Hecla (HL) (MTL) (MT) (POT) (AGU) (PAAS) (AXP) Ratings, Price Targets

Hecla Mining (HL), Mechel (MTL), ArcelorMittal (MT), Potash (POT), Agrium Inc. (AGU), Pan American Silver (PAAS) and American Express (AXP) had ratings and price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

BNP Paribas upgraded ArcelorMittal (MT) from an "Underperform" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

UBS AG downgraded Mechel (MTL) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Potash (POT). They placed a "Buy" rating and price target of $56.00 on the company.

Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Agrium Inc. (AGU). They placed a "Buy" rating and price target of $105.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Hecla Mining (HL). They placed a "Hold" rating and price target of $5.50 on the company.

BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Pan American Silver (PAAS). They placed an "Outperform" rating and price target of $35.00 on the company.

Wells Fargo & Co. downgraded American Express (AXP) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

Hecla (HL) (AWK) (CWT) (RY) (HTLF) (CMA) (NWSA) Ratings, Price Targets

Hecla Mining (HL), American Water Works (AWK), California Water Service Group (CWT), RBC Capital (RY), Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (HTLF), Comerica (CMA) and News Corp. (NWSA) had ratings and price targets adjusted on them by analysts.

Scotia Capital initiated coverage on Hecla Mining (HL). They placed a "Sector Perform" rating and price target of $6.50 on the company.

Robert W. Baird downgraded American Water Works (AWK) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded California Water Service Group (CWT) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

TD Securities downgraded RBC Capital (RY) from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Guggenheim upgraded Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (HTLF) from a "Neutral" rating to a "Buy" rating.

Raymond James downgraded Comerica (CMA) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

RBC Capital downgraded News Corp. (NWSA) from a "Top Pick" rating to an "Outperform" rating.

Broadcom (BRCM) (CAVM) (CBE) (DFT) (AWH) (HL) Ratings, Price Targets

Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM), Cavium Networks (NASDAQ: CAVM), Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE), DuPont Fabros Technology (NYSE: DFT), Allied World Assurance (NYSE: AWH) and Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL) ratings and price targets.

Broadcom (BRCM) had its “buy” rating reiterated by Jefferies Group (NYSE:JEF). They have a price target of $45.00 on the company.

Cavium Networks (CAVM) had its “buy” rating reiterated by Jefferies Group. They have a price target of $32.00 on the company.

Cooper Industries (CBE) had its “neutral” rating reiterated by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS).

DuPont Fabros Technology (DFT) had its price target lowered by RBC Capital from $32.00 to $29.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Allied World Assurance (AWH) was upgraded by Macquarie from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Hecla Mining (HL) was downgraded by Canaccord Genuity from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Hecla (HL) Silver Production Guidance Remains on Track

Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) says its silver production guidance remains on track, even with its Lucky Friday mine problems. Expectations are over 9 million ounces of silve will be produced for the year, with 9.5 million ounces projected for 2012, even with the anticipated 2-month loss of production at Lucky Friday.

A new 750-foot haulage way bypass at the mine is expected to be finished near the end of February 2012. That should reduce the number of rock bursts at the mine, which have been an ongoing problem for the company.

The mine was closed by Hecla after a third accident for the year resulted in seven miners being injured, generating the need for a new haulage way to decrease incidents relating to rock burst.

Hecla CEO Phil Baker said, "While 2011 has been a difficult year for Hecla and the Lucky Friday, the previous 25 years at the Lucky Friday have been characterized by an extraordinary safety record. Looking forward, our goal, which we will relentlessly pursue, is to reestablish the same safety and operating performance decades into the future."

Hecla closed Thursday at $5.53, falling $0.11, or 1.95 percent.

Frontline (FRO) (CRK) (OWW) (IO) (HL) (FAF) Biggest NYSE Gainers

Frontline Ltd. (FRO), Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK), Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (OWW), ION Geophysical (IO), Hecla Mining (HL) and First American Financial Corp. (FAF) were the biggest gainers on the NYSE, Tuesday, December 6.

