Mining stock values increase with resources boom

The value of some mining companies continues to increasing in line with an overall boom in resources stocks.

With the commodities and metals markets in their sixth consecutive year of growth, investors are now taking resources stocks seriously, along with commodities and metals.

Currently, major diversified stocks are amongst the leaders in terms of stock price performance, and investors in resources stocks are spoilt for choice, given the truly global nature of the sector.

BHP Billiton, the gold miner and global diversified resources group, has a market value of $219 billion, reflecting a 700% increase in stock value in the past five years.

Norilsk, the Russian nickel producer and African Rainbow Minerals, the South African diversified mining company, have seen substantial increases in value.

Copper stocks are performing well, with Equinox and Frontera Copper amongst the top names.

Whilst precious metal stocks have not performed as well as copper and nickel, they are led by gold, where Tier I performances have been achieved by Kinross and Lihir.

Randgold Resources would probably top the Tier II category, with Jaguar Mining to the fore in Tier III.

Accolades among platinum stocks go to Aquarius, Anooraq, Platinum Australia and Braemore.

The list for strong performance in silver stocks includes Hochschild Mining, Penoles, Silvercorp Metals, Silver Wheaton and Silver Standard.