12/05/2009                                     www.insidemetals.com Vol 4, Issue 22
In This Edition...

Precious Metals Market Update
Gold & Silver ETF's
Geopolitical View

Gold Producer News
Website Updates

Dear Subscriber,
The newsletter will be published next on December 19, 2009.
IN THIS EDITION OF INSIDEMETALS

In this edition of the InsideMetals Newsletter, we'll take a look at gold & silver ETF's, production, pricing and news, as well as precious metals trends, gold producer news and recent website updates, which includes our new Advertising and Media Kit information.

In This Issue
Precious Metals Markets Update
Geopolitical View
Whitney & Whitney Inc.
NYSE Gold Producer News
AMEX Gold Producer News
NASD Gold Producer News
InsideMetals.com Website Updates
PRECIOUS METALS MARKET UPDATE
PRECIOUS METALS MARKET UPDATEGold closed at $1208.75.00/oz (London Fix) on December 3, 2009, an 8.4% increase from the $1114.75/oz (London Fix) closing price on November 12, 2009, when data for the previous newsletter was gathered.

Silver closed at $19.11/oz (London Fix) on December 3, 2009, a 9.1% increase from the $17.51/oz (London Fix) closing price on November 12, 2009.

Platinum closed at $1494.00/oz (London Fix) on December 3, 2009, a 9.5% increase from the $1365.00/oz (London Fix) closing price on, November 12, 2009.

Palladium closed at $386.00/oz (London Fix) on December 3, 2009, a 9.0% increase from the $354.00/oz (London Fix) closing price on November 12, 2009.

GOLD vs. EURO/U.S. DOLLAR CHART
 
 
The gold price has risen from last year's low of $712.50 (month of October) and closed at $1208.75 per ounce on December 3, 2009, after establishing a record high close of $1212.50 (London Fix on December 2, 2009). Gold has been steadily rising since the October 2008 lows, and closed above $1,000 per ounce in September, and then sky-rocketed to current record levels. During this rise in the bullion price, there was a steady decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar. On January 2, 2009 the Euro/$ was 1.3866 and the dollar then increased in value to a yearly Euro/$ value of 1.2555 on March 5, 2009, as the dollar strengthened.

The Euro/$ value is now 1.512.The dollar has declined in value compared to 1.4922, when data was gathered for the last published newsletter. The above chart reflects the expected parallel rise in the price of gold and the Euro/$ ratio as the U.S. dollar has weakened over the last two weeks. Note that the price of gold has been increasing at an accelerated rate compared to the decline in the dollar.
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Gold & Silver ETF's
 
 
The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) now controls over 36,378,539 ounces of gold. The gold holdings have been steadily increasing since October 2008 and have been recently consolidating as gold prices have risen from $925 in July 2009 to current record levels. The GLD reached a record 36,450,190 ounces of gold on June 1, 2009. GLD holdings were 35,830,468 ounces when this newsletter was last issued.

 
The accumulation of silver by the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has been steadily increasing since early 2008, in spite of declining silver prices beginning in August 2008 through October 2008. SLV silver holdings and the price of silver moved upward in mid-January. Silver prices and SLV silver holdings have been steadily rising since July 2009. SLV silver holdings reached a new record 305,893,368 ounces on December 3, 2009.

Holdings in both the GLD and SLV have been steadily increasing as the price of both gold and silver has been rising. This suggests that investors are betting on the long term prospects for gold and silver as a safe-haven investment as the US Dollar declines.
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GEO POLITICAL VIEW
GEOPOLITICAL VIEW
DECLINING GOLD PRODUCTION WILL SUPPORT GOLD PRICE
Over the last couple of weeks there has been a steady rise in the price of gold and a corresponding decline in the value of the US dollar. For 6 out of the last 10 days, from November 20, 2009 to December 3, 2009, .gold was setting new record closes. Since the last newsletter was published on November 12, 2009, gold has risen by 8.4% from $1114.75 per once to $1208.75 per ounce. Since the beginning of November, gold prices have risen about 15%, based on fears that the US dollar will remain weak and the prospect of rising inflation in 2010.
 
Over the past year, the US dollar ranks as one the world's worst performing currencies, and many investors now view the weakening dollar as the reason why dollar denominated resources have had strong gains as noted in the above Precious Metals Updates and Gold & Silver ETF sections.
 
