Santacruz Silver achieves record production

The company was up 4.07% to $14.59 a share.

Despite quarterly loss of $584m, the $8.5 billion share is up 23.5% year to date and enjoys a higher valuation than gold miners producing millions of ounces more per year.

Net earnings hit by lower gold price.

The calculations are based on a silver price of $25 per ounce and a gold price of $1,450 per ounce.

The world saw record bar and coin demand last year - 28% higher than in 2012.

The market has pulverized the price of top-notch mining stocks to the same level as the struggling names. So, which would you buy?

Another blow to number one iron ore producer Vale's strategy to change dynamics of 1.2 billion tonne seaborne trade.

Year-to-date the company is up 56.91%.

The copper giant is having a rough start of the year with sinking copper prices, lack of cash and escalating costs.