GOLD

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a modestly higher opening on Thursday ahead of economic data including durable goods orders and pending home sales as well as slew of earnings reports.

Amtrak said, beginning Feb.1, it would temporarily relocate from Denver Union Station to another location to accommodate construction of the new commuter rail station at the Union Station.

Gold rose on Wednesday, snapping a four-day losing streak, after the Federal Reserve's lukewarm economic assessment and its plan to complete its bond-buying program boosted bullion's safe-haven appeal.

Boeing Co. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. drive Dow to highest point since June 2008.

The price of Gold Bullion rallied from its lowest level since 28th Oct. early in London on Wednesday, but remained nearly $100 per ounce off Dec.'s all-time highs in what dealers called very quiet trade ahead of today's US Federal Reserve announcement on monetary policy.

Ventana Gold, a Canadian gold explorer operating in Colombia, has extended its poison pill takeover defense to Feb. 15, the same day a hostile takeover bid from Brazil's Eike Batista is set to expire.

An explosion at an underground coal mine in northeast Colombia killed 20 workers on Wednesday, officials said, in the latest accident to hit the mining industry in Latin America.

Dow hits 12,000 as U.S. stocks post moderate gains in mid-morning trading

US stocks are trading mixed in early trade on Wednesday as declines from Boeing weighed on Dow, while investors and markets await the US Federal Reserve’s meeting and interest rate decision.

The main gold exchange-traded fund, the SPDR Gold Trust, recorded its biggest ever one-day outflow on Tuesday. The precious metal is taking some support from physical demand after its slide to its lowest since October 28, but buying interest remains lackluster.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to higher opening on Wednesday ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting and new home sales data.

A Japanese company is selling gold coins and mini bars through an automatic vending machine to improve ease of purchase and reduce final price.

Corporations in China and India have been riding on strong domestic economies, much to the envy of the West, but they now worry that runaway inflation could hit growth.

The gold naysayers are using rising rates as a way to dismiss gold. Let me explain why this belief is not only false but also utterly dangerous. First and foremost, the parameters have changed in just a few short years. Government debt has increased substantially in the last few years.

The Gold reserves of the Russian central bank grew by 280 tons over the last 2 years. And the bank will continue with a similar speed by buying at least 100 tons every year, deputy chairman Georgy Luntovsky told reporters now.

Disappointing earnings reports from blue chips Johnson and Johnson and 3Com cast a pall on U.S. stocks

Firm's big bet on Citigroup pays off with a $1 billion gain.

Precious metals dropped to fresh multi-week lows on Tuesday helped by a view that rising overall investor confidence will cut safe-haven demand for the commodities while chartists turned history pages and 'decided to wait' for an additional discount of $30 for an ounce of gold, which is already $100 down from its peak seen less than two months ago.

Precious metals fell on Tuesday as a slew of data suggested better global economic environment, reducing investors' need to lock in their money in safer but less profitable avenues like metals while technical analysts see further room southward for the commodities.

U.S. stocks are retreating in mid-day as investors are cautiously awaiting the results of the two-day FOMC meeting, which began today, and the President’s State of the Union Address tonight.

Emerging stocks edged down on Tuesday as inflation worries persisted and weaker metals prices knocked South African shares and the rand.