Frontline Ltd. (FRO) ended the session up 18.64 percent, closing at $4.20. They traded in a range of $4.06 to $4.87. A total of 7,945,662 shares changed hands.

Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK) ended the session up 15.45 percent, closing at $19.50. The stock traded as high as $16.79 to $19.55. A total of 4,085,296 shares changed hands.

Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (OWW) ended the session up 13.68 percent, closing at $3.99. They traded in a range of $3.60 to $4.28. A total of 1,552,781 shares changed hands.

ION Geophysical (IO) ended the session up 11.57 percent, closing at $6.75. They traded in a range of $5.99 to $6.77. A total of 3,042,665 shares changed hands.

Hecla Mining (HL) ended the session up 10.20 percent, closing at $6.59. They traded in a range of $5.93 to $6.61. A total of 13,665,210 shares changed hands.

First American Financial Corp. (FAF) ended the session up 8.42 percent, closing at $12.36. They traded in a range of $11.52 to $12.45. A total of 1,362,167 shares changed hands.

Hecla (HL) (REGN) (HNSN) (SGY) (LUV) (HIBB) Ratings Reiterated

Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), Regeneron Pharma (NASDAQ: REGN), Hansen Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: HNSN), Stone Energy (NYSE: SGY), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Hibbett Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIBB) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

BMO Capital Markets reiterated its "Market Perform" rating on Hecla Mining (HL). They have a price target of $8.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its "Hold" rating on Regeneron Pharma (REGN). They have a price target of $66.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Hansen Medical, Inc. (HNSN). They have a price target of $5.00 on the company.

Rodman & Renshaw reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Stone Energy (SGY). They have a price target of $32.00 on the company.

Rodman & Renshaw reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV). They have a price target of $12.00 on the company.

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "Hold" rating on Hibbett Sports, Inc. (HIBB).

Hecla (HL) (CRK) (E) (ERTS) (EXEL) Downgraded

Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), Comstock Resources Inc. (NYSE: CRK), Eni S.p.A. (NYSE: E), Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) were downgraded by analysts.

Hecla Mining (HL) was downgraded by BMO Capital Markets from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK) was downgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Eni S.p.A. (E) was downgraded by Collins Stewart from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) was downgraded by Hilliard Lyons from a “Long” rating to a “Term Buy” rating.

Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) was downgraded by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) from an “Overweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $5.00 on the company.

Silver Wheaton (SLW) (HL) (CDE) (PAAS) (SVM) Jump As Silver Prices Soar

Investors looking to gold and silver for safety as equities drop, pushing up the price of the precious metals and silver companies like Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Coeur d'Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE), Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) and Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM).

Silver prices are up with the most actively traded contract, for July delivery, recently up 22.3 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $35.155 a troy ounce.

The most actively traded gold contract, for June delivery, was recently up $19.70, or $1.3 percent, at $1,512.10 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. (SVM) was trading at $10.28, gaining $0.04, or 0.39 percent, as of 1:30 PM EDT. Pan American Silver (PAAS) was trading at $32.94, gaining $0.51, or 1.57 percent. Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE) was at $8.14, rising $0.09, or 1.42 percent. Hecla Mining (HL) was trading at $0.09, climbing $1.12, or 3.04 percent. Silver Wheaton (:SLW) was at $35.37, jumping $0.67, or 1.93 percent.

Hecla Mining (HL) Trades Down as Silver Prices Fall

Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) traded down as silver prices fell on Thursday.

Silver prices ended the session down. July delivery for silver fell 16.5 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $34.932 a troy ounce.

Gold for June delivery closed down $3.40, or 0.2 percent, at $1,492.40 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The ICE Futures' dollar index was down 0.5 percent at 75.106. The U.S. dollar was down against most of its major peers at the end of trading Thursday.

Extremely bad news on Obama's economy pressured the commodity sector.

