Hecla, Freeport execs jump on cheap shares

Recent insider trading transactions reported by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission include the following:

– Hecla Mining (HL-N) — Arthur Brown, chairman, bought 25,000 shares at US94 per share to hold 182,252 shares directly or indirectly.

– Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX-N) — Gabrielle McDonald, director, bought 4,750 Class A shares at US$8.38 to hold 4,756 Class A shares.

– Royal Gold (RGLD-Q) — James Stuckert, director, bought 10,000 shares at US$2.62 to hold 1.5 million shares directly or indirectly; Jack Goth, director, bought 5,000 shares at US$2.75-2.81 to hold 33,500 shares; and Stanley Dempsey, chairman, exercised 20,000 options at an unspecified price to hold 594,099 shares and an unspecified number of options.

– Southern Peru Copper (PCU-N) — Douglas Yearley, director, exercised 3,299 options at an unspecified price and sold the resulting shares, also at an unspecified price, to hold 1,000 shares and an unspecified number of options.

– Silverado Gold Mines (SILMF-O) — Garry Anselmo, chairman, exercised 50,000 options at US10 to hold 50,007 shares and an unspecified number of options; John Mackay, officer, exercised 200,000 options at US10 to hold an unspecified number of shares and options; and Stuart McCulloch, officer, exercised 50,000 options at US10 to hold an unspecified number of shares and options.

Meanwhile, recent transactions north of the border include:

– Claude Resources (CRJ-T) — QVGD Investors, owner of more than 10% of the company, bought 203,100 shares indirectly at C65-$1.60 to hold 3.73 million shares indirectly.

– Chesbar Resources (CBI-T) — John Yates, director, sold 91,000 shares at C19 to hold 248,390 shares.

– Findore Gold Resources (FGRL-C) — Andrew Currah, director and owner of more than 10%, bought 104,812 shares at C21-35 to hold 481,238 shares.