U.S. Markets March 14-20

Positive sentiment took over in the U.S. stock markets during the reporting period March 14-20. The main stock indexes all rose, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index’s gain of 20.95 points to 1,305.08 — or, 1.6% of value — typical of the general trend. This time, generally favourable news in the broader economy meant the resource stocks followed the rest of the market.

Inflation figures were reassuring, with the Consumer Price Index rising 0.1% in February (and an annualized 3.6%), and Federal Reserve “beige book” estimates showing both steady growth and low inflation. Added to that, crude oil prices eased.

Base metal prices were mostly firmer, with copper up US$229 to US$5,175.50 per tonne, and the base metal producers all had a good week on the stock market. Rio Tinto gained US$8.35 to finish at US$192.10, BHP Billiton added US$1.41 to finish at US$36.32, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce picked up US$1.58 to finish at US$44.90, and over on the NASDAQ Anglo American was US$1.03 higher at US$18.14.

The copper producers were among the strongest gainers, with Phelps Dodge up US$7.52 at US$74.96, Southern Peru Copper up US$3.02 to US$82.78, and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold up US$2.86 at US$52.63.

Sentiment was positive in the golds, but not like the enthusiasm in the base metal sector. Newmont Mining was US44 better at US$49.22, Gold Fields was better by half a buck at US$19.76, and AngloGold Ashanti was US$1.07 higher at US$49.60. In the middle tier, several stocks lost ground: Coeur d’Alene Mines was off US16 at US$5.69, with about 29 million shares changing hands. Lihir Gold fell US$1.21 to US$32.91, and Randgold Resources fell US50 to US$16.29. Royalty specialist Royal Gold slid US52 to US$28.35.

Most energy related stocks saw losses. Kerr McGee fell US$1.92 to US$93.92, Peabody Energy was down US78 at US$46.00, and Arch Coal backed up US$3.82 to US$69.78.

U.S. greatest percentage change

		VOLUME(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
CanAlaska Ven*	CVVLF	1238	0.59	0.371	0.54	+31.7
Uranium Res*	URIX	10463	1.86	1.41	1.685	+20.3
Shoshone Silv*	SHSH	176	0.26	0.20	0.24	+20.0
Alberta Star *	ASXSF	758	1.625	1.31	1.60	+18.5
Peru Copper*	CUP	1046	3.13	2.61	3.13	+16.3
Cardero Res*	CDY	288	3.30	2.75	3.21	+15.0
Regalito Copp*	RLO	1878	5.90	5.86	5.88	+14.6
Lafayette Mng*	LYMGF	188	0.09	0.07	0.08	+14.2
Crested Corp*	CBAG	36	2.97	2.64	2.97	+12.9
World Vent*	WVNTF	532	0.45	0.374	0.45	+12.5
Peru Copper w*	CUP.WS	42	0.56	0.56	0.56	-42.8
UNICO Inc*	UNCN	1039568	0.005	0.002	0.002	-33.3
Great China M*	GCHA	945	0.17	0.13	0.14	-26.3
Savoy Res*	SVYR	502	0.06	0.051	0.052	-20.0
Campbell Res*	CBLRF	1730	0.175	0.012	0.147	-17.8
Goldspring*	GSPG	73329	0.021	0.015	0.016	-15.7
Douglas Lk Ml*	DLKM	88	2.95	2.45	2.45	-12.5
Trend Mng*	TRDM	376	0.17	0.14	0.15	-11.7
Colombia Gldf*	CGDF	313	2.07	1.65	1.84	-11.1
Golden Eagle*	MYNG	7319	0.029	0.024	0.025	-10.7

U.S. greatest value change

		VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
Rio Tinto*	RTP	1049300	192.10	+8.35
Phelps Dodge*	PD	18697400	74.96	+7.52
Cleveland-Cli*	CLF	2520000	90.29	+6.49
Soc Quim&M Ch*	SQM	140200	118.75	+4.00
Southern Peru*	PCU	3119300	82.78	+3.02
Freeport McMo*	FCX	11090300	52.63	+2.86
ASA (Bermuda)*	ASA	217300	59.24	+1.74
BHP Billi-BBL*	BBL	111400	34.37	+1.68
Agnico-Eagle*	AEM	5746200	25.88	+1.61
CVRD*	RIO	11236100	44.90	+1.58
Arch Coal*	ACI	6337200	69.78	-3.82
Kerr McGee*	KMG	5270400	93.92	-1.92
Cameco Corp*	CCJ	6112700	34.41	-1.28
Fording C C T*	FDG	3285800	40.39	-1.23
Lihir Gold*	LIHRY	263142	32.91	-1.21
Peabody Enrgy*	BTU	8651400	46.00	-0.78
Yanzhou Coal*	YZC	122700	40.35	-0.65
Royal Gold*	RGLD	2565030	28.35	-0.52
Randgold Res*	GOLD	1579763	16.29	-0.50
FNX Mining*	FNX	122900	11.01	-0.49

U.S. most active issues

		VOLUME(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
UNICO Inc*	UNCN	1039568	0.005	0.002	0.002	-0.001
Goldspring*	GSPG	73329	0.021	0.015	0.016	-0.003
Coeur d Alene*	CDE	28824	6.06	5.54	5.69	-0.16
Silverado*	SLGLF	27485	0.135	0.103	0.122	+0.012
Newmont Mng*	NEM	23681	50.60	48.66	49.22	+0.44
Phelps Dodge*	PD	18697	76.79	68.10	74.96	+7.52
Alcoa*	AA	17684	30.54	29.12	29.80	+0.71
Barrick Gold*	ABX	15248	27.13	25.89	26.57	+0.27
CVRD*	RIO	11236	45.79	42.85	44.90	+1.58
Freeport McMo*	FCX	11090	54.38	49.95	52.63	+2.86