TOP STORIES
S Africa Police Arrest 7 Mine Protesters Outside Aquarius
JOHANNESBURG--Seven mine protesters were arrested outside the
Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQPTY, AQP.LN, AQP.AU) Kroondal mine
following the government's vow Friday that it would detain people
attending illegal gatherings, carrying weapons or inciting illegal
activities.
India Investment Gold Buying Picks up Amid Record High Prices
MUMBAI--Gold purchases by investors in India are showing faint
signs of a rebound on the back of record-high prices over the past
two weeks, which are however dulling jewelry purchase demand at the
start of the festival season, trade executives said Friday.
STORIES OF INTEREST
South Africa Seeks to Curb Violent Strikes
JOHANNESBURG--South Africa sought Friday to curb the violent
strikes that are spreading through its mining sector by threatening
to arrest people for inciting illegal activities at mines amid
calls for a nationwide strike.
Lonmin: Striking Workers Reject Wage Offer, Talks To Resume Monday
JOHANNESBURG--Striking workers at Lonmin PLC's (LNMIY) Marikana
platinum mine rejected the wage offer the company put forward late
Thursday and talks will resume Monday, the company said Friday.
Xstrata Shuts Chrome Mine In Rustenburg To Protect Workers
JOHANNESBURG--Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) said Friday that it sent
workers home from its chrome mine in Rustenburg in the afternoon
for their safety as protests continue down the road at Lonmin PLC
(LNMIY, LMI.LN) and Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (AGPPY,
AMS.JO).
Hambledon Mining 1H Loss Narrows, Sekisovskoye Production +9.6%
LONDON--Hambledon Mining PLC (HMB.LN), an AIM quoted gold mining
company based in Kazakhstan, Friday reported a slightly narrowed
first-half 2012 pretax loss and said gold production from
Sekisovskoye was 9.6% higher at 10,710 ounces.
Rio Tinto Chief China Adviser Tim Lane Says High Costs Real Threat to Australia Mining
SYDNEY--High costs continue to create hurdles for mining
investment in Australia, which is already showing signs of slowing
as weak commodity prices spark project cutbacks, Rio Tinto PLC's
(RIO) chief adviser for Australia-China relations said Friday.
MARKETS
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Inches Higher, Spurred by Fed Easing
NEW YORK--Gold futures eked out a new six-month high as optimism
for demand remained strong in the wake of the Federal Reserve's
newest monetary-easing initiative.
Write to Nicole Friedman at nicole.friedman@dowjones.com