Recent quarters have played up the commodities markets. Oil and gold are the celebrities of the sector and moving higher and lower at the whims of the mutual funds and individual commodity bugs. When it comes right down to it, however, who can afford some of these commodities? After all, over $1,000.00 per/oz. for gold or a contract for $80.00 per/bar of oil is a bit pricy for the average investor.

Past posts have discussed “hitting it where they ain’t.” As far as base metals are concerned, consider silver/copper instead of gold. Stock or hard asset is the choice. Hard asset lets an investor know what they have and what it is worth without wondering what a company’s management is up to. Stocks, on the other hand, can move either way on a dime and, if bought at the right price, do very nicely. Either way there is profit opportunity

While prices of gold don’t necessarily affect silver prices or vice versa, history has demonstrated that when gold rises or falls, silver usually follows suit.

This time around, silver has failed to match the gains that gold posted in recent months, spawning a widespread believe that silver is poised for a bull run. Such factors as a decline in supply and a weakening U.S. dollar have buttressed that bullish belief. And so has the fact that China’s government is strongly encouraging that country’s residents to buy the white metal.

With Beijing’s plan to inject $587 billion (4 trillion yuan) into China’s economy, and a growing desire to diversify away from the U.S. dollar as its key reserve currency, the Asian giant could increase its reliance on such precious metals as gold and silver – especially if global inflation takes hold.

China’s central bank “could use gold, silver or even a basket of

Canada Zinc Metals Corp. announced this morning that it has received final approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange and relevant Chinese authorities concerning the closing of the non-brokered private placement subscribed to by Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Holdings Co. Ltd.

Tongling has purchased 11,500,000 units of Canada Zinc Metals at a price of $0.425 per unit for gross proceeds of $4,887,500 and now holds a 13% equity position in the company. Each unit consists of one common share and one half of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles Tongling to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.60 during the first year and at a price of $0.80 during the second year. Canada Zinc Metals plans to use the proceeds to fund further exploration and advancement of the Company’s SEDEX zinc-lead properties as well as for working capital purposes.

“We welcome