Friday, April 25, 2008

HiHo Silver Resources Expanding Exploration at Silvertip Project

Hi Ho Silver Resources Inc. announced it will be expanding its exploration at the Silver Tip Project in the southeastern portion of British Columbia.

Fred Fisher, President of Hi Ho Silver Resources Inc. says, “Historically the property is under explored, and utilizing modern systematic exploration techniques to confirm and prove mineralized showings, we will be in a position to advance the Property towards defining a mineable resource.”

Included in the 2008 expanded exploration will be "soil and rock sampling, geological mapping, trenching, opening up old workings, access road/trail construction, metallurgical work, prospecting, shallow drilling with portable drills and bulk sampling," said the press release.

While there are currently eight high-grade mineral showings, six of them are past production; the reason for expanding the exploration of the Property.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Shares in Silver Mining Companies Fall with Commodity Prices

The decrease in commodity prices Friday had a significant impact on silver mining company shares, as they mirrored the overall decline.

On the Comex division of the Nymex, silver dropped 87 cents to $17.83 an ounce in afternoon trading on Friday. The Dow Jones-AIG Silver Index was also down by 2.7 percent.

Some of the declines included Pan American Silver Corp. (nasdaq:PAAS) which fell $2.11, or 5.2 percent, to $38.42; Hecla Mining Co. (nyse:HL) fell 63 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $12.37; and Silver Wheaton Corp. (nyse:SLW) fell 74 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $16.49; Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. 14 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $3.63 and Silver Standard Resources Inc. (nasdaq:SSRI) fell $1.31, or 4.3 percent, to $29.22.

Canaccord Adams analyst Steven Butler said that while the silver sell off followed the gold, the demand for silver keeps it different than gold as solely an inflation hedge.

Silver began the year on the spot market at $14.80 an ounce.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Silver Conductive Inks Market Projected to Triple in 8 Years


Businesses have become interested in the silver conductive inks market again, as through the year 2015, the market is expected to triple reaching $2.4 billion, according to a NanoMarkets report, "Silver Inks and Pastes for Printable Electronics: 2008-2015."

During this period of time, the largest opportunity for silver inks demand "will be found in the RFID space where revenues from silver inks for RFID antennas alone will exceed $880 million by 2015. Based on the current excitement surrounding alternative energy, NanoMarkets expect the use of silver inks for solar panel contacts to grow to almost $250 million by 2015."

The obvious challenge in "the future of silver's use in electronics is undoubtedly its high cost. This is one reason that the traditional semiconductor industry has never seriously considered using silver for interconnects. Silver ink sales in the printable electronics business are also hurt by high prices. And with the price of silver almost doubling over the past year, this has really become an issue."

With silver prices seemingly on the way down, it's possible if it continues on that way it won't be much of an issue in about a year. That an assumption, and we really won't know until that happens. With gold expected to reach $1,000 again by the end of 2008, silver could ride on its coattails again.

If that happens, it could be a problem for projected silver demand.

Even so, the report projects that nanosilver inks will make up close to 21 percent of total ink sales in 2012. Most that will be because of the high conductivity of the metal, as well as it being able to be cured at low temperatures; an important part of the increasing role played by "thermally sensitive flexible substrates."

Friday, April 11, 2008

Silver News Weekend Roundup

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Penoles' Silver Unit Fresnillo to Raise $900 Million

Industrias Penoles SAB, the world's largest silver producer, plans to raise about $900 million by selling shares in its Fresnillo Ltd. unit to expand mines and cut debt. Penoles rose to a record on the Mexico stock exchange.

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Precious Metal Surprise: Silver a Real Comer

Hi-o Silver! After years of being thought of as a backwater of precious metals, and even threatened with demotion to an industrial metal, silver is back in the spotlight. The effect on common date silver coins couldn't be more welcome to collectors and investors, and is helping the market as a whole.

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Alberta Star Intersects 3.0 Meters of 25.3 g/ton Silver at the Camelback IOCG & Uranium Target

Alberta Star Development Corp. (OTCBB: ASXSF) is pleased to report that the Company has received assay results from the final four holes of a seventeen hole drill program from the 2007 summer/fall drill program at the Camelback IOCG & uranium target. The Company encountered 3.0 meters of 25.3 g/ton silver in drill hole number CB-07-08.

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PRECIOUS METALS: Gold, Silver Plunge

Silver futures for May delivery fell 35.3 cents, or 2 percent, to $17.69 an ounce, capping a 0.4 percent decline for the week. The metal is still up 19 percent this year.

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COT Silver Report - April 11, 2008

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Fundamental analysis for precious metals silver

Silver moved yesterday in the upside trend until the key resistance level at 18.40s. However as it lacked the strength to breach the mentioned resistance level, it fell to hit the critical support level at 17.85. Therefore, we expect silver to continue in the downside direction.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Mexican Silver Mines Ltd. (CDNX:MSM.V) announced the addition of Jim Glass to the company's board of directors, as Bill Dynes stepped down to pursue work as an "independent geological consultant in the industry."

Glass currently is a partner in Ascenta Capital Partners Inc., and oversees business development and sales.

He has had a lot of experience taking companies from their early stage and developing them into successful enterprises. He took energy company Gresham Resources Inc., and oil and gas firm, which eventually was bought out by True Energy Inc., based in Alberta.