There are now concerns creeping into the market that rising dollar denominated commodity prices are rising into bubble territory. On December 2, 2009, a senior official at China's central bank warned of bubbles forming on certain assets. Hu Xiaolian, a vice-governor at the People's Bank of China told reporters in Taipei that China must keep in mind the long term effects of considering what to use as reserves (currency). The US dollar extended losses on November 26, 2009, falling to its lowest value in 14 years against the yen and hitting a 15-month low against a basket of six major currencies.
 
Over the long term the price of gold will continue to rise regardless of the strength of the US dollar or whatever currency may be favored by investors. The reason gold will continue to rise in value is because world-wide production and reserves are falling as deposits become mined-out and new multi-million ounce size discoveries become harder to find.
 
There was a slight increase in gold production in 2009, but in general gold production has been in decline since 2001, as production has dropped from about 85 million ounces to about 75 million ounces. The World Gold Council has forecast an 3.7% increase in world gold production in 2009 to about 2,500 tonnes, but this will only satisfy about two-thirds of the demand which soared this year to 3,800 tonnes as a result of the global financial crisis.
 
The best example of declining production is the 9.3% drop in year-over-year second quarter production in South Africa, as reported by the Chamber of Mines.
South Africa which has led the world in gold production for over 100 years has now dropped to fourth.
 
Last year China was the world's leading gold producer, and this year Australia will over take the United States to become the world's second leading producer. Over the first half of the 2009 the world's leading gold producers were: China with 147 tons of gold; Australia with 112 tons of gold; and the U.S with 105 tons of gold. Production in South Africa was 103 tons of gold over the same period.
 
World gold production peaked in 1970 at 1,000 tons. Declining world gold production and increasing demand will keep gold prices high. Leading gold companies with low-cost mines will benefit from this drop in gold production.
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NYSE GOLD PRODUCER NEWS
NYSE
November 16, 2009: AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) announced that it will spend $13 million exploring for gold deposits in the ocean floor over the next 18 months, in a joint venture agreement with De Beers, which has technology for recovering sea floor minerals.

November 16, 2009: Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) reported that the 45,000 member, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in South Africa, may initiate a strike at Gold Fields' mines over the Functional Work Capacity (FWC) recruitment assessment method, which stands in the way of the appointment of new recruits and employees returning back to work after availing of annual and maternity leave.

November 16, 2009: Goldcorp Inc. (GG) agreed to buy Canplats Resources Corp. for approximately C$238 million to gain control of a Mexican deposit located approximately 31 miles southeast of Goldcorp's large Penaquito mine. Canplats owns the Camino Rojo project which has 3.34 million ounces of gold on a measured and indicated basis. The Camino Rojo project increases Goldcorp's exploration holdings in the region to 1,775 sq. miles from 465 sq. miles. Canplats shareholders will get 0.074 of a Goldcorp share, and one share valued at $0.18 in a new exploration company. Canplats' shareholders will own a 90% interest in the new exploration company. Goldcorp will own the remaining 10%.

November 16, 2009: Harmony Gold Mining Ltd. (HMY) believes that the National Mineworkers decision to seek legal advice around possible retrenchment of 2,100 workers at some of HMY's operations was premature. Over the last six months HMY has been reviewing whether or not to cut back activity at its marginally producing shafts, simply because the ore bodies have been depleted. HMY has been looking at alternatives to simply cutting workers. The alternatives would include shifting affected workers to viable properties, and properties under development, and to offer incentives for voluntary retirement.

November 16, 2009: Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) announced that its subsidiary, Newmont Indonesia Limited, together with Nusa Tengarra Mining Corp. (an affiliate of Sumitomo Corp.), completed the transfer of 10% of PT Newmont Nusa Tengarra to PT Multi Daerah Bersing, a consortium comprised of regional and local governments near the Batu Hijau mine, and PT Multicapital, a private company for $391 million. Newmont received its pro-rate 56.25% of the proceeds

November 16, 2009: Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) says it expects a steady production of 1.8 million to 1.9 million ounces of gold at its Yanacocha gold mine in Peru, which is jointly operated with Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA (BVN). The mine posted sales of 1.8 million ounces of gold in 2008.

November 18, 2009: Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) commenced drilling on Woodjam North on October 10, 2009. The Woodjam North gold-copper property is located 28 miles east of Williams Lake in central British Columbia. Woodjam North is a joint venture owned by Cariboo Resources Ltd. (60% interest) and Fjordland Exploration Inc. (40% interest). Gold Fields Horsefly Exploration Corp., a GFI company, has an option to earn up to a 70% interest in the property by spending $19 million on exploration on the property over the next seven years. GFI has budgeted approximately $3 million for exploration during the first year. To date approximately 10,800 feet of a planned 19,680 foot drilling program has been completed on the Takum Zone, to follow up on a 2008 drill intercept that assayed 0.34% copper and 0.017 oz/t gold over 236 feet. The mineralized interval was within a 1.85 mile wide induced polarization (IP) geophysical anomaly. Additional drilling will further test the IP, magnetic, and geochemical anomalies identified by 2009 field work.