July contracts had copper falling 5.25 cents to settle at $4.0525 a pound and platinum dropped $10.90 to $1,769 an ounce. June palladium settled down $9.05 at $728.15 an ounce.

Housing sales and manufacturing data revealed an ongoing weak and fragile American economy.

Hecla Mining Company participates in the discovery, acquisition, development, production, and marketing of silver, gold, lead, and zinc.

Hecla Mining (HL) closed Thursday at $8.05, falling $0.09, or 1.11 percent.

Miners (MGN) (HL) (GPL) (MVG) (PAAS) Trade Up as Silver Rebounds

Shares of Mines Management (AMEX:MGN), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), Mag Silver Corporation (AMEX:MVG) and Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) as silver, gold and the majority of other commodity prices climbed on the day.

The silver contract for May delivery gained $1.61, or 4.8 percent, to $35.10 a troy ounce.

June gold climbed $15.80 to $1,495.80 per troy ounce, a 1.1 percent gain on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The less traded May contract was up $15.80, or 1.1 percent, to $1,495.60 a troy ounce.

A weaker dollar was the major catalyst for gold and silver specifically, and commodities in general on Wednesday.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery was up $3.19, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $100.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent crude rose $2.31 in London, or 2.1 percent, to settle at $112.30 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of six currencies, traded at 75.438, down a little from 75.441 late Tuesday. That was also a factor in gold and silver prices going up.

Great Panther (GPL) closed Wednesday at $3.01, gaining $0.22, or 7.89 percent.

Miners (SLW) (PAAS) (HL) (CDE) All Close Up Tuesday

Shares of Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) and Coeur d'Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) closed up on Tuesday, as silver prices were up slightly on the day.

Silver gained 0.7 percent to settle at $33.80 an ounce. Since the latter part of April it has fallen almost 33 percent from a record high of $49.51.

Gold futures for June delivery closed down $10.60, or 0.7 percent, at $1,480.00 per ounce in New York. Trade ranged from a low $1,471.10 to a high of $1,497.50.

Silver Wheaton (SLW) closed Tuesday at $34.32, gaining $0.57, or 1.69 percent.

Endeavor Silver (AMEX:EXK) closed the same as Monday, while First Majestic (NYSE:AG) and Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM) both closed down.

Hecla Mining (HL) Falls Along with Silver Prices

Shares of Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) traded down Monday as silver and gold prices fell slightly on the trading day.

Silver prices ended the day down 88 cents to close at $34.13 an ounce.

Gold for June delivery shed $3 to close at $1,490.60 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price Monday traded in a range of a low of $1,486 and a high of $1,504.30.

The U.S. dollar index fell 0.43 percent to $75.38.

The euro strengthened as Monday trading went on, putting pressure on the U.S. dollar.

Hecla Mining Company participates in the discovery, acquisition, development, production, and marketing of silver, gold, lead, and zinc.

Hecla closed Monday at $8.01, dropping $0.12, or 1.48 percent.

Hecla (HL) (PAAS) (ISVLF) (MFN) (GPL) Trade Mixed As Silver Rises

Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS), Impact Silver (OTC:ISVLF.PK), Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (AMEX:MFN) and Great Panther (AMEX:GPL) trade mixed as silver climbed.

Silver and gold prices went through a reversal Friday, as gold closed down and silver rebounded to close higher, putting pressure on .

Silver prices settled up 21 cents to $35.01 an ounce. Gold for June delivery fell $13.10 to close at $1,493.60 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The spot gold price was down by about $13 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar index was up 0.74 percent to $75.75 as the euro continued to get hammered on the sovereign debt crises in Europe. The euro plunged 1.7 percent last week as Greece was again in the spotlight for the need to probably be bailed out again, as it appears the country refuses to implement austerity measures to deal with the situation, as it, along with numerous countries, has made progressive, socialists promises they aren't able to keep.

Besides the long-term collapse of the U.S. dollar and the European sovereign debt crises, other factors offering support to gold include tightening in China, inflation, and unrest in the middle east.

