Think of Kazakhstan and thoughts might immediately turn to Borat.

Since pre-recorded history we have been obsessed with gold; it's part of our global collective conscience.

Coal output increased at BHP Billiton (BLT) in the last quarter, but the mining giant's Australian business is still being affected by flooding. The company's output of steel-making or coking coal in the three months to June rose 19% to 7.9 million

Firestone Diamonds (FDI) reported exceptional diamonds sales results from its second sale of the year in Gaborone, Botswana. The AIM-quoted diamond miner sold a total of 14,248 carats for $2 million (£1.2 million) - an increase of 42% in value from its April tender.

World stocks rose for the third straight day and oil prices jumped on Wednesday after Greece's parliament approved the first of two austerity measures aimed at preventing the country from going bankrupt. Gold and other commodities rose on investors' appetite for riskier assets, while safe-havens lost some of their appeal.