GFMS Executive Chairman Philip Klapwijk isn't big on publishing prognostications for the research group's World Silver Survey 2011 report produced for Washington's Silver Institute. After some prodding by Mineweb, Klapwijk said he expect silver prices to remain in the "top $20s" this year.

Centamin Egypt (CEY.L) (CEE.TO) said it expects full-year production to come in at the lower end of its 250,000-290,000 ounce guidance after output in the first quarter was hit by supply problems. It poured 45,204 ounces in the first quarter and said its Sukari operation remained largely unaffected by Egypt's political unrest.

Mongolia's massive Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project is expected to begin production in August 2012, sooner than forecast, said Temuulen Ganzorig, Deputy Director of Erdenes MGL which partners with Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto in developing the site.

Leading Australian headquartered mining contractor, Ausdrill Ltd, has announced a successful major capital raising to raise gross proceeds of A$129.5 million, to be used as growth capital to fund purchases of plant and equipment for projects commencing in the next 12 months or projects which have been tendered for. This mainly includes projects in Africa and Australia.

Commodity prices still could rise in the next few months, but the chances for a sharp correction in the May-June timeframe are rising, said MFGlobal in a research note on Wednesday. "Several variables are converging to suggest that it may be time to take some length off the table," the firm said.

The world copper market could see a supply deficit of half a million tonnes this year and the shortage may extend beyond 2013, Rio Tinto's (RIO.L: Quote) copper unit chief executive, Andrew Harding, said on Wednesday.

International Minerals Corporation (TSX: IMZ) (SWISS: IMZ) reports updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Pallancata silver mine, Peru, jointly owned by IMZ (40% interest) and Hochschild Mining plc ("Hochschild", 60% interest) based on information supplied by Hochschild, the mine operator, as of December 31, 2010.

Nunavut is attracting the attention of the world's miners like never before, says Scotiabank commodities analyst Patricia Mohr, speaking at a mining summit in the mineral-rich Canadian northern territory. Nunatsiaq Online reports: Pushed by the developing world’s growing hunger for consumer items, civil unrest in many countries, and “random” events like the recent tsunami, earthquake and nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, mining companies around the world are eying Nunavut with far more interest than before.

With gold breaking through $1460 and silver settling well above $39, mid tier and junior gold and silver mining stocks in particular […]