Trading Summary (April 30, 2004)

Toronto stocks finally dipped a toe into the black on Friday gaining 12.04 points to reach 8,243.97. Still, the mining sector failed to end higher with the golds slipping 0.66 of a point to 186.72 and the diversified crowd ending 0.48 of a point lower at 195.35.

Earnings season continued with zinc miner Breakwater Resources posting first-quarter earnings of $2.2 million on revenue of $60.2 million, compared with a year-ago loss of $1.5 million on $52.9 million in revenue. The company’s shares ended unchanged at 43.

Etruscan Resources rose a dime to $1.95 after it said it lost $431,962 during the three months ended Feb. 29, compared with net income of $3.3 million during the year-ago period.

Shares in Semafo jumped 7, or 8%, to 93 after it reported preliminary results from the delineation drilling program on the Nyaf gold deposit on its Mana property in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Results are highlighted by 9 metres running 18.2 grams in hole 219. The drilling is in anticipation of a feasibility study of Nyaf and the neighbouring Wona deposit.

Others on the plus side were Cancor Mines, up a nickel, or 17%, to 35; Sterlite Gold rose 1.5, or 15%, to 11.5; Afriore ascended 8, or 14%, to 65; Nuinsco added nearly 14% to make 25; and Band-Ore Resources rose 4, or 13%, to 34.

Heading south were Corona Gold, off 7, or 16%, to 37; Manhattan Minerals, 3, or 16%, lower at 16; Birim Goldfields, 8, or 12.5%, cheaper at 56; and Afcan Mining, which slipped 3, or 10%, to 27.