BANGALORE/TORONTO, Feb 22 (Reuters) – A record run for
copper prices, fueled by Chinese industrial demand, has the
world’s most prolific copper producers shopping for smaller
miners capable of boosting their output almost immediately.

Dozens of Canadian-based juniors have the potential to
become prime targets. The strongest candidates already have
operating mines with healthy growth profiles, and their share
prices are undervalued, analysts say.

TORONTO, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Russel Metals (RUS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported
a return to fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, thanks to strong
sales and rising steel prices.

The metals processing and distribution company earned
C$17.9 million ($18.2 million), or 30 Canadian cents a share,
in the quarter ended Dec. 31. That compared with a loss of
C$25.2 million, or 42 Canadian cents a share, a year ago.

TORONTO, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Shares of Pan American Silver
(PAA.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fell more than 7 percent on Wednesday, after the miner
posted sharply higher quarterly earnings but missed analyst
profit expectations and forecast lower gold and silver
production levels next year.

The Vancouver-based company said it plans to produce
between 23 million and 24 million ounces of silver in 2011,
down from 24.3 million ounces in 2010.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Rare earth stocks were the darlings of 2010. Now investors are casting a far more discerning eye over the sector, betting that only a handful of companies will survive in the race to supply the world with the high-tech metals of the future.

Critical to a company’s success is the quality of its ore deposits and its technological prowess in extracting and processing the metals. Analysts estimate that half a dozen companies might make the grade.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Rare earth stocks were the darlings of 2010. Now investors are casting a far more discerning eye over the sector, betting that only a handful of companies will survive in the race to supply the world with the high-tech metals of the future.

Critical to a company’s success is the quality of its ore deposits and its technological prowess in extracting and processing the metals. Analysts estimate that half a dozen companies might make the grade.

TORONTO, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Shares of Cameco Corp (CCO.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)
rose more than 6 percent on Monday, after the uranium producer
reported higher-than-expected earnings and its chief executive
highlighted growing demand from China for nuclear fuel.

China is building 25 nuclear reactors and
plans for more as part of its ambitious strategy to expand
nuclear power output by 2020, Cameco Chief Executive Jerry
Grandey said during a call with investors.

TORONTO, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Colombia, whose rich gold
deposits were once the source of the Spanish Empire’s power, is
hot again.

Nearly a decade after the government launched a U.S.-backed
offensive to end a long guerrilla conflict, violence has
dropped in the South American country and political stability
has returned.