TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE -August 16-20

After enduring a couple of tough weeks, the TSX composite index rebounded slightly for the Aug. 16-20 period, carving out a gain of 200 points to finish at 11,722.

The Global Gold index managed a marginal uptick of 8 points to 379.63 points as gold held on to its value finishing the week where it began at US$1,223.50. A weaker U.S. dollar and uncertainty over the global economy were seen as keys to the yellow metal’s continued strength.

The diversified miners enjoyed a stronger period as the Capped Metals and Mining index was up 18 points to 914.11. The move came with the price of copper flat at US$3.26 per lb., and tin up slightly to US$9.45 per lb. The price of aluminum and nickel fell slightly, while lead and zinc prices were flat.

BHP Billiton’s bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan was the big mining story of the week and made Potash Corp. the largest gainer by value. The company’s shares were up $41.05 to $157.06, signaling that investors believe a sweeter offer will arrive. BHP’s offer is for US$130 per share — a 20% premium to Potash Corp.’s closing price on Aug. 11, the day before BHP made its pitch.

And while the offer values Potash Corp. at about US$40 billion, making it the second-largest offer in Canadian history behind Rio Tinto’s US$43-billion acquisition of Alcan in 2007, Potash Corp.’s board rejected it unanimously.

Vista Gold shares jumped 33% to $2.04 after releasing a resource update as part of its prefeasibility study for its Mt. Todd gold project in Australia. The company managed to put 190.9 million tonnes into the measured and indicated category grading 0.84 gram gold for 5.13 million oz. gold. Operating costs for a future mine were estimated at US$507 per oz. over a mine life of 8.9 years. The mill is expected to turn out 187,500 oz. gold per year.

It was a busy period for Yukon-Nevada Gold with the company announcing second quarter results, closing a US$25-million financing and reporting drill results from its Ketza River gold project in the Yukon. The net affect of all the news was positive as the company’s shares finished 30% higher at 61¢. Drill highlights from Ketza River include 2.4 metres grading 20.8 grams gold and 3.2 metres of 12.2 grams gold. The company also reported that its troubled Jerritt Canyon gold mine in Nevada is almost back on track.

TSX most active issues
	VOLUME	WEEK
	(000s) HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Lundin Mng LUN	37294 4.14	3.72	4.12	+ 0.34
Eastern Platin ELR	29766 1.10	0.99	1.08	+ 0.10
KinrossGold K	2916916.44	15.34	16.21	+0.40
Great Basin Go GBG	25896 2.24	1.94	2.12	+ 0.20
Yukon-Nev Gold YNG	21945 0.65	0.45	0.61	+ 0.14
PotashCpSask POT	17101157.19	115.56	157.06	+41.05
Western Coal WTN	15640 3.96	3.70	3.80	-0.09
Teck B TCKB	14971 36.35	33.05	34.35	+ 0.80
Red Back Mng RBI	14455 28.72	26.84	28.40	+ 0.47
B2Gold BTO	13821 1.97	1.76	1.90	+ 0.15

TSX greatest percentage change
		VOLUME		WEEK
		(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
PotashCpSask	POT	17101213	157.06	+ 41.05
Royal Gold	RGL	16652	51.34	+ 3.71
Seabridge Gold	SEA	274942	29.58	+ 3.25
Allied Nevada	ANV	1700019	23.06	+ 2.76
Goldcorp	G	12127081	43.94	+ 2.61
Barrick Gold	ABX	10568363	46.90	+ 2.12
Coeur d Alene	CDM	94164	17.19	+ 2.02
Agrium	AGU	8503780	72.03	+ 1.96
Agnico-Eagle	AEM	3134104	66.23	+ 1.90
Newmont Mng	NMC	28673	60.81	+ 1.87
First Quantum	FM	2303164	56.15	-3.80
SouthGobi Res	SGQ	252698	10.81	-1.12
HoriznsGBear	HGD	2953250	11.94	-0.99
Imperial Metal	III	121993	15.75	-0.65
Crew Gold	CRU	168221	4.42	-0.28
PlatinumGpMt	PTM	2017897	1.86	-0.24
Virginia Mines	VGQ	66607	7.50	-0.24
Harry Winston	HW	837413	11.61	-0.19
Volta Res	VTR	8888819	1.40	-0.14
Capital Gold	CGC	118573	3.53	-0.13

TSX greatest value change
WEEK
		VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
PotashCpSask	POT	17101213	157.06	+ 41.05
Royal Gold	RGL	16652	51.34	+ 3.71
Seabridge Gold	SEA	274942	29.58	+ 3.25
Allied Nevada	ANV	1700019	23.06	+ 2.76
Goldcorp	G	12127081	43.94	+ 2.61
Barrick Gold	ABX	10568363	46.90	+ 2.12
Coeur d Alene	CDM	94164	17.19	+ 2.02
Agrium	AGU	8503780	72.03	+ 1.96
Agnico-Eagle	AEM	3134104	66.23	+ 1.90
Newmont Mng	NMC	28673	60.81	+ 1.87
First Quantum	FM	2303164	56.15	-3.80
SouthGobi Res	SGQ	252698	10.81	-1.12
HoriznsGBear	HGD	2953250	11.94	-0.99
Imperial Metal	III	121993	15.75	-0.65
Crew Gold	CRU	168221	4.42	-0.28
PlatinumGpMt	PTM	2017897	1.86	-0.24
Virginia Mines	VGQ	66607	7.50	-0.24
Harry Winston	HW	837413	11.61	-0.19
Volta Res < /td>	VTR	8888819	1.40	-0.14
Capital Gold	CGC	118573	3.53	-0.13