It's never too late to find a new way to evaluate mining companies, and Jeff Desjardins and James Fraser of Tickerscores.com have developed one based on over 20 different criteria.

Well, it's almost time for the producers to deliver, says Raj Ray, associate metals and mining analyst with National Bank Financial. He is looking for producers with flexible mine plans that can generate cash flow against a backdrop of static gold prices.

Mr Diamond and partners have created a new fund to invest in Africa, Atlas Mara. It raised $325 mn from investors and just announced its first deal, to buy Botswana's BancABC, with a third of its business in Zimbabwe.