November 18, 2009: Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC) reported that it has completed the required Phase 1 drilling on the Debut prospect leased from Canasia Industries Corp. in Nevada. The lease agreement requires KGC to spend a minimum of $3 million exploring the property which is located in southern Elko County.

November 19, 2009: Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) announced that it has started producing from its mill and heap leach at its Pinos Altos gold and silver property in northern Mexico. The project has the capacity to mine 4,400 tons per day at its planned open pit and underground operation. The company has invested $240 million in the project to date and expects to produce approximately 175,000 ounces of gold and 2.6 million ounces of silver per year at Pinos Altos.

November 20, 2009: AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) announced that it expects to start its initial underwater drilling program in the second quarter of 2010 as part of its joint venture with De Beers Marine. Initial drilling will focus on offshore waters adjacent to New Zealand. The initial program has been budgeted at $4 million to drill 80 core holes to a depth of up to 650 feet. The target area is a 12.5 mile region some 1500 feet offshore of New Zealand's South Island. De Beers will provide technical expertise gained from mining diamonds in offshore waters of Namibia.

November 20, 2009: Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) achieved commercial production at its Boddington mine in Australia. The mine is expected to operate for more than 24 years, and is expected to become the country's largest gold producer. In its first five years, Boddington is expected to produce 1 million ounces of gold at an average cost, after byproduct credits of $300 per ounce. The mine is expected to reach full production in 2010.

November 23, 2009: AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) reported that Ashanti Goldfields Services, its wholly-owned subsidiary, has acquired for C$1.2 million, 10,000 units of Commander Resources Ltd. through a non-brokered private placement. Each unit consists of one common share of Commander, and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant entitles AU to purchase one additional common share of at a price of C$0.24 per share until November 17, 2011. The acquisition of these units will give AU an 11.1% interest in Commander. If AU exercises all of its warrants it will own 15,000,000 common shares of Commander, which represents 14.7% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Commander.

November 23, 2009: Harmony Gold Mining Ltd. (HMY) CEO, Graham Biggs, said that in spite of planned mine closures from under performing shafts at the Evander and Virginia mines, HMY should produce more gold in 2010. Planned 2010 production of 1.6 million ounces would exceed by 140,000 ounces the 1.46 million ounces produced in 2009, which ended June 30, 2009. Production in the current quarter should equal or exceed the 373,431 ounces produced in the first quarter which ended September 30, 2009.

November 24, 2009: Goldcorp Inc. (GG) provided highlights of its successful $110 million 2009 exploration program. Goldcorp is actively exploring in Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the United States (Nevada). Goldcorp is the lowest-cost and fastest growing multi-million ounce gold producer with operations throughout the Americas. Exploration at Red Lake continues to find high grade mineralization at depth. Exploration at Penasquito has more upside potential, including a deep sulfide resource beneath the Noche Buena oxide cap. Refer to the press release for details on regional exploration successes.

November 25, 2009: Eldorado Gold Corp. (EGO) announced results of ongoing drilling that confirmed the presence of a new gold zone ("323 zone") to the south of the Tanjianshan Mine in China. New diamond drilling confirmed the results of reverse circulation drilling released on August 12, 2009 and established the continuity of mineralization over a minimum strike length of 985 feet. Refer to the press release for detailed assay results which include an interval of 50.8 feet grading 0.46 oz/t gold (QD143) down dip from the discovery holes, an interval of 59.0 feet grading 0.132 oz/t (QD165) 325 feet northwest of the discovery holes, and an interval of 29.5 feet grading 0.043 oz/t (QD167) 650 feet southeast of the discovery drill holes The 323 zone remains open along strike and down dip. Definition drilling of the 323 zone will continue through late 2009 and 2010.

November 30, 2009: Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) announced continued success from third quarter drilling at Midway Gold Corporation's Spring Valley, Nevada gold-silver deposit. ABX completed 34 holes totaling 29,002 of RC drilling and 8,738 feet of core drilling. Midway and Barrick entered into an agreement on March 9, 2009 for the exploration and development of the Pershing County deposit which covers approximately 18.4 miles. Under terms of the agreement ABX may earn a 60% interest in the project by funding $30 million in exploration by December 31, 2013. Significant drill intercepts include fire assays of 339.5 feet of 0.037 oz/t gold and 156 feet of 0.028 oz/t gold. This third quarter drilling meets 94% of a required $4 million exploration commitment for year ending December 31, 2009.

