TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE JUNE 17-23

The TSX Composite Index fell 1.6% over the June 17-23 trading period, down 252.46 points to 14,691.82.

The Capped Metals and Mining Index dropped 1.5% or about 13 points to 849.93 as weak prices for metals like lead, zinc and nickel continued, finishing the period at US83 US86 and US$10.09 per lb., respectively.

Gold, on the other hand, edged its way back up over the US$900 level, but closed at US$881 per oz., down US$7.25 per oz. over the period. The Global Gold Index still gained some ground, up 7.78 points to close at 321.17 points.

Western Canadian Coal was the most actively traded stock over the period with 26.2 million shares changing hands, boosting shares $2.70 to $10.80 each. The company, which has more than recovered from near bankruptcy last fall (shares sank as low as 47 apiece) thanks to the tripling of coking coal prices, revealed that it has received several non-binding proposals for all or part of the company.

Zinc producer Breakwater Resources was the second most actively traded stock with a volume of nearly 25 million shares. Breakwater shares fell 5 to 43 each. In early June, the company, along with subsidiary CanZinco, launched a counter lawsuit against Blue Note Mining. The lawsuit is related to the enforcement of an alleged 10% net profit interest for the Caribou Mine claimed by Fern Trust. Breakwater and Can- Zinco owned the mine before Blue Note, which disagrees with the validity of the royalty terms.

Yamana Gold stock gained 76 over the period to close at $15.10 apiece on 22.8 million shares traded. Yamana reported that it sees potential for expanding the size of its Gualcamayo project, in Argentina, which is expected to produce more than 300,000 oz. gold per year by 2010.

Sulliden Exploration shares rose 43.3% to $1.19 on a trading volume of 4.5 million shares, reaching a new 52-week high of $1.45 on no news. In late May, Venture-listed Cen- tury Mining ended its battle with Sulliden for the long-contested Shahuindo gold property, in Peru, by terminating its interest in the Peruvian company Algamarca, which claims to have ownership of Shahuindo.

Thundermin Resources’ shares fell nearly 42% over the period despite some strong drill results from its 50%-owned Little Deer copper property in Newfoundland, which it holds with joint-venture partner Cornerstone Capital Resources. Altius Minerals saw a major value drop over the period, sinking to a new 52-week low of $6.31 per share. Altius shares recovered somewhat, but still fell about 39% overall, or $4.81, to close the session at $7.54 per share. Altius and Norvista Resources have agreed to work together on the Kamistiatusset iron ore project, in Labrador, including the listing of a new iron ore company on the TSX.