Shares of some top silver companies are up at noon:
Hecla Mining rose $.21 or 19.1 percent, to $1.31.
Pan American Silver rose $2.13 or 22.9 percent, to $11.43.
Silver Standard rose $1.18 or 17.7 percent, to $7.84.
Silver Wheaton rose $.35 or 13.6 percent, to $2.92.