Toronto Stock Exchange -Dec. 15-17

The S&P/TSX composite index slid 72.63 points over the Dec. 15-17 trading period (shortened on account of The Northern Miner’s holiday production schedule).

Closing at 11,473.06 on Dec. 17, the index was responding to a stronger U.S. dollar that weakened the price of gold, oil and copper. On top of that, unexpected news about unemployment claims in the U.S., Canada’s largest trading partner, sent equities down on fears that the recovery south of the border may take even longer.

The biggest losers by value over the trading period were Agnico-Eagle Mines, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan and Newmont Mining. Agnico-Eagle dropped $6.28 to $57.65, Potash Corp. fell $4.33 to $119.20 and Newmont was down $3.56 to $51.05.

The gains over the period were of a lesser magnitude. SouthGobi Energy Resources shares were up $1.64 to $17.46 apiece. The company announced that it had agreed to divest its 85% interest in the Mamahak coal project in Indonesia to Australian-listed Kangaroo Resources for US$1 million, plus 50 million Kangaroo shares.

Other top gainers by value over the period were Quadra Mining, up 74¢ to $14.21, and Guyana Goldfields, up 65¢ to $7.90 per share on no news.

The volume leader over the trading period was Eastern Platinum, rising 2¢ to 91¢ on a volume of 30.7 million shares. The company is the sixth-largest platinum producer in South Africa.

Western Coal saw 20.2 million shares change hands over the period. Shares were up 14¢ to $3.23. The company announced that it will subscribe for 58.2 million Energybuild Group shares at 15 pence apiece on London’s AIM exchange. About 29.8 million of the shares were from the conversion of 4.5 million in loans that Western Coal had lent to Energybuild. When the financing is complete, Western will hold a 54.7% interest in the company.

Eldorado Gold was also a volume leader with 13.1 million shares traded. The stock was down 64¢ to $13.78 apiece. Eldorado has now closed its acquisition of Sino Gold, a $2-billion friendly deal first made in late summer that will see Eldorado’s gold production climb to 550,000 oz. this year.

Looking at percentage change, Volta Resources shares made a significant leap upwards, rising 72.5% to 69¢ apiece. It was the first set of drill results from the company’s newly acquired Kiaka project in Burkina Faso that caught investors’ attention. Volta bought the project from Randgold Resources in November and started a 22,000-metre drill program immediately. Highlights include 36 metres grading 1.66 grams gold per tonne, including 21 metres grading 3.1 grams gold. Kiaka will be Volta’s new priority and the results helped the company justify the decision to move forward so aggressively on the project.

TSX most active issues
	VOLUME		WEEK
	(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Eastern Platin ELR	30706	0.99	0.91	0.91	-0.02
Western C Coal WTN	20248	3.39	2.94	3.23	+ 0.14
Homeland Enrgy HEG	18698	0.10	0.06	0.09	+ 0.04
Eldorado Gold ELD	13138	14.68	13.66	13.78	-0.64
New Gold NGD	13044	3.94	3.66	3.69	-0.15
Kinross Gold K	12884	20.37	19.08	19.08	-1.25
Yamana Gold YRI	11815	13.08	12.11	12.11	-0.81
Caledonia Mng CAL	11456	0.06	0.05	0.06	0.00
Farallon Res FAN	11430	0.57	0.49	0.53	+ 0.03
Barrick Gold ABX	11203	42.72	40.95	41.05	-1.17

TSX greatest percentage change
		VOLUME		WEEK
		(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Copper Mesa	CUX	7743	0.08	0.04	0.05	+150.0
Homeland Enrgy	HEG	18698	0.10	0.06	0.09	+ 80.0
Volta Res	VTR	5356	0.75	0.40	0.69	+ 72.5
Zazu Metals	ZAZ	601	0.22	0.17	0.20	+ 25.0
BRC DiamondCr	BCD	161	0.18	0.12	0.15	+ 25.0
AvalonRareMt	AVL	2044	2.98	2.36	2.74	+ 16.1
Armistice Res	AZ	55	0.22	0.19	0.22	+ 15.7
Yukon-Nev Gold	YNG	3905	0.24	0.19	0.22	+ 15.7
Olympus Pacif	OYM	391	0.31	0.27	0.31	+ 14.8
Northland Res	NAU	11	1.46	1.29	1.43	+ 14.4
Dejour Enterp	DEJ	800	0.45	0.30	0.30	-31.8
Bannerman Res	BAN	583	0.76	0.59	0.61	-28.2
Coalcorp Mng	CCJ	4528	0.46	0.30	0.35	-22.2
Golden Peaks	GL	79	0.86	0.70	0.70	-21.3
Canarc Res	CCM	512	0.14	0.11	0.12	-20.0
Anaconda Mng	ANX	446	0.20	0.15	0.17	-19.0
Forsys Metals	FSY	988	4.68	3.90	3.93	-16.9
X-Cal Res	XCL	122	0.20	0.17	0.17	-15.0
Malaga	MLG	71	0.17	0.14	0.14	-12.5
Diamond Fields	DFI	24	0.07	0.07	0.07	-12.5

TSX greatest value change
WEEK
		VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
SouthGobi Engy	SGQ	54934	17.64	+ 1.64
Quadra Mng	QUA	2351539	14.21	+ 0.74
Guyana Gldflds	GUY	999722	7.90	+ 0.65
Golden Mnls	AUM	14250	7.75	+ 0.65
Exeter Res	XRC	1449820	7.48	+ 0.63
Alamos Gold	AGI	3487571	12.95	+ 0.55
FNX Mining	FNX	3603184	11.04	+ 0.49
Russell Metals	RUS	1307835	17.28	+ 0.47
HoriznsGBear	HGD	7724397	4.70	+ 0.42
Sherritt Intl	S	3414412	6.34	+ 0.42
Agnico-Eagle	AEM	3354334	57.65	-6.28
PotashCpSask	POT	2993655	119.20	-4.33
Newmont Mng	NMC	32878	51.05	-3.56
Seabridge Gold	SEA	103301	23.75	-2.93
Goldcorp	G	8820602	40.00	-2.39
Agrium	AGU	2288800	63.89	-1.84
IShCOMEXGTr	IGT	10411	115.00	-1.82
Silver Std Res	SSO	377564	22.50	-1.80
IAMGold Corp	IMG	9094098	16.21	-1.79
Pan Am Silver	PAA	1246191	25.06	-1.62