December 1, 2009: Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) has eliminated its hedge book ahead of schedule. ABX can now enter 2010 fully exposed to the price of gold. ABX chief executive Aaron Regent said global output has been falling by roughly 1 million ounces a year since the start of the decade.

December 1, 2009: Eldorado Gold Corp. (EGO) has been notified by Sino Gold Mining Ltd. that on December 2, 2009, Sino Gold shareholders approved the Scheme of Arrangement whereby Sino Gold and Eldorado Gold will be merged. EGO launched its bid for Sino Gold in August by offering 0.55 EGO shares for each Sino Gold share. This bid valued Sino Gold at $1.910 billion. With this shareholder approval, Sino Gold will apply to the Federal Court of Australia for orders approving the transaction. Upon court approval the shares of Sino Gold will be suspended from trading on the Australian and Hong Kong bourses.

December 1, 2009: Goldcorp Inc. (GG) declared its twelfth monthly dividend payment for 2009 of $0.015 per share to shareholders of record at the close of business on Friday, December 11, 2009. Payment of the dividend will be made on Friday, December 18, 2009.

December 1, 2009: Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC) will seek to buy assets in North and South America, Russia, and Ghana, but will stay out of countries such as China, Venezuela, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea where KGC sees too much political and security risk.

December 2, 2009: Goldcorp Inc. (GG) will sell its stake in the Morelos gold project in Mexico to Newstrike Capital Inc. for $52 million. GG's subsidiary Desarrollos Mineros San Luis agreed to sell its 21.2% interest in the property for $44.5 million in cash and 15 million common shares of Newstrike. The transaction is subject to a financing by Newstrike to raise net proceeds of $50 million to fund the acquisition. GG expects the deal to close in early 2010. 
 
AMEX GOLD PRODUCER NEWS
AMEX
November 16, 2009: Apollo Gold Corp. (AGT) reported a net loss of $14 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to net income of $0.5 million for the year-earlier quarter. A significant portion of the reported third quarter 2009 loss was a result of recording an unrealized loss on derivative contracts comprised of (1) an unrealized loss of $14.3 million for the change in value recorded for gold forward sales contracts held as of September 30, 2009 and (2) an unrealized gain of $4.1 million for the change in value of Canadian dollar foreign exchange contracts held as of September 30, 2009. Both of the gold forward sales contracts and Canadian dollar foreign exchange contracts were a condition of the February 20, 2009, $70 million project financing facility established to commence production at Black Fox. During the third quarter of 2009, AGT sold 19,848 ounces of gold, out of 22,478 ounces produced. All of the gold sold was against forward sales contracts at a realized price of $875 per ounce.
 
November 18, 2009: Endeavour Silver Corp. (EXK) announced that it has acquired an option to purchase the San Juanico properties, located adjacent to the El Cometa property, part of Endeavour's Parral exploration project near the city of Hidalgo de Parral, Chihuahua State, Mexico. EXK can acquire a 100% interest in the San Juanico properties by making $130,000 in cash payments over 18 months, and a final payment in 24 months of a minimum $300,000 to a maximum $1.9 million based on the total NI 43-101 compliant silver-equivalent resource ounces (based only on gold and silver ounces) discovered. The San Juanico properties (including the Amplicion de San Juanico, Dolores, and El Jazmin concessions) cover approximately 2,625 feet along the trend of the mineralized Esmeralda vein structure to the north of, and adjoining the El Cometa property at Parral. The San Juanico and Dolores had a history of producing silver-rich lead-zinc-gold ores from shafts that respectively extend down to 100 meters (328 feet) and 150 meters (492 feet). Production from the upper levels of these mines was limited to approximately 25 tonnes (28 tons) per day. The best model for the San Juanico-El Cometa vein system may be the La Esmeralda mine which is located 1.25 miles south of El Cometa along the Esmeralda vein system. The Esmeralda mine has produced approximately 4 million tonnes (4.41 million tons) of ore grading 6% combined lead-zinc, 2.92 ounces per ton silver, and 0.015 ounces per ton gold from 10 mine levels to 600 meters (1,968 feet) in depth.

