This week’s economic reports:

Next week’s economic highlights include Factory Orders on Monday, Productivity and Consumer Credit on Tuesday, the Trade Balance on Thursday, and jobs data, Wholesale Inventories, and the Treasury Budget on Friday.

Cot Reports Released: Gold | Silver 

Gold found slight gains in Asia and traded near unchanged in London before it fell slightly in New York, but it still ended just $6.40 from its recent 25 year closing high of $572.20 made about a month ago.  Silver traded near unchanged in Asia and rose near $10.30 in London before it fell off a bit in New York, but it still ended slightly higher to make a new 22 year high.

Gold and silver equities fell around 1% in early trade before rising near unchanged midday, but they then fell back off into the close and ended near their lows with about 1% losses.

Euro gold fell back near €470, platinum gained $4 to $1,049, palladium gained $5 to $300, and copper fell slightly to hold just under $2.30.

Oil traded slightly lower Friday morning before it moved modestly higher in afternoon trade and ended with a small gain.  Supply worries over geopolitical tensions continue to dominate the market.

The U.S. dollar index gained and treasuries fell as a strong ISM Services report increased the possibility for further fed interest rate hikes.  The yield on to 10-year closed at its highest level since June of 2004.

The Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P started off lower on a poor outlook from Intel, but they then rose in afternoon trade after decent economic data before they dropped back off at the close and ended slightly lower.

Among the big names making news in the market Friday were Dana Corp., Intel, AK Steel, the automakers, Wendy’s, Merrill Lynch, and GE.

More Commentary:

“The gold market continued to diverge from the rest of the precious metals and might have been undermined by the strength in the Dollar. Apparently an investor in Gold Field shares liquidated some holdings in that key bellwether stock and that could have prompted some futures longs to liquidate. We suspect that the gold market was supported by the mostly bullish performance in the silver market and by the news that 2005 South African gold production declined by a whopping 13.3% to 296 tons!” - The Hightower Report, Futures Analysis and Forecasting

A note from Joe Ferrazzano of http://www.joefrocks.com/:

I have to respond to the Charleston Voice's latest offbase piece, "HUI Is Broken." GFI, the largest HUI component (17.37%), has HELPED HUI (see first link) a lot and isn't solely South African as the piece leads one to believe. Also, NEM is a reliable lead indicator (see second link) and is the second largest component of HUI, so HUI is just fine thank you. Ciao. Joe

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=1y&s=GFI&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=%5Ehui

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=%5EXAU&t=3m&l=on&z=m&q=l&p=&a=&c=%5Ehui,nem

GATA Posts:

Chinese economist urges purchase of physical gold for safety

Resource Investor quotes Hommel and Morgan on spike in silver price

Gold & Silver Stock News Update from GoldReview.com:

The mining strike in Mexico, Buenaventura’s declining output at Yanacocha, Metallica’s earnings, Richmont’s drill results, Canyon Resources’ drill results, and IAMGOLD’s acquisition of Gallery were among the big stories in the gold and silver mining industry making headlines Friday.

WINNERS

LOSERS

All of Friday's gold and silver stock news:

Buenaventura: Yanacocha glory days of 3Moz/y are over - Peru - "Peru's giant Yanacocha gold mine, the region's largest, is likely to produce 2Moz/y in the medium term, a hefty drop on the roughly 3Moz/y seen in recent years, Buenaventura CEO Roque Benavides said Friday. "The times of Yanacocha production of over 3Moz/y are over," said Benavides during a fourth quarter financial results webcast. "The mine is heading for a production profile of 2Moz-2.5Moz." Buenaventura favors a mine plan that aims for annual production of 2Moz in the long run to avoid shock impacts on production levels, he said." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Win-Eldrich Grants Stock Options - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Mega Uranium Ltd.: Wide Copper-Gold-Silver-Molybdenum Zones Establish Continuity at Hamlin Deposit, Shebandowan, Thunder Bay, Ontario - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Goldeye hits 36.4 g/t Au over 1 metre, extending high grade zone by 130m to depth in undercut of 2005 Big Dome hole '80.7g/t Au/2m', Tyrrell Twp. NE Ontario - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

EurOmax Completes Private Placement with Teck Cominco - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Mr. Garth D. Kirkham Appointed To Romios's Board Of Directors - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Helio Resource Corp.: Exploration Update from the Honib Licence; High-Grade Silver Associated with Large Polymetallic Soil Anomalies - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Eurasian Minerals Inc.: Gold-Copper Mineralization at Stara Planina Property, Serbia - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Channel Resources Ltd.: Stock Options - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Post-strike Mexico mines slowly work up to speed - "Mexico's biggest mines labored to get back on their feet on Friday, firing up machinery and plants after a wildcat strike brought the industry to a halt. After shutting down the entire mining sector for two days, most of the union's quarter of a million members went back to work at Mexico's main plants and mines on Thursday afternoon. The strikes began on Tuesday in support of the beleaguered boss of Mexico's mine union, Napoleon Gomez, who faces a leadership challenge and government accusations of corruption." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