The press release says Glass also has "experience providing investor relations, marketing, management, operation and administration for public companies."

Friday, April 4, 2008

Silver News Around the Web

Purchase of silver in Nepal soars despite rising world prices

In Nepal, the purchase of silver has gone up tremendously despite rising world prices.

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Mexivada Intersects up to 1.18 kg/t Silver in Drill Holes at La Republica Silver Mine, Mexico
Mexivada Mining Corp. is pleased to report the assay results from the final five drill holes from its Phase 1 program at its La Republica silver-gold-zinc-lead property, Yecora Mining District, Chihuahua, Mexico.

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Silver Wheaton: 2007 silver reserves more than triple year-over-year

Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) Corp. said Thursday its proven and probable silver reserves increased to 346.4 million ounces as of Dec. 31, 2007, from 102.2 million at the end of 2006

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Fundamental analysis for precious metals silver - 4/4/2008

Silver yesterday rallied in both directions to end the day with some bullish tendency. This move affected the technical indicators to point to the bullish patterns for today as long as silver remains above the critical level at 17.20s.

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Apogee Releases Additional High Grade Results From the Pulacayo Silver Deposit, Bolivia-Including 8.0 Meters Grading 558.75g/t Silver in Hole PUD-063

Apogee Minerals Ltd. (Munich:A9K.MU) reports additional high grade intercepts at the Pulacayo silver-zinc-lead deposit, southern Bolivia.

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Sage Gold Inc.: High Grade Gold and Native Silver Drill Intercept-Onaman

Sage Gold (CDNX:SGX.V) is pleased to report on the latest assays from the 2008 drill program on the Lynx #1 mineralised zone, on the Onaman Project, near Beardmore, Ontario.

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Silvercorp Metals Inc.: Drilling and Tunnelling Discover High Grade Silver-Lead Veins in the LM Silver-Lead Mine in the Ying Silver District, Henan Province, China

Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp") (Toronto:SVM.TO) is pleased to provide an update on its LM Silver (Ag)-Lead (Pb) Mine.

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Endeavour Silver Announces Conference Call Time and Date for 2007 Year-End Financial Results

Endeavor Silver (Toronto: EDR.TO) rescheduled its 2007 Year-End Financial Results Conference Call in order to give shareholders some extra time to look over the 2007 financial statements, said the company.
As a result, the new call will take place on Monday, April 7, 2008, at 2: PM EST.

In their press release, the company gave these numbers to access the call:

- 1-800-732-0232 Canada & USA (Toll-Free)
- 416-644-3415 Toronto area callers
- No pass code necessary

They also said if you can't access the call at that time, shareholders have until April 21, 2008 to listen to a replay by dialing 1-877-289-8525 toll free in Canada or the U.S. If you live in the Toronto area you can dil 416-640-1917. The pass code for those numbers will be 21268130 followed by the No. key.

There will also be a simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be posted on the home page of the company's website, www.edrsilver.com.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Robert Boaz New President and CEO of Aura Silver


Aura Silver Resources Inc (CDNX: AUU.V) announced that Robert Boaz would assume the duties of President and CEO of the company. Former CEO Jeffrey Klenda will stay on as Chairman of the Board. Former President Paul Pitman will remain with the company as a consulting geologist, said the company in a press release.

Jeffrey Klenda, Chairman stated: "We are pleased that Robert Boaz has agreed to accept these management leadership roles for Aura Silver. His considerable experience in the investment industry and knowledge of the resource sector will allow us to take Aura Silver to the next level of corporate growth. Aura Silver remains well funded with approximately $1.4 million cash on hand.

"Further, the Company has reached a stage whereby the considerable geological experience of Mr. Pitman, Eric Craigie, Director and Vice President of Exploration of the Company, and Dr. James Franklin, Director of the Company, can now focus on further developing and adding to our portfolio of properties. We expect that 2008 will be a pivotal year for Aura Silver. Our joint venture with Intrepid Mines Ltd. is set to initiate the second phase drilling program at the Taviche, Mexico properties in Oaxaca during the summer of 2008; and the Company will continue work programs at our Greyhound, Nunavut property."

Along with working in the power and natural gas industry, Boaz has 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Boaz has been a directer with Aura Silver since September 2006.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Silver Producers' Shares Plunge as U.S. Dollar Strengthens


The U.S. dollar continues to wreak havoc in the overall commodities market, as prices plunge in response to the greenback's recent strength.

Silver was no different, as it dropped to $16.63 an ounce on late morning Tuesday, down from Monday's close of $18.11. Shares of silver producers fell along with the silver prices.

Some silver producers falling were Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE: CDE), which fell by 28 cents, or 6.9 percent, to $3.76; Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS) dropped $1.97, or 5.1 percent, to $36.41; and Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE:SLW) fell 55 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $14.98.

The Dow Jones-AIG Silver Index dropped 4.2 percent.

Along with the stronger U.S. dollar, another factor is the slowing U.S. economy, which some believe will decrease the chances that inflation will rear its ugly head, making precious metals less valuable in the eyes of investors, who typically go there in inflationary times.

The manufacturing index of the Institute of Supply Management said it came in at 48.6 in March, The thinking is if it's below 50 there is a contraction going on in the economy, rather than expansion.

As usual, this is today's activity and response. When the dollar weakens again we could see all this change very quickly.