Shares of some top silver companies are up at 10 a.m.:
Hecla Mining rose $.08 or 1.4 percent, to $5.64.
Pan American Silver rose $.12 or .5 percent, to $25.29.
Silver Standard rose $.17 or .9 percent, to $19.03.
Silver Wheaton rose $.31 or 1.7 percent, to $18.75.