GOLD

Spot gold rose to its highest in a week and half on Tuesday as the dollar weakened after eurozone policymakers sealed a deal for a second bailout for Greece.

Pakistan's Reko Diq, an untapped copper and gold mine of fabulous potential, was meant to be the biggest foreign investment in the country's mining sector, but it's beginning to look more like fool's gold to the companies involved.

At least four U.S.-based law firms said they are investigating Kinross Gold Corp , after the company failed to disclose that low-grade ore had been found at its Tasiast property in West Africa.

Sudan has secured a five-year delay on its debts to China, the finance minister said on Saturday, part of efforts to make up for the loss of revenues from the oil-producing south.

Gold prices rose more than half a percent on Monday as growing optimism that European leaders will sign off on a rescue deal for Greece lifted the euro, and after China's central bank further loosened monetary policy.

Gold fell on Friday as investors took profits after an initial rally driven by growing confidence that Greece was edging closer toward winning a new rescue package.

Gold prices held steady on Friday, after optimism that Greece may soon secure an urgently needed bailout helped the metal recover from a one-week low hit in the previous session.

Investors flocked to two Canadian gold mining companies, Kinross Gold and Agnico-Eagle Mines, ignoring mixed earnings reports and driving stock prices up after an announced increase in dividends.

Worldwide sales of gold last year soared 29 percent to a record high as two groups of investors, each with mutually exclusive views of economic and financial threats, flocked to the yellow metal and related assets.

Wild price swings caused by a volatile rupee sapped Indian buying interest in gold in the fourth quarter of 2011, with imports well short of expectations and no pick up expected this year, dropping it behind China for the first time.

Canada's Kinross Gold reported an operating profit that fell short of expectations on Wednesday, as weaker than expected sales and higher than expected costs weighed in the quarter and offset gains from a surge in the price of bullion.

Canada's No.2 gold miner, Goldcorp, reported a 23 percent increase in its operating profit on Wednesday, topping expectations as sharp gains in the price of bullion drove earningsgrowth in the quarter.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE), China's biggest metals bourse, will lower trading margins for gold and revise its tiered margin system from March 1 to make it cheaper for investors to trade.

Barrick Gold Corp., the world's largest gold mining company, reported flat fourth-quarter net profit as higher costs offset increased production and higher selling prices.

Gold prices fell on Thursday as the euro slid to a three-week low versus the dollar, pressured by news that European officials considered delaying a bailout package for Greece which fuelled fears the heavily indebted nation could face a chaotic default.

Gold demand struck 14-year highs in 2011, driven by record investment, buying in China, which could overtake India this year as the world's top consumer, and central bank purchases, which hit their highest in at least 40 years, according to a report on Thursday.

Hedge fund manager and long-time gold bull John Paulson cut his gold ETF bullion holdings by about $600 million in the fourth quarter, a second straight reduction that was likely driven by client redemption needs as he remained upbeat on the metal.

Gold rose in Europe on Wednesday, helped in part by a softer dollar, as investors sought clarity on prospects for a second Greek debt bailout and the outlook for growth in the euro zone.

AngloGold Ashanti, the world's third-largest gold producer, became the latest South African miner to report a surge in output-disrupting safety stops on Wednesday as it unveiled a sharp fall in fourth-quarter earnings.

Gold gained half a percent on Wednesday, on course for its biggest one-day rise in a week, on hopes Greece would deliver on a commitment to implement tough austerity measures and on China's pledge to keep investing in euro zone government debt.

The precious metals market followed Wall Street's skid today, as gold and companies that peddle it were driven down by underwhelming retail figures in the U.S., and ongoing concerns over Greece and the Eurozone.

Gold dropped on Tuesday as the dollar rallied versus the euro onrenewed fears of credit downgrades in major European economies and uncertainty over Greece's bailout.

DRDGold, South Africa's fourth-largest gold producer, said on Tuesday that second-quarter earnings climbed 65 percent as it continued to cash in on the higher gold price.

The world's first yuan-denominated gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) made a weak debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, but analysts said demand would likely pick up as investors became more familiar with the product.

The European Union is likely to take action against Spain's newly installed government by May for delaying austerity measures ahead of a regional election next month, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Gold prices followed crude oil and global stocks lower Tuesday after ratings firms cut the credit ratings of several European nations and banks and warned that more reductions were likely.

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX), the world's largest gold producer, is expected to report an increase in 2011 earnings on strong gold prices and controlled costs.

Gold traders in India, the world's biggest buyer, stayed on the sidelines as a rebound in the rupee raised hopes of prices dropping further after the yellow metal extended losses for the third day in a row, analysts said.

Gold prices climbed on Monday as news that Greece's parliament had approved an austerity bill needed to release a second round of bailout funds lifted the euro, while platinum rose back towards a three-month high as supply issues flared up.