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Gold just hit a five-year low. On Friday morning, the precious metal fell more than 1% to as low as $1,129.80 an ounce, the lowest since 2010. In a morning note to clients on Friday, Accendo Markets wrote: "Gold ($1,144) lower yet again after the German conservatives voted to start talking about the details of a third Greek bailout while Grexit plans were locked away for the time being. So when investors are confident, they sell gold; when they're worried, they don't buy it. A strong US dollar with all this talk of interest-rate hikes likely contributing to gold's seeming...

Some precious metals funds I've been following are approaching lows not seen since 2002. China is buying gold. Russia is buying gold. India is buying gold. Yet these mining stocks continue to fall. I'm thinking this might be a buying opportunity. But I'm usually wrong. And ideas from the FR market sages?

Mickey Fulp, the Mercenary Geologist, says that 2012 will be a big year for gold, silver, mining companies, and commodities, including energy. Mickey knows from whence he speaks. He's been a professional freelance geologist for decades. When it comes to picking junior miners on the fast track, Mickey has a simple method of assessing their prospects. He goes to resource shows around the world, sits down with senior managers and asks the tough questions--and this is exactly what is needed. Mickey amusingly quotes Mark Twain's 100 plus year take on mining companies, "A mine is a hole in the ground...

We're back on with Jeb Handwerger to discuss "The January effect," and how to pick the best mining stocks. According to Jeb, gold and silver miners will rise again in 2012, and the time honored trope regarding the month of January will reign true, as the first week of the New Year shows these stocks opening on a bullish note. When asked about the best gain for 2012, Jeb says investors must look at undervalued junior mining natural resource assets--he recommends companies with strong financial positions that are progressing toward the production phase of mine development. As you're all aware,...

"....These are the few contenders among the many pretenders that I personally consider to have real stories in REE space: •Avalon Rare Metals (AVL.T) •Dacha Strategic Metals (DSM.V) •Hudson Resources (HUD.V) •Great Western Minerals (GWG.V) •Matamec Exploration (MAT.V) •Medallion Resources (MDL.V) •Molycorp (MCP.NYSE) •Neo-Material Technologies (NEM.T) •Quest Rare Minerals (QRM.V) •Rare Element Resources (REE.AMEX) •Rare Earth Metals (RA.V) •Stans Energy (RUU.V) •Tasman Metals (TSM.V) •UCore Uranium (UCU.V) What I have noticed over the past month is when MCP goes green on my screen, the “Cream of the Crop” (AVL, QRM, REE, and TSM) is mean and green, too. The same...