Hecla Mining (HL) closed Friday at $8.13, down $0.01, or 0.12 percent.

Miners (HL) (SLW) (SVM) (AXU) (EXK) Trade Down Even as Silver Jumps Again

Shares of silver firms Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM), Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU) and Endeavour Silver (AMEX: EXK) closed down Tuesday, even though silver closed in positive territory.

Silver also extended its rebound, with the July contract gaining $1.37, or 3.7 percent, to $38.47 an ounce.

Gold for June delivery added $13.70, or 0.9%, to $1,516.90 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Separately, HSBC Global Research boosted its average price estimate for gold, silver and platinum.

HSBC raised its gold price projection to $1,525 an ounce from $1,450 an ounce this year, and to from $1,300 $1,500 for 2012.

For silver, the bank sees it averaging $34 in 2011, up from a previous estimate of $26, and from $20 $29 in 2012.

Platinum is seen closing 2011 from $1,750 to $1,850, according to HSBC, and ending 2012 at $1,750 from $1,650.

For palladium, HSBC sees it averaging $825, from $750, in 2011, and $750 from $650 in 2012.

Endeavour Silver (EXK) closed at $10.03, down $0.08, or 0.79 percent.

Silver's (HL) (SSRI) (MGN) (SVM) (AXU) Trade Up as Silver, Gold Rebound

Silver companies Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI), Mines Management (AMEX:MGN), Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM) and Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU) closed up Monday as silver prices turned around on Monday.

Silver prices jumped $1.82 to close at $37.11 an ounce after plunging 27 percent last week.

According to research firm Lipper, last week almost $1 billion flowed out of silver exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Gold for June delivery increased $11.86 to settle at $1,503.20 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange after dropping 4.8 percent in a week. The gold price Monday traded in a range as high as $1,512 and as low as $1,489.

The U.S. dollar fell to $1.434 against the euro and dropped against the Japanese yen to 80.24 yen.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM) closed Monday at $11.64, gaining $0.50, or 4.49 percent. Mines Management (MGN) closed at $2.33, jumping $0.13, or 5.91 percent. Hecla Mining closed at $8.65, up $0.56, or 6.92 percent.

Silver's (MFN) (AXU) (HL) (GPL) (EXK) After Metal Trades Down

Silver prices continued to be pressured Friday, as it has been weighed down by the investors takeing profits in recent trade, and increased margin requirements, which has dragged silver companies Alexco Resource (AMEX:AXU), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (AMEX:MFN) and Endeavour Silver (AMEX:EXK) down on the week, although most rebounded on Friday.

Silver for July delivery dropped 95.3 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $35.29 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. It had risen as high as $36.43 an ounce in Friday's trading.

The front-month silver contract had its worst week since late March 1980. Silver for May delivery fell 27 percent in the five-day period — its biggest percent drop since that date. The most-active July contract also was down 27 percent on the week.

Silver has lost 14 percent so far in 2011. On April 25, silver had reached as high as $49.845.

Gold for June delivery climbed $10.20, or 0.7 percent, to $1,491.60 an ounce. Gold lost 4.2 percent last week, as it had settled at a record $1,556.40 an ounce the Friday before. Gold fell 4.2 percent on the week.

Endeavour Silver (EXK) closed Friday at $9.30, gaining $0.68, or 7.89 percent.

Hecla (HL) (AG) (FVITF) (SVM) (SLW) Hammered as Silver Drops

First Majestic (NYSE:AG), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Fortuna (OTC:FVITF.PK), Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM) and Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) got crushed Thursday as gold and silver prices continued their fall.

The silver contract for May delivery closed 8 percent lower, down $3.152, at $36.231 per troy ounce.

Since the Friday settlement price silver has plummeted 25 percent.

Gold for May delivery, the front-month contract, ended the trading session Thursday down $34, or 2.2 percent, at $1,480.90 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The U.S. dollar was also up, adding pressure to the two precious metals, as it gained 2 percent against the euro. That came largely from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet who suggested there will no interest-rate boost in the near future.

