BP has agreed to sell its Arco Aluminium unit to a Japanese consortium for $680 million. The Japanese consortium is constituted of five Japanese companies.

Several apprehensions are in the air that the gold might rise in London as a month long unrest in Libya increases the demand for the metal as an alternative investment option.

This week observed a rise of 0.9% as Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has shielded the capital of Tripoli with tanks.

On Wednesday, Gold regained strength with bargain hunters resurfacing after prices dropped from a seven-week high, but receding equity markets and a fall in ETF holdings could restrict gains in spite of the prospect of safe- haven buying prompted by escalating tension in the Middle East and North Africa.

Gold climbed for a fourth day on theory that increasing consumer prices will enhance investor demand for the metal as a hedge against inflation.

Rare earth metals are forcing the global efforts to switch to cleaner energy, be it batteries in hybrid cars or magnets in wind turbines. Mining and processing of the metals causes environmental damage. China, the largest producer, does not want to bear it any longer.

As we see that the year 2011 is going to be a big year as far as the technological up-gradation is concerned and hence you can certainly see that a major improvement have been made in the case of cars and automobiles. The roll out of the Nissan and Chevy Volt is enough testimony to the fact that this year is going to be a banner year for electric cars.

The fuzzy storms when blows in two town of Texas Gulf Coast , coats the lawns, vehicles and traffic lights with red colored dust, being generated by metal plants in surrounding areas.

The waste generated during the manufacturing of aluminum from alumina is causing potential threat to environment.

On Wednesday gold has hit its lifetime high and bagged its tenth record in the last twelve sessions. Dollar saw a fall against a number of other currencies as people expected that the Federal Reserve will take measures to pull up the economy. 

The gold prices have hit a record high and it is being speculated that the performance of the metal will continue to exceed stocks and other investments.

On Friday morning, the gold futures for December delivery advanced $1,301.30 an ounce. The futures after reaching to an intraday high, closed up at $1,299.90, rising $3.60.

Prices of gold kept constant around the highs it had recently hit in the earlier session. Gold prices remained constant because of the demand by investors and a weak Dollar due to prevailing doubts about the world economy.