SILVER

IBM, the No. 2 computer services company, has snapped up technology players in Canada and the UK -- demonstrating an appetite for new technologies but also for tax advantages.

The Shanghai branch of British bank Barclays has won approval to become a trading member of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the seventh foreign financial institute to obtain such membership, said the exchange on its Web site.

Gold and silver prices closed modestly higher on the futures markets Wednesday as strong demand from foreign buyers offset expectations that the Federal Reserve will signal fresh, potentially inflationary, intervention in the market next month.

Global demand for gold lifted the price of the yellow metal Wednesday, countering a growing appetite for risk among U.S. investors, many of whom expect the Federal Reserve to come to the aid of the U.S. economy, perhaps as early as September.

Silvercorp Metals Inc., a Vancouver-based mining company, said Wednesday it purchased 2,027,167 of its common shares at an average price of $8.112 (Canadian).

Gold and silver prices Wednesday hovered near their previous day's closing prices as traders sorted through a mix of positive and negative economic news.

The real-life pursuits of the Hollywood star stand in stark contrast to one of her most enduring characters on the silver screen: the decidedly pro-business Darien Taylor in the movie “Wall Street.”

Gold prices jumped 2 percent Tuesday and silver surged 2.1 percent as some investors opted for the safety of precious metals and Treasuries amid continued worries about Europe's sovereign debt crisis and weakness in the American economy.

Miley Cyrus wowed in her Roberto Cavalli gown at the 2011 VMA on Aug. 28. Selena Gomez dressed to impress as well, but one cannot help but notice the switch of classy versus showy at the award show Sunday night.

On Monday, rebels showed off Gadhafi's $120 million private jet, giving visiting journalists tours of the leather-trimmed bedroom and living quarters. The plane's interior was decorated in silver and red, and rebels were careful not to disturb the 24 karat gold china.

Silver and gold prices rose Tuesday, lifting share prices of companies that mine the precious metals and underscoring just how tentative the U.S. economy is.

Demi Lovato stunned at the MTV VMA with her sparkly silver mini-dress and long wavy locks. Not only did she shine in her dress, the star was noticeably glowing in the face. Demi mingled with BFF Selena Gomez who was the VMA pre show host. She also had a chat with Justin Bieber who showed her his snake, Johnson.

Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles was stripped of gold and glory at the world athletics championships on Monday in a twist every bit as dramatic as Usain Bolt's disqualification from the blue riband 100 meters sprint the night before.

The young stars have been fashion hits on the red carpet this summer.

Shares of large silver mining companies mostly rose Monday along with the broader stock market as investors ignored the falling price of the white metal on fresh optimism about the strength of the economy.

Gold and silver prices closed lower Monday as some precious metals investors took profit from recent gains and other investors decided fears of a double-dip recession were overblown and put their money in riskier assets like heavily discounted stocks.

Trey Hardee concedes he might be one of least known athletes in the United States -- and the double decathlon world champion hopes it stays that way.

For the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt sure took his time in responding to the controversial disqualification which stripped athletics of its biggest name from its blue riband event.

Profit-taking plus a renewed appetite for risk chipped away at gold's early gains Monday, sending the yellow metal slightly into negative territory.

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, has applied for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the Vancouver-based company said Monday.

Gold rose 1.4 percent Monday in early U.S. trading as investors inclined toward the view that the decision of the top U.S. central banker to extend by a day a key September meeting might indicate an intent to intervene in the bond market, an action that is bullish for gold.