PRECIOUS METALS HIGHLIGHTS: Top Stories Of The Day

Australia's Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM.AU) said gold production fell 20% in its fiscal second quarter after mining operations were hit by heavy rain in Papua New Guinea and a ground fall at an open-pit mine in Australia.

 
Newcrest To Add Secondary Toronto Listing By March 

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM.AU), Australia's largest gold producer, said Tuesday it expects to list on the Toronto Stock Exchange by March.

 
 
STORIES OF INTEREST 
 
Rio Tinto Boost Stake In Ivanhoe To Majority Control 

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) Tuesday said it has taken majority control of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN.T), a move that would theoretically allow it to take indirect majority control of Mongolia's massive Oyu Tolgoi copper-and-gold project.

 
Peru Prime Minister: Stalled Conga Mine's Review To Focus On Water 

LIMA (Dow Jones)--A review of the stalled Minas Conga copper-gold mine project in northern Peru will focus on ensuring that water supplies are protected, Peru's prime minister said Tuesday.

 
LBMA: Swiss Refinery PX Precinox Added To Gold Good Delivery List 

LONDON (Dow Jones)--The London Bullion Market Association Tuesday said it has added the gold refinery of PX Precinox SA to its good delivery list.

 
Impala Platinum Has Started Dismissing Striking Employees 

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMP.JO) said Tuesday it has started dismissing those employees who failed to report to work following the work stoppage by 5,000 rock drill operators at its Rustenburg operations on Jan. 20 as strike has been declared illegal.

 
Gold Fields, Gold One Considering South Africa Tailings JV 

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) and smaller Gold One International Ltd. (GDO.AU) are considering a venture that would process gold and uranium found in their combined deposits of mine waste, consolidating tailings dumps in an area of South Africa that sparked the gold rush that gave rise to Johannesburg.

 
MARKETS: 
 
PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Ends Lower On Dollar, Greece 

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Gold prices slipped Tuesday, ending lower for the first time in three days, amid pressure from a stronger dollar and worries about Greece.

-By Tatyana Shumsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3095; [e-mail]