(Kitco News) – Rising tensions between the U.S. and China are keeping gold up and stocks down as the U.S. heads into the long weekend.

(Kitco News) – ELY Gold Royalties (TSXV:ELY) announced yesterday it closed a previously announced brokered private of 21,562,500 units at a price of $0.80 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$17.25 million.

(Kitco News) – Nordgold said today that Q1 gold production increased by 4% YoY to 225.9 koz mainly driven by higher volumes of ore processed at Taborny, Gross and Suzdal mines, as well as higher recovery rates at Gross, Suzdal and Taparko.

(Kitco News) – Iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group took its interest in Candente Copper (TSX:DNT) from 9.72% to 19.92% by subscribing to 27,500,000 shares for an amount of $1.375 million through a private placement.

(Kitco News) – Gold is the commodity to own as a hedge against the massive amounts of stimulus central banks and governments have flooded financial markets with, but silver is the metal to trade as it looks like momentum is returning.

(Kitco News) – Russian diamond giant, ALROSA, said today that it is cutting production to 28–31 million carats versus its initial guidance of around 34 million carats.