Instrument Name Hecla Mining Company Instrument ExchangeNYSE: Instrument SymbolHL-N

, /PRNewswire/ -- One of the big topics for the gold mining corporations in 2021 has been the prospect of mergers and acquisitions. Analysts predict another round of consolidation for the industry in 2021, although they aren't looking for mega-mergers. Instead, they expect to see a continuation of the trend in 2020 that brought a larger number of smaller deals. In a recent report, Bank of America (BofA) analyst and team said they believe the pressure to replace reserves that have been mined will be one of the big drivers for mergers and acquisitions this year. They noted that gold reserves have been falling since 2012, while gold output has remained stable. The in Investor Place said that: "The BofA team doesn't expect to see mega-mergers in the mining space this year. Instead, they look for senior gold producers to optimize their assets to lower costs and build the next generation of growth projects. However, they also point out that senior producers are keeping a watch for available world-class assets…The BofA team expects more interest in targets in the U.S., , and other parts of the world that are politically safe. They believe the need to replace gold reserves means the M&A market will be a seller's market this year."    Active stocks in the mining markets this week include (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX), (OTCQB: GIDMF) (CSE: IGLD),  (NYSE: HL),(NYSE: FNV) (TSX: FNV), (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT).

Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced the appointment of Alice Wong as a Director effective February 26, 2021. Ms. Wong has been Senior Vice-President and Chief Corporate Officer at Cameco Corporation since July 2011. Prior to that, she served as Vice President Safety, Health, Environment, Quality and Regulatory Relations from 2008 to June 2011. Ms. Wong was also the Vice President Investor, Corporate and Government Relations from 2005 to 2008. Ms. Wong has more than 30 years of diverse expertise in the uranium industry and holds a Corporate Directors Designation (ICD.D).

PALM BEACH,  Fla., /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the global pandemic; actually because of the pandemic, Gold has enjoyed a sharp rise that, experts say, should continue during 2021. They see increases in mining and all time highs in the bullion market. A from Metals Focus in Reuters () said that The world's mines will produce 3,368 tonnes of gold this year, down 4.6% from 2019 and the lowest in 5 years, but high bullion prices will help to push up output by 8.8% to a record 3,664 tonnes in 2021. Metals head of mine supply, , said that: "Demand for gold, meanwhile, will fall 25% this year to about 3,000 tonnes before recovering 17% in 2021." Reuters continued: "The coronavirus pandemic forced many mines to close temporarily and curtailed sales of gold jewelry, but it also triggered a rush to buy gold for its perceived safe-haven status. These investors pushed prices Gold above an ounce (in 2020), the highest level on record, and prices are likely to average more than in 2021. It said mining companies' earnings per ounce in the second quarter of 2020 were on average higher than their costs, up from about in mid-2019. Production of gold by artisanal and small-scale (ASM) miners using basic technology will decline slightly this year before increasing 13% to more than 600 tonnes in 2021, the most on record", Metals Focus said. Active stocks in the mining markets this week include (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX), (OTCQB: GIDMF) (CSE: IGLD),  (NYSE: HL), (NYSE: NGD) (TSX: NGD),  (NYSE: AG) (TSX: FR).