The mining sector has been experiencing a turbulent time recently, with investors pulling out left, right and centre in 2011. This is despite a great year in 2010 in which their main outputs soared and investors were keen to put their money in.

However the huge sell-off that has followed has sparked a number of key mining names to struggle. this was especially true of the silver market until very recently, as the white metal led on the upside but also was one of the biggest decliners to start the year.

The market has managed to balance out over the last couple of weeks however, amidst a climate of inflation fears and geopolitical concerns across the Middle East.