SILVER

Gold rose to a 1-1/2 week high on Friday, benefiting from caution about the euro zone debt crisis and ahead of the key U.S. non-farm payrolls data which is likely to underscore the frail state of the world's largest economy.

Europe's most indebted nations are under heavy pressure from their richer neighbors to sort out their finances, but they are unlikely to mimic the impoverished gentlefolk of old by selling off the family silver -- or in their case, gold -- to do so.

Laser-assisted technique to reduce rains and flooding during the monsoon, discovered by scientists at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Authorities are searching for Jacob Rigby, who went missing on Sunday.

The value of palladium, the least known of the world's four major precious metals, is set to rise this year, perhaps more sharply than its more popular cousins.

Gold prices slipped a bit Thursday as a stronger dollar and signs that the U.S. economy is growing and avoiding a double-dip recession.

Gold fell Thursday on indications from both sides of the Atlantic that economic activity was picking up, a development that encouraged investors to leave various so-called safe-having investments like gold and Treasuries for the promise of equities.

Swiss researchers were able to create micron-sized water droplets by shooting laser beams into the sky, a process that may be a precursor to actually stimulating rainfall.

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.