TOP STORIES

Chile Codelco CEO: No New Talks With Anglo American On Sur Property

SANTIAGO -(Dow Jones)- Chilean state copper company Codelco and global diversified mining company Anglo American PLC (AAUKY, AAL.LN) haven't held any new talks regarding their dispute over Anglo's Sur copper complex, Codelco's chief executive said Friday.

UPDATE: Newmont CEO: Evaluating Viability Of Peru Conga Project

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) is evaluating the recommendations from the Peruvian government and consultants regarding the company's stalled Minas Conga project in Peru, the company's chief executive said on Friday.

Peru Government Sees Work Resuming 'Soon' On Minas Conga Project

LIMA (Dow Jones)--Work on the stalled Minas Conga copper-and-gold project is expected to resume "soon," a high-level government official said.

STORIES OF INTEREST

Norilsk Nickel 1Q Nickel Output Up 7% On Year

MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Norilsk Nickel (GMKN.RS), the world's largest nickel and palladium maker, said Friday its first-quarter nickel output increased 7% compared with the same period last year, to reach 75,824 metric tons.

China Exchanges To Cut Commission Fees On Commodity Futures

BEIJING (Dow Jones)--China's three commodity futures exchanges said Friday that they will cut commission fees on futures contracts in an effort to boost trading activity.

Shanghai Bourse: To Start Silver Futures Trial Trading May 2

BEIJING (Dow Jones)--The Shanghai Futures Exchange said Friday that it will start trial trading of silver futures on May 2.

Qatar Holding Raises Stake In Xstrata To 7.216% >XTA.LN

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Qatar Investment Authority, owner of Qatar Holding LLC, said Friday it has bought 5.23 million shares in Swiss mining firm Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) and now owns 216.67 million shares, representing 7.216%.

China Financial Liberalization Threatens Gold Bull Run -GaveKal

BEIJING (Dow Jones)--China's financial liberalization is a strong threat to gold's bull run, Louis-Vincent Gave, chief executive of investment research firm GaveKal, said Friday.

Sylvania Platinum 3Q Revenue Falls, Strike Action Has Stopped

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Sylvania Platinum Ltd. (SLP.AU), a processor and developer of platinum group, or PGM, metals, Friday reported that group revenue in the third quarter fell from the second quarter, adding that a strike that had slowed production has now ceased.

ECR Minerals Receives 7 Drill Holes' Results, Shares Restored

LONDON (Dow Jones)--ECR Minerals PLC (ECR.LN) said Friday it received assay results in respect to seven drill holes that demonstrate that gold mineralization does continue to depth at the El Abra prospect and that this mineralization is of high grade in at least one area.

MARKETS

PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Edges Higher As Dollar Wilts After US GDP

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Gold futures edged higher Friday, setting a fresh two-week high as some investors sought the precious metal as an alternative to the U.S. dollar after a weaker-than-expected reading on the health of the U.S. economy.

-By Matt Day, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-4986; matt.day@dowjones.com