(Adds details on latest data, graphic)By Richard LeongNEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Rising borrowing costs are dampening U.S. refinancing activity, with its weekly share of mortgage applications falling to the lowest level since August, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.The Washington-based group said its index on refinancing applications fell 2.9 percent to 1,288.0 in the week en...Read More

FRANKFURT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will publish the results of a stress test of Greece's four largest banks in May to allow time for any capital shortfall to be filled before Greece leaves its bailout programme in August."In order to complete the test before the end of the third European Stability Mechanism stability support programme for Greece, the timetable will be acc...Read More

In recent years, two major copper mine proposals in B.C. - New Prosperity and Ajax - have been rejected by government, either largely or partly due to First Nations opposition.What gets less publicity are mines that have been built with the support and co-operation of First Nations - Red Chris and Brucejack being among the most recent examples.At last week's Association for Mineral Exploration (AM...Read More

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) has regained its footing, thanks to a big earnings move from blue chip Boeing (BA). Specifically, the index is up more than triple digits, as BA's gains overshadow continued weakness from healthcare stocks that's limiting upside for the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) -- though the tech sector is booming again. In the meantime, investors are a...Read More

By Huw JonesLONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - European Union banks will face the toughest "stress test" of their ability to withstand theoretical shocks this year, including the impact of Britain's exit from the bloc, the EU's banking watchdog said on Wednesday.While there will be no pass or fail mark for the 48 banks taking part, the outcome will shape capital requirements policed by regulator...Read More

By Bruno FederowskiSAO PAULO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Latin American currencies strengthened on Wednesday, tracking global U.S. dollar weakness after U.S. President Donald Trump sent a mixed message on bipartisan compromise in his first State of the Union address.Trump called on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to ensure at least $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending, and urged lawmakers to...Read More

By Nichola SaminatherTORONTO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday, surrendering earlier gains, with energy companies among the biggest decliners. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 37.36 points, or 0.2 percent, at 15,918.15 at 1142 EST (1642 GMT). It earlier rose as much as 0.15 percent. (Reporting By Nichola Saminather; Editing by David Gr...Read More

MOSCOW, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A Russian court has frozen 38.1 percent of the ordinary shares of Vozrozhdenie Bank as part of legal claim by Promsvyazbank, TASS news agency reported on Wednesday, citing court documents.(Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Susan Fenton) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author ha...Read More

Echoing the criticism of too much hype surrounding U.S. shale from the Saudi oil minister last week, a new report finds that shale drilling is still largely not profitable. Not only that, but costs are on the rise and drillers are pursuing "irrational production."Riyadh-based Al Rajhi Capital dug into the financials of a long list of U.S. shale companies, and found that "despite rising prices...Read More

Ram Venkat, non-executive director at Metminco Ltd (ASX: MNC)(LON:MNC), tells Proactive they've submitted a plan of works to the Colombian Mining Agency for the Miraflores gold project.The plan follows Metminco's announcement last year that it had established a reserve of 457,000 ounces of gold and 385,000 ounces of silver at Miraflores.  Meet Reward Minerals Ltd, Recce Ltd, Rimfire Pacific M...Read More

* Dollar set for biggest monthly decline since March 2016* Traders await end of Federal Reserve meeting* Euro strengthens after inflation data (New throughout; updates to U.S. market open, changes byline, dateline, previously LONDON)By Stephanie KellyNEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar was lower on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy announcement that was widely expected to leave...Read More

(Kitco News)- The gold market can attribute about half of its gainsfrom a weaker U.S. dollar, a trend that might be unsustainable through 2018according to one British research firm.In a report, Wednesday, Simona Gambarini, commoditieseconomist at Capital Economics said that the recent gains in gold could bereversed as the U.S. dollar finds new momentum from rising interest rates.April gold futures...Read More

(Adds detail on appointment)LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Britain's finance ministry appointed a woman for the first time as its next chief economist at a time when lawmakers want to increase the number of women appointed to senior economic policy roles.Clare Lombardelli is currently in charge of helping finance minister Philip Hammond draw up his annual budget. She joined the finance ministry in 20...Read More

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Shares of Argentine gas distributor Metrogas rose 6.72 percent on Wednesday on the Buenos Aires stock exchange ahead ofan increase in natural gas rates forecasted by the government.Argentine utility rates have been on the rise since President Mauricio Macri look office in 2015. He was elected on promises of attracting investment in part by lowering home heating and...Read More

(Refiles to fix typographical error in headline)By Gertrude Chavez-DreyfussNEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Online employment company Job.com plans to raise between $30 million and $50 million in a token offering this spring to finance a new blockchain-based platform, the company's co-founder Arran Stewart told Reuters.The new platform will be launched after the token offering, Stewart told Reuters i...Read More

By Claire RuckinLONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Banks have given up some fees on a 310m leveraged loan financing backing UK flower and vegetable supplier Flamingo's merger with rose producer Afriflora, banking sources said. Credit Suisse, Investec and Jefferies are leading the financing that comprises a 280m seven-year term loan B and a 30m six-year revolving credit facility.The deal was altered signif...Read More

* Boeing jumps 6.2 pct after reporting higher core profit* ADP Jan payroll up 234,000 vs 185,000 expected* Fed statement awaited at 2 p.m. ET* Indexes up: Dow 0.60 pct, S&P 0.26 pct, Nasdaq 0.42 pct (Adds details, changes comment, updates prices)By Tanya AgrawalJan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose in late morning trading on Wednesday, with the Dow climbing more than 200 points after two days of...Read More

Mr. Robert Willis reportsSAN MARCO ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT AND WARRANT EXERCISESan Marco Resources Inc. has appointed ChristianGrijalva as vice-president of San Marco and San Marco Resources, Mexico SA de CV. Previously, Mr. Grijalva was manager of projects for the company, overseeing all Mexico operations.Robert Willis, San Marco's chief executive officer, stated: "A significant part of b...Read More

Mr. Robert Willis reportsSAN MARCO ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT AND WARRANT EXERCISESan Marco Resources Inc. has appointed ChristianGrijalva as vice-president of San Marco and San Marco Resources, Mexico SA de CV. Previously, Mr. Grijalva was manager of projects for the company, overseeing all Mexico operations.Robert Willis, San Marco's chief executive officer, stated: "A significant part of b...Read More

MILAN, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Italy's Atlantia will consider all options regarding its bid on Abertis once a rival offer launched by Germany's Hochtief on the Spanish company is approved, the Italian group's chief executive said on Wednesday."We will consider every option about Abertis once the (Spanish) regulator approves Hochtief's bid over Abertis," Atlantia's CEO Giovanni Castellucci sai...Read More