Since making recent highs in February, gold stocks have continuously come down in price. We have reached a level that is uncomfortable for the industry. Some of the higher-cost producers are starting to feel the pinch.

The prices are out of this world.

This may be the realization after a long period of time that gold is no longer the bedrock of the world's financial system. And if it's no longer required as a reserve currency, then it makes sense for central banks to reduce their holdings of gold and convert to more profitable investments.

I think at long last they've got enough price appreciation to offset the pricing they've been struggling with. I don't see any reason they shouldn't be able to sustain or do better for subsequent quarters.

I think they'll negotiate with antitrust authorities and will come up with a solution.

Just the mere concept of combining the No. 2 and No. 3 (nickel) producers in the western world into one company is enough to make regulators take a good hard look.

We're in the midst of one of the greatest mining cycles we've seen in decades.

With ongoing structural deficits for several years, there's no reason to believe the price [of aluminum] is going down anytime soon.

The reason for the joint venture is risk mitigation. Rio Tinto and everyone else (in the field) is increasingly looking into more remote areas for new production and particularly for large, underdeveloped mines in Russia and Africa -- two regions where large ore bodies have yet to be discovered or developed.