9 percent after the prediction.

Nature reports that quantum entanglement, odd behaviour at the subatomic level coined 'spooky action at a distance' by Albert Einstein, has been scaled up to the level of two macroscopic diamonds.

U.K.-listed London Mining PLC said Friday it has started production of high grade iron ore from its Sierra Leone Marampa project and expects to ship its first iron ore later this month.

The environmental impacts of what would be the Northwest Territories' fourth diamond mine are being studied in Yellowknife, the capital.

Rio Tinto has given the green light to an additional US$2.7 billion capital investment to modernize its aluminium smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia. This new investment will allow for completion of the US$3.3 billion project in 2014.

Kenya is set to join the league of gold-producing nations following the granting of the first mining lease to UK company Goldplat.

Rockland Minerals Corp has completed the definitive agreement for the Blue Lake copper-nickel-platinum group metals project.

Gold hit a 2-week high on Thursday as gains in equities and the euro prompted buying from speculators after major central banks took coordinated action to prevent the euro-zone debt crisis from igniting a global economic meltdown.