November 19, 2009: Apollo Gold Corp. (AGT) provided an update on its recently completed 40 hole, Grey Fox drilling program which started on August 10, 2009. This press release provides results on five holes recently assayed. AGT is still waiting on assays from 22 holes drilled in September, October, and November.  These latest assayed holes continue to show continuity of gold mineralization in shallow, multiple mineralized intervals drilled along the Contact Fault Zone, which contains rocks similar to rocks which host their Black Fox deposit, located about 2.2 miles to the northwest. The Contact Fault Zone contains pyrtic breccias and pyritic, silicified Precambian sediments. The best intercept reported in this press release contains 0.16 ounces/ton gold over 17.8 feet.

November 19, 2009: New Gold Inc. (NGD) suspended operations at its Cerro San Pedro mine in Mexico following an order from government authorities. The Mexican environmental protection agency nullified the mine's 2006 environmental impact statement following a ruling by a Mexican federal court. NGD said it is appealing the suspension and is pursuing all legal appeals and is co-operating with Mexican authorities.

December 1, 2009: Aurizon Mines Ltd. (AZK) reported drilling results from its recent exploration drilling program on the 810 meter level (2,656 feet) of its Casa Berardi mine, in northwest Quebec. The recent program is focused along Zone 120, to test for the continuity of a block of inferred resources present at a vertical depth of 2,132 feet to 3,610 feet below the surface, at a location approximately 2,132 feet east of the West Mine production shaft. Thirteen holes, drilled at an average spacing of 25 meters to 50 meters (82 to 164 feet) have confirmed the continuity of mineralization. The best intercept contained 0.365 oz/t gold over an interval of 36.1 feet; thus confirming the grade and thickness of the Zone. 120 block. Eleven drill rigs are currently active on the property. A budget of $15 million to complete 40,000 meters of drilling and 1,900 meters of drift development had been approved to conduct and support infill and exploration drilling for 2009.
NASDAQ GOLD PRODUCER NEWS
NASD
November 18, 2009: Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) announced that it has raised its annual dividend by 13% to $0.36 per common share. A first quarter dividend of $0.09 per share will be paid on January 15, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 4, 2010.

November 24, 2009: Lihir Gold Ltd. (LIHR) declared an interim dividend of $0.015 per common share on October 29, 2009. The dividend will be paid on November 30, 2009.

November 25, 2009: Randgold Resources Ltd. (GOLD) announced that it has acquired an additional 5% interest in the Tongon gold project in Cote d'Ivoire for $10 million in cash. Randgold now has an 89% interest in the mine. Development of the Tongon mine is currently underway and is scheduled to go into production in the fourth quarter of 2010.

November 30, 2009: Randgold Resources Ltd. (GOLD) issued a new estimate as to the amount of gold contained in its Kimbali deposit located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The indicated gold resource has increased by 23% to 13.93 million ounces from the previously announced 11.29 million ounces. The inferred resource has been reduced  by 48% to 5.83 million ounces. Some of the reduction in the inferred class was a result of the resource being upgraded to the indicated category and a dropping of mineralization that was deemed unlikely to be mined. The Kimbali project had been previously known as the Moto deposit. A feasibility study conducted in March 2009 based on a combined open pit and underground mining operations reported on plans to produce about 2.4 million ounces of gold over the first five years of operation.

December 2, 2009: DRDGOLD LTD. (DRROY) on December 1, 2009 agreed to sell 60% of its troubled Blyvoor gold mine to Aurora Employment Systems for 296 million rand ($40.54 million). Aurora will provide Blyvoor with a capital facility of up to 80 million rand. The mine will be able to draw down 10 million rand by the end of December, and up to 14 million rand each month thereafter until the end of May 2010. This credit facility will provide immediate relief to Blyvoor in terms of its short-term working capital requirements. Blyvoor had increased gold production by 116% between October and November, and the rand per kilogram gold production cost had dropped by 47%.
INSIDEMETALS.COM WEBSITE UPDATES
INSIDEMETALS WEBSITE UPDATES
InsideMetals has added to the Home Page of its website, an Advertising & Marketing Guide link for readers who may be interested in advertising their business on the InsideMetals website, or in the newsletter. The website has been visited by readers from more than 184 countries.
 
The Advertising & Marketing Guide contains basic demographic information as to the regions in the world from which the website is viewed; information as to banner advertisements and placements in the website and in the newsletter; and special Gold and Silver Medallion Advertising Programs that are available to mining and exploration companies.
If interested, please visit the following links for more information:
 
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We hope you have enjoyed our newsletter.
 
The newsletter will be published next on December 19, 2009.

Until next time!!!,
 
InsideMetals