TOP STORIES:

HSBC Lowers 2012 Gold Forecast 5% To $1,760/oz

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- HSBC has lowered its gold price forecasts for 2012 and 2013 amid weak demand from the Indian jewelry sector and lower expectations for further economic stimulus measures in the U.S.

WSJ: Canadian Miner Agnico-Eagle CEO Sees $2,000 Gold

TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Canadian miner Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM, AEM.T) sees the price of gold hitting around $2,000 an ounce within the next 12 months, Sean Boyd, its president and chief executive said Friday.

STORIES OF INTEREST:

Mexico's February Mining Production Up 13% On Year

MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones)--Mexican mining production rose 13% in February from a year earlier, led by increases in copper, silver and gold output, the National Statistics Institute, or Inegi, said Monday.

Goldcorp Says El Morro Project Environmental Permit Suspended

Goldcorp Inc. (GG) said the environmental permit for its 70%-owned El Morro copper-gold project has been suspended by the Supreme Court of Chile until "certain deficiencies" are corrected by the Chilean environmental permitting authority.

Brazil Vale Presents BRL1.7Bln Debt Guarantee To Federal Tax Office

RIO DE JANEIRO (Dow Jones)--Brazilian mining company Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) said Friday it has presented a letter of guarantee, or bond, worth 1.7 billion Brazilian reais ($902 million), to Brazil's federal tax authority.

Peru's Buenaventura 1Q Net Income $207.5M Vs $224.8M

LIMA (Dow Jones)--Peruvian mining company Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA (BVN, BUENAVC1.VL) said Friday first-quarter net income totaled $207.5 million, or 82 cents a share, down from $224.8 million, or 88 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier.

MARKETS:

Spot Gold Up A Tad, Lacking Immediate Conviction

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Spot gold is trading slightly higher in Europe Monday, and while little is expected from the metal this session amid thin, holiday trade, industry participants sees some price strength emerging in the coming days.

-By Rui Videira, Dow Jones Newswires; +44-20-7842-9221; rui.videira@dowjones.com