Gold Bulls Display Mettle

Silver producer Hecla Mining(HL Quote) reported improved profits, lifting the stock 9% in recent action.

Turning to base metals, copper contracts were up 6 cents at $2.66 a pound on the Comex. Consumption of the red metal in Asia is helping keep a floor under prices. "Chinese copper imports have accelerated due to inventory restocking," states a weekly research brief from San Antonio-based money managers U.S. Global Investors.

Elsewhere, Friedman Billings Ramsey upped its price forecast on shares of Century Aluminum(CENX Quote) to $55 a share from $47. The company reported lower losses after the close Tuesday.

In addition, Merrill Lynch raised its full-year earnings estimates for Century. But the stock barely moved, up 0.1% recently at about $49.