TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE -November 15-19

With investor mood dampened by concerns over China’s tightening fiscal policy and Europe’s woes with Ireland and Iceland, the Toronto Stock Exchange closed the Nov. 15-19 week higher, led by the financial sector.

The TSX composite index rose 206.09 points, or 1.6%, to 12,956.33, as banks advanced on prospects of earnings growth. Commodity prices softened as China ordered lenders to lock up more of their money with the Central Bank, stepping up efforts to pull excess cash out of the economy to combat inflation, which hit a 2-year high in October. Investors are concerned China’s move to slow inflation will stifle global economic growth.

While the spot price for copper declined 9¢ to finish at US$3.82 per lb., the Capped Metals & Mining index tacked on 32.84 points to close up 2.6% at 1,312.86. Gold was off US$13.20 an oz., or 1%, ending at US$1,352.30. The Global Gold index followed suite, slipping 0.8% to 412.64 points.

Shares in Ventana Gold rocketed to $13.59, up $3.43, after the EBX Group, owned by Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista, made an unsolicited $1.2-billion cash offer worth $12.63 per share. Ventana is a Vancouverbased exploration company with mineral rights to 46 sq. km of ground in northeastern Colombia. The company’s flagship La Bodega gold-silver discovery hosts 3.5 million oz. gold, 19.2 million oz. silver and 85 million lbs. copper, based on an inferred resource of 27.8 million tonnes grading 3.9 grams gold, 21.5 grams silver and 0.14% copper. EBX already owns 20% of Ventana.

Vancouver-based Western Coal jumped $3.49 to $10.76 on news of a potential merger with Walter Energy, a Florida-based coal producer. The proposal, subject to a two-week due diligence period and a definitive agreement, calls for Western shareholders to receive a mixture of cash and Walter shares valued at $11.50 per Western share.

Grande Cache Coal, an Alberta producer of metallurgical coal for the steel industry, closed up $1.11 at $9.08, while Cline Mining, a junior that is preparing to restart the New Elk coal mine in Colorado, tacked on 67¢ at $3.14. Cline recently closed a $57.6-million equity offering priced at $1.95 per share.

Farallon Mining, one of the most active stocks, jumped 13¢ to 78¢, after agreeing to a friendly $409-million takeover bid by Belgium-based Nyrstar. The 80¢-per-share cash offer represents a 32% premium to a 20-day average trading price.

Anatolia Minerals Development was down 86¢ at $7.44 after warning the market its scheduled first gold pour from the Copler gold mine in Turkey may be postponed until early in the New Year due to unforeseen delays in building critical path items. In order to ensure the company has sufficient liquidity on hand, it entered into a $25-million, three-year credit facility with Standard Bank.

TSX most active issues
	VOLUME		WEEK
	(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Farallon Res FAN	104239	0.79	0.78	0.78	+ 0.13
Western Coal WTN	59995	11.05	6.79	10.76	+ 3.49
Ventana Gold VEN	31805	14.13	9.93	13.59	+ 3.43
Eastern Platin ELR	30491	1.95	1.66	1.80	-0.08
Uranium One UUU	26684	4.98	4.47	4.78	-0.01
Cline Mng CMK	25992	3.17	2.19	3.14	+ 0.67
Grande Cache C GCE	17633	9.50	7.38	9.08	+ 1.11
KinrossGold K	16031	18.58	17.66	18.23	-0.23
Lundin Mng LUN	15987	6.83	6.22	6.75	+ 0.07
Equinox Minls EQN	15822	5.92	5.32	5.89	+ 0.09

TSX greatest percentage change
		VOLUME		WEEK
		(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Revett Mnls	RVM	2126	4.25	0.60	4.14	+ 590.0
TriAusMin	TOR	2198	0.16	0.09	0.15	+ 66.6
Polo Res	POL	19	0.11	0.10	0.11	+ 57.1
Mawson Res	MAW	1241	1.56	0.95	1.56	+ 48.5
Western Coal	WTN	59995	11.05	6.79	10.76	+ 48.0
Starcore Int V	SAM	1466	0.11	0.09	0.10	+ 42.8
Ventana Gold	VEN	31805	14.13	9.93	13.59	+ 33.7
Candente Coppr	DNT	2736	0.98	0.76	0.98	+ 30.6
Cline Mng	CMK	25992	3.17	2.19	3.14	+ 27.1
Crosshair E&Mg	CXX	8770	0.39	0.24	0.34	+ 25.9
Khan Res	KRI	1984	0.45	0.35	0.41	-19.6
Africo Res	ARL	107	0.92	0.83	0.83	-16.1
Alexis Minls	AMC	12785	0.21	0.17	0.17	-15.0
Rockgate Cap	RGT	1240	1.39	1.10	1.20	-14.2
Bannerman Res	BAN	1765	0.67	0.55	0.58	-13.4
South Am Silvr	SAC	3160	2.05	1.53	1.65	-11.7
PC Gold	PKL	1013	0.77	0.66	0.68	-11.6
Powertech Uran	PWE	474	0.45	0.36	0.38	-11.6
Revolution Res	RV	639	0.44	0.38	0.38	-11.6
Katanga Mng	KAT	2994	1.45	1.18	1.25	-10.7

TSX greatest value change
WEEK
		VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
Revett Mnls	RVM	2126047	4.14	+ 3.54
Western Coal	WTN	59995409	10.76	+ 3.49
Ventana Gold	VEN	31804735	13.59	+ 3.43
Labdr I-Ore Ro	LIF_U	235670	64.50	+ 3.23
PotashCpSask	POT	4803669	142.83	+ 1.46
Teck B	TCKB	12864660	50.93	+ 1.32
Teck A	TCKA	10559	51.11	+ 1.31
Franco-Nevada	FNV	1576314	33.75	+ 1.25
Labdr Iron Mns	LIM	1037718	8.07	+ 1.21
First Quantum	FM	1989790	91.10	+ 1.19
Detour Gold	DGC	2004486	29.86	-2.62
Centerra Gold	CG	3546277	16.50	-1.13
Newmont Mng	NMC	14614	61.28	-0.91
Royal Gold	RGL	10855	51.50	-0.90
Agnico-Eagle	AEM	2622412	79.66	-0.89
Europn Goldfld	EGU	2315937	14.13	-0.87
Anatolia Minls	ANO	1811019	7.44	-0.86
Tahoe Res	THO	926106	10.17	-0.76
Marklnd AGF PM	MPM	13000	14.26	-0.75
Allied Nevada	ANV	1064779	26.99	-0.66