The past 12 months have proved volatile for global financial markets to say the very least. As the year draws to a close, analysts offer their predictions of what's in store for the year ahead...
Petra Diamonds was on sparkling form on Wednesday, after it announced its first day of dealings on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and unveiled the record sale of a blue diamond.
Shares in Sefton Resources tumbled on Wednesday, after the firm admitted it was disappointed not to have drilled the last of the four wells planned at Tapia County, US.
The mining sector hit a bit of a skid of late with commodity prices tumbling and production costs rising, but the largest companies continue to sink billions into projects - particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Gold Oil hailed the results of its recent 3D seismic survey as "very encouraging" and said it will significantly reduce the risk in mapping of prospects for drilling on Block Z34, offshore Peru.
US-focused Magnolia Petroleum told investors it is set to participate in a host of new wells, including two in the Bakken/Three Forks Sanish Formations in North Dakota with US oil and gas giant Marathon Oil.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum's drilling programme showed no signs of slowing with the spudding of its latest well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Shaikan-6.
Shares in Petroceltic International bucked the general market malaise on Monday as investors celebrated the Algerian government's approval for the sale of a stake in its Algerian gas field.
European Goldfields has agreed to be taken over by Canadian group Eldorado Gold Corporation, boosting the duo's exposure across a host of growth regions.
