Shares of some top silver companies are up at 10 a.m.:
Hecla Mining rose $.29 or 5.5 percent, to $5.54.
Pan American Silver rose $.88 or 3.9 percent, to $23.42.
Silver Standard rose $.59 or 3.1 percent, to $19.71.
Silver Wheaton rose $.73 or 5.2 percent, to $14.76.