Nothing has changed the underlying fundamentals for gold or silver though, and this is just a healthy correction before gold and silver prices begin moving up again.

As long as easy money policies continue by the Federal Reserve and interest rates remain near zero, there is nothing to stop gold and silver prices from continuing to rise.

Inflation, political unrest, sovereign debt crisis and the collapsing U.S. dollar will also play a major role over time for gold and silver prices.

Silver Wheaton closed at $35.15, dropping $1.98, or 5.33 percent. Silvercorp Metals closed at $10.77, down $1.13, or 9.50 percent.

Silver Firms (SLW) (HL) (ISVLF) (SVM) (AXU) Trade Mixed as Silver Takes Beating

Even though silver prices got pummeled again Wednesday, silver producers or companies Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Impact Silver (OTC:ISVLF.PK), Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM) and Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU) closed the trading day mixed, rebounding from recent losses.

The ongoing plunge in silver prices pressured commodities one Wednesday as investors sold holdings to take money off the table after weeks of prices rising in the sector.

Silver dropped $3.197, or 7.5 percent, to settle at $39.388 an ounce. That's the third straight day of losses after silver approached the elusive $50 an ounce mark last week.

Silver for July delivery dropped $2.820, at $39.765 per troy ounce.

Despite silver's three-day fall, the price is still 27.3 percent higher on the year.

Gold for June delivery, the most actively traded contract, fell $25.10 to $1,515.30 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar index lost 0.15 percent to $73.01.

Silver Wheaton closed Wednesday at $37.13, gaining $0.22, or 0.60 percent.

Pain for (SLW) (HL) (GPL) (AG) (MFN) As Silver Plummets

Shares of silver companies Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), First Majestic (NYSE:AG) and Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (AMEX:MFN) were punished again as silver prices fell in Tuesday trading.

Silver plunged another $3.49 Tuesday to settle at $42.576 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the Nymex. In after hours trading the price almost dropped below $40 an ounce.

Much of this has been the result of he decision by the CME Group to raise margin requirements by 11.6 percent, starting at the close of market on Tuesday.

To buy a 5,000 ounce contract, silver traders will now have to put up $16,200.

Leverage traders cut their silver positions over the last couple of days, driving the price of silver down. Expectations are silver could bottom out as about $38 if there's more leverage abandoning the market.

Other than some speculation, other reasons for the boost in silver prices include the collapsing U.S. dollar, tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and consequences of the Japanese earthquake. India also raised its interest rates unexpectedly on Tuesday, putting some downward pressure on gold and silver as well.

Hecla Mining closed Tuesday at $8.42, falling $0.45, or 5.07 percent.

Silver Wheaton (SLW) (HL) (GPL) (AG) (MGN) Crushed as Silver Drops

Shares of Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL), Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), First Majestic (NYSE:AG) and Mines Management (AMEX:MGN) got hammered as silver prices plunged Monday.

Gold for June delivery jumped 70 cents Monday to settle at $1,557.10 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. After losing 2.5 percent to drop to $1,540.30, the yellow metal rebounded to $1,577 an ounce.

Silver prices for July lost $2.51 to settle at $46.08 an ounce, after getting crushed 13 percent, as it fell as low as $42.20.

The U.S. dollar index changed directions after an rally early in the trading session Monday and was down 0.09 percent at $72.96. The U.S. dollar index was fell almost 4 percent in April and is struggling to keep from breaking below its record low of $71.

It is surprising to see gold and silver be pressured, as in April gold was up 8.92 percent and silver a whopping 28.72 percent.

One piece of financial information somewhat ignored Monday because of the hoopla surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden, was the manufacturing report concerning China in April which showed production had slowed down during the month. That should help the price of gold and silver going forward.

Silver Wheaton closed at $37.77, falling $2.85, or 7.02 percent.