GOLD

West Africa-focused gold producer Avocet Mining expects to enter the FTSE 250 index in the March reshuffle and tap investment from index tracking funds.

Gold prices fell Thursday as the European Central Bank head tapped down hopes of more government bond buying, hammering the euro and boosting the dollar.

Tucked away in Ghana's southern Ashanti region, Obuasi has all the trappings of a gold-rush town, including a statue of a miner painted in gold and a huge conveyor belt crisscrossing the city centre. But while rows of neat miners' cottages show some local gain from a commercial mining industry dating back to the 19th century, many of its residents complain they have yet to feel the full benefit of the riches buried beneath their feet.

First Colombia Gold Corp. moved closer to gaining sole ownership of the 160-acre South Idaho Silver Project, the company said Thursday.

Teranga Gold Corp. expects its fourth-quarter fold production to be lower than expected and more costly than expected, causing its full-year output to be 130,000 ounces to 135,000 ounces rather than the 140,000 ounces previously expected.

Gold miner Kirkland Lake Gold Inc posted higher second-quarter profit helped by a rise in gold production and prices.

Stock index futures dipped on Thursday after three straight winning sessions as investors bet leaders at a euro zone summit will come up with a solution to the region's debt crisis.

Gold prices, like global stocks and major currencies, hardly moved Thursday as investors waited to see if Europe would manage to stanch its debt crisis and avoid a recession, or worse.

Gold recycling gained pace in India as consumers preferred to cash in on prices at a week high, which deterred physical traders from placing fresh orders as wedding buying tapered off.

A Japanese government official said on Thursday he had not heard of a reported $600 billion IMF lending facility to help the euro zone, although Japan would consider providing bilateral loans to the Fund if warranted by developments in Europe.

Gold prices rose Wednesday as purchases by cost-conscious investors offset worries about the Eurozone debt crisis and a rising dollar.

Foes of Newmont Mining's $4.8 billion Conga mine project in Peru said on Wednesday they were practically kidnapped by counterterrorism police in a crackdown on left-wing activists by President Ollanta Humala.

Great Basin Gold Ltd. expects to be able to draw on a new $150 million credit line by Dec. 15, the Vancouver-based mining company said Wednesday.

Palladium prices extended a two-month rally Wednesday as rising U.S. car and truck sales signaled increased demand for the white metal.

India gold extended gains for another session on Wednesday to meet the highest level in about a week, stoked by firm overseas markets, analysts said.

Gold prices overcame nearly all of a big early session loss Tuesday sparked by Standard & Poor's threatening 15 European nations with a credit rating downgrade.

Shares of Greece-focused European Goldfields Ltd. were halted Tuesday after rocketing more than 20 percent on a reported approach by another gold company, according to a published report.

Global miner Xstrata said on Tuesday it still saw value in its investment in Lonmin , despite a significant underperformance in the platinum producer's share price against the sector this year.

Schroders holds the lowest position possible in equities and has extremely high levels of gold and cash, reflecting its concern about recession in the developed world and a failure to resolve the euro zone debt crisis, its chief investment officer said on Tuesday.

Centerra Gold Inc. resumed shipping diesel fuel and other supplies from the Kumtor marshalling yard in Kyrgyzstan to Kumtor mine after the voluntary lifting of the previously announced roadblock, the company said Tuesday.

Afghanistan has begun accepting applications to explore and produce gold and copper in four areas, the country's Ministry of Mines said Tuesday.

Iamgold Corp., a Canadian gold producer, said Tuesday it paid $10 million for a 13.2 percent stake in Tolima Gold Corp., which holds interests in Colombia's most prolific gold belts.

The balance sheet of the Eurosystem of central banks hit a new high last week, while gold and gold receivables held by euro zone central banks remained unchanged at 419.822 billion euros in the week ending Dec. 2, European Central Bank data showed on Tuesday.

Gold prices fell Tuesday on a lack of Asian demand for bullion and investor discouragement that four consecutive daily efforts to push the price convincingly above the mid-$1,700s failed.

India gold futures fell back on Tuesday afternoon to their lowest level in a week, following overseas trends, where fears of a possible credit rating downgrade for eurozone nations by Standard & Poor's weighed.

Ecuador's government and Kinross Gold Corp. reached an agreement in principle on terms of the Canadian company's plan to produce gold from the country's Fruta del Norte deposit.

Gold prices fell Monday after European leaders and Italy's new head of state produced specific plans for containing their sovereign debt crisis.

India gold, which traded steady Monday, is likely to near the all-time high helped by safe haven buying, and silver is likely to follow suit, analysts said.

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency late on Sunday to quell protests against Newmont Mining's $4.8 billion Conga gold mine project that have hobbled the region of Cajamarca for 11 days.