There’s "no semblance of a safe-haven" at the moment and "the technical profile of bullion is also weak."

Nautilus Minerals, locked in a dispute with Papua New Guinea over ownership of the world's first sea-floor mine, dropped 9.7% on Thursday, hurt by news of violence, kidnapping, vote rigging and delays after the first week of general elections in the country.

The dramatic announcement that the president's signature achievement, the Affordable Health Care Act, is constitutional also means that benefits for black lung victims will stay put.

Metso will supply world's biggest fully mobile, track-mounted crushing plant to Altay Polimetally LLP copper mine in Kazakhstan. The contract also includes large mobile feeding and conveying systems to move the crushed copper ore for further processing, and installation supervision and training.

Diamond mining company Rockwell Diamonds reported on Wednesday that its diamond sales for the first quarter of its 2013 financial year reached 6 234 ct and generated $5.9 million.

Shares of Centerra Gold fell 16% by midday after an announcement that one of its directors had quit.

Brazilian mining company Vale has been granted a preliminary environmental license for its S11D mine, an extension of the company's giant Carajas complex, which is posed to be the world’s largest iron ore mine.

Like most of Latin America, Guatemala is to increase control over natural resources, with President Otto Perez Molina proposing a Constitutional reform that will make possible for the for the government to acquire up to 40% of the mining and exploration companies operating in the country.

Over the past several months, the markets have tested investors’ conviction to gold.