U.S. MARKETS -March 30 -Aril 5

Stock markets in the United States inched upwards over the March 31-April 5 trading period. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4%, or 44.59 points, to close at 10,952.01 points, while the S&P 500 index gained 1.1%, or 12.92 points, finishing the period at 1,186.19 points. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq closed 0.6% higher, rising 14.59 points, at 2,425.28.

In the news, top U.S. coal miner Peabody Energy has sweetened its bid for a controlling interest in Australia’s Macarthur Coal to A$14 per share, or A$3.6 billion, from A$13 per share.

Peabody is trying to stop Macarthur’s plan to take over smaller rival Gloucester Coal. The Macarthur-Gloucester deal would give Hong Kong-based commodities firm Noble Group a 24.6% stake in Macarthur for a much lower price. Macarthur, which is the world’s biggest exporter of pulverized coal, says it’s considering Peabody’s offer but told shareholders to hold their shares for the time being. Peabody was one of the most actively traded shares over the period with 25.5 million shares changing hands, causing the share prices to slip US5¢ to US$46.02 per share.

The other most actively traded stocks south of the border were Alcoa with a trading volume of 109.9 million shares pushing the stock up US29¢ to US$14.73; Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold shares rose US$4.45 to US$87.33 apiece on a trading volume of 46.9 million shares; and Hecla Mining shares were up US48¢ to US$5.90 on a trading volume of 33.9 million shares.

Alcoa reported that it expects to record US$260 million in first quarter charges related to the permanent closures of its Eastalco smelter in Frederick, Md., and its smelter in Badin, N.C., and smaller parts of existing facilities as well as a non-cash charge as a result of the United States’ new health care law.

Rio Tinto shares increased the most by value over the period, rising US$7.38 to US$246.22. Next was Lihir Gold, up US$7.38 per share to $36.08 -an increase of 25.7%.

Lihir has rejected a takeover offer from Newcrest Mining that values the company at A$9.2 billion. Lihir management say they see the value of the two companies merging but the offer does not give a significant enough premium.

U.S. most active issues
	VOLUME	WEEK
	(000s) HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Alcoa* AA	109897 14.81	14.22	14.73	+ 0.29
Freeport McMo*FCX	46877 87.87	83.01	87.33	+ 4.45
Silverado* SLGLF	45751 0.01	0.01	0.01	0.00
Hecla Mining* HL	33857 5.92	5.35	5.90	+ 0.48
CONSOL Engy* CNX	33327 45.33	41.81	45.27	+ 2.61
Goldcorp* GG	32526 39.28	36.63	38.75	+ 1.24
Barrick Gold* ABX	30781 39.90	37.41	39.65	+ 1.84
Newmont Mng* NEM	25681 53.98	50.29	53.81	+ 3.44
Peabody Enrgy* BTU	25491 46.65	44.94	46.02	-0.05
Potash C Sask* POT	23270 121.91	114.91	115.71	-4.82

U.S. greatest percentage change
		VOLUME	WEEK
		(000s) HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
El Capitan Pr*	ECPN	4115 0.76	0.20	0.60	+215.7
Crystallex In*	KRY	5832 0.49	0.31	0.48	+ 45.4
America West*	AWSR	52 0.14	0.12	0.14	+ 27.2
Lihir Gold*	LIHR	5459 36.76	27.79	36.08	+ 25.7
Tombstone Exp*	TMBXF	313 0.11	0.09	0.11	+ 22.2
North Am En P*	NOA	350 10.53	8.73	10.29	+ 18.9
Metalline Mng*	MMG	647 1.22	0.95	1.19	+ 16.6
PlatinumGpM*	PLG	118 2.15	1.83	2.13	+ 16.3
Oromin Expl*	OLEPF	302 0.79	0.57	0.73	+ 15.8
Intl Tower Hi*	THM	404 6.80	5.75	6.71	+ 15.0
Aurelio Res*	AULO	395 0.01	0.01	0.01	-50.0
SinoCoking Cl*	SCOK	141 33.50	25.17	26.83	-19.8
Cream Mnrls*	CRMXF	50 0.11	0.09	0.09	-18.1
New Jersey Mg*	NJMC	35 0.28	0.25	0.25	-13.7
Bullion Monar*	BULM	94 0.76	0.70	0.71	-10.1
DouglasLkMl*	DLKM	262 0.24	0.21	0.21	-8.7
Patriot Gold*	PGOL	94 0.35	0.28	0.28	-6.6
Affinity Gold*	AFYG	458 0.34	0.26	0.29	-6.4
Midway Gold*	MDW	71 0.65	0.59	0.62	-4.6
Potash C Sask*	POT	23270121.91	114.91	115.71	-4.0

U.S. greatest value change
WEEK
	VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
Rio Tinto* RTP	2446165	246.22	+ 10.62
Lihir Gold* LIHR	5458622	36.08	+ 7.38
Randgold Res* GOLD	3148602	80.62	+ 6.01
Freeport McMo* FCX	46877060	87.33	+ 4.45
Royal Gold* RGLD	2640749	50.08	+ 3.94
ASA (Bermuda)* ASA	110496	77.92	+ 3.87
Teck B* TCK	18281183	46.05	+ 3.73
Newmont Mng* NEM	25680546	53.81	+ 3.44
CONSOL Energy* CNX	33326873	45.27	+ 2.61
Alpha Nat Res* ANR	13655735	53.09	+ 2.47
SinoCoking Cl* SCOK	141257	26.83	-6.66
Potash C Sask* POT	23270204	115.71	-4.82
Mosaic* MOS	22829290	57.99	-2.23
Natural Rs Pt* NRP	1533300	25.24	-0.69
Cameco Corp* CCJ	9181223	27.07	-0.29
Bullion Monar* BULM	94225	0.71	-0.08
Peabody Enrgy* BTU	25491166	46.02	-0. 05
New Jersey Mg* NJMC	34700	0.25	-0.04
Midway Gold* MDW	70700	0.62	-0.03
Legend Intl H* LGDI	387555	1.12	-0.03