{podcast} Gold and silver markets sprung higher on Thursday as April and second quarter trading kicked off. After suffering losses in the first quarter, precious metals may now be due for a spring rally. Despite gaining ground yesterday, gold finished the holiday-shortened trading week down fractionally overall at $1,738 an ounce. Silver, meanwhile, gave up just 8 cents on the week to close at $25.16 per ounce. Mining stocks outperformed, which is usually a bullish sign for the metals. Shares of major gold streaming company Franco-Nevada broke out to a 3-month high. Perhaps the mining stock indexes will soon follow ... (full story)