GOLD

Shares of Alibaba.com tumbled as much as 10 percent after an internal probe prompted resignations of its top executives and forced the company to clean up a vendor mess that defrauded buyers.

China's environmental protection agency has vowed to curb heavy metal pollution in a bid to cut widespread industrial contaminants like lead that have poisoned children and sparked protests.

Spot gold was last down 0.8 percent at $1,394.14 an ounce at 1025 GMT, having risen on Monday to its highest in about seven weeks. U.S. April gold futures were up 0.5 percent at $1,395.20 an ounce.

Demand for gold and silver will remain high in 2011 owing to growth in physical demand and continued investor appetite, according to a Daily Markets analysis. It says the outlook for the precious metals remains bullish.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Tuesday, following declines in European and Asian stock markets as continued political unrest in the Middle East weighed on the sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Tuesday, following declines in European and Asian stock markets as continued political unrest in the Middle East weighed on the sentiment.

South Africa's rand was little changed from last week's closing levels against the dollar on Monday, with central bank intervention helping stem gains in the currency despite support from stronger commodity prices.

Stratex International Plc plans to start drilling for gold and silver in the second quarter of this year in northern Ethiopia, the London-listed gold exploration firm said on Monday.

The Silver Price rose $1.49 per ounce from Friday's London Fix – a gain of 4.7% to new 31-year highs, and silver's fifth largest one-day move of the last 30 years in Dollars and cents. The market is starting to look towards the record high of $1430 for gold against the backdrop of silver making fresh highs.

Silver touched its highest USD price in 31 years and palladium a 10-year peak. Gold prices rose above $1,400 an ounce on Monday for the first time in nearly seven weeks as violence flared in north Africa and the Middle East, boosting interest in the precious metal as a haven from risk.

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Sarah Ferguson, Obamas and Sarkozys will not be attending

Gold inched up on Monday, adding to a weekly gain of nearly 3 percent last week as fears over a European debt crisis and growing unrest in the Middle East underpinned investor sentiment.

Protesters in Bahrain appeared to gain the initiative on Saturday and mourners buried their dead in western Libya as the wave of protest washing across the Arab world tested more of the region's longtime rulers.

U.S. stocks rose Friday, marking the third straight week of market gains, as investors warily watch continuing unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, along with the start of a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in Paris.

Silver Prices today jumped to fresh 31-year highs at $32.84 per ounce, outpacing the rise in gold prices more than 3 times over since the two metals turned sharply higher three weeks ago.

US stocks rose modestly higher on Friday, with S&P 500 Index up 2.52 points, or 0.19 percent, to trade at 1,342.98 at 12:00 p.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 42.16 points, or 0.34 percent, to trade at 12,360.30. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.23 percent to trade at 2,837.98.

Record high gold prices are boosting the earnings and valuations of Gold Mining companies. Around 20 of the biggest gold producers represent approximately 60% of global corporate gold production: 30 million fine ounces, netting $40 billion in annual revenue.

US stocks were mixed on Friday, with S&P 500 Index edging down 0.27 points, or 0.02 percent, to trade at 1,340.21 at 09:50 a.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 14.04 points, or 0.11 percent, to trade at 12,332.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.07 percent to trade at 2,833.52.

Gold hit five-week highs in Europe on Friday and silver its strongest since 1980 as growing unrest in the Middle East lifted interest in precious metals, though another reserve requirement hike from China curbed gains.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s prepared remarks at the Banque de France Financial Stability Review Launch Event, Paris, France, Feb. 18, 2011