U.S. Gold Corporation Announces Resignation Of Richard F. Mauro As Director - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Houston Lake Mining Grants Options - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Mexivada Mining Corp. - Gold Junction Drill Permitting Started, Round Mountain District, Nevada - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Cluff Gold Announce the Completion of Follow up Trench Sampling at Angovia Gold Prospect, Cote d'Ivoire - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Goldrea Resources Corp.: Mobilization of Shaft Driving Equipment has Begun for the Exploration Shaft Planned for Down Dip Extension of the Daye Gold Mine-China - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Blue Note to Limit Flow-Through Financing to $ 1 Million - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

StrataGold approves C$8.5 million 2006 development and exploration budget - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Manson Creek Resources Ltd.: Gillman / Silver Dollar Property Acquired - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Melkior: Geochemical Survey Completed on Launay Gold Property - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

African Gold Group Inc. Retains Investor Relations Company - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

TVI Pacific Inc.: Canatuan Mine Update - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Canadian Gold Hunter Corp.: Indicated Resource at GJ Project Contains 1.12 Million Ounces Gold and 754 Million Pounds Copper - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

All drill holes intersect copper mineralization - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Seven Drills Operating in March-Lake Shore Gold Corp. Exploration Update - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Unico, Inc. Appoints Wayne Ash to Oversee Operations at Deer Trail Mine - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Pele Mountain Acquires Extension of Historic Murphy Gold Mine - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

/C O R R E C T I O N from source - Randsburg International Gold Corporation/ - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Verena Closed Private Placement of $2,450,000 - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Uruguay Mineral Exploration Inc.: Bell Geospace Aerial Survey Extension - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Tonogold Resources, Inc. Hires Mining Industry Advisor Gordon Haworth - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Richmont Mines Inc. and Patricia Mining Corp. Announce Drill Results and Update the Island Gold Project Resource Estimate - "This release reports results from the underground definition drilling on the various vein systems. Only the intercepts that are within potential mining blocks that show continuity are included. Highlights in the table below include numerous high grade intercepts from the sub-parallel C, D, D1, E, E1 zones including 27.94 g/t over 2.41 metres and 35.24 g/t over 1.87 metres. The drilling results show continuity of the zones both vertically and horizontally. The gold bearing zones are open along strike and at depth. Selected drilling intercepts are detailed in the following table of results." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

REPEAT/Plexmar Inc.: Sampling Returns Up to 304 g/t Au Over 2 M - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Esperanza Silver Corporation: San Luis-High-Grade Ayelen Channel Sample Results - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

General Minerals Corporation Options Markham Wash Porphyry Copper-Gold Prospect Located in Central Arizona to Major - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

International KRL Resources Corp. and Logan Resources Ltd. Appoint Natasha Blackburn to Director, Corporate Development - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Intrepid Delivers Early Success at Julieta - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Halo Completes Sherridon 43-101 Report - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.: First Hole on New Program Targeting '04 Break to Surface Returns 2.3 Ounces over 6 Feet; Lower D Zone Expands to the North - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Au Martinique Silver Inc. Raising up to US$750,000 by Private Placement - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Crew Gold: Notification of Trade - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Bullion River Gold Corp. Acquires Option on the Mission Gold Mine in Riverside County, California in the Historic Dale Mining District - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Andean American Reports Third Quarter Financial Results; Reports 30% Sales Increase for Calendar Year 2005 - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Intrepid Delivers Early Success at Julieta - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

GREAT WEST GOLD, INC. - Appointment of New Management And Directors - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Update on UK Listings - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Randsburg Completes Private Placement For Gross Proceeds of $600,000 - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Further Stock Dividends - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Issue of Promissory Notes - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

GREAT WEST GOLD, INC. - Issue of Convertible Loan Notes - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Acquisition of Substantial Copper Interests - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Acquisition of the Treasure King Gold Deposits - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Great West Gold, Inc. - Acquisition of the Yaba Gold and Silver Deposits - More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Gallery Shareholders vote in favour of IAMGOLD acquisition - "We are very pleased with the outcome of the Gallery shareholder vote. Once the Australian courts have formally approved the shareholder decision on March 13, 2006, the acquisition is complete. This acquisition represents an important strategic step forward for IAMGOLD," commented Joe Conway, President and CEO, IAMGOLD. "We will have achieved an important corporate goal of becoming operators. We expect a smooth integration of the Gallery assets and their people into IAMGOLD. On a combined basis, the Buckreef and Quimsacocha development projects will add significant value for all shareholders." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Canyon Resources Announces Positive Drill Results at Briggs - "Canyon Resources Corporation, a Colorado-based mining company, is pleased to announce positive results from its reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Company's Briggs Mine located in the Panamint Mountains of southern Inyo County, California. A total of 18 RC holes and one core hole have been drilled in our recent development drilling program, from which we have received twelve sets of RC drillhole assays." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

Metallica Resources Announces Year End Results - "Metallica Resources Inc. is pleased to report its year end financial results. Full details of the Company's year end audited financial results, and management's discussion and analysis, are available on SEDAR, EDGAR and the Company's website at www.metal-res.com. All figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted." More
- March 03, 2006 | Item | E-mail

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