Toronto Stock Exchange -July 21-27

The S&P/TSX composite index continued its climb back towards respectability over the July 20-27 reporting period, gaining roughly 200 points to finish at 10,757.43. That advance came alongside a surge in the Canadian dollar, which finished the period at US92.5¢.

The strength of the loonie, however, was read by many as a possible damper on Canada’s economic recovery, as it could derail growth in the manufacturing sector.

While the price of gold made slight gains, finishing the period at US$955 per oz., the Global Gold index failed to follow suit. It was down roughly 12 points to 308.42 with big names like Barrick Gold, Newmont Mining and Agnico-Eagle Mines all down slightly. The price of silver and platinum were also stronger for the period.

But higher prices weren’t limited to the precious metal sector. With the price of copper, aluminum, nickel, tin, lead and zinc all higher, the Capped Metals and Mining index trended upwards as well, finishing the period 30 points higher at 752.39.

Western Canadian Coal was the period’s most actively traded stock and managed a sizable 31% increase, finishing at $2.86 per share. That surge came as investors drove the company’s share price up and past the level secured in a recent bought-deal financing. On July 24, Western Canadian announced it had completed a $52.1-million bought deal in which it sold 19.3 million shares for $2.70 each. Net proceeds from the offering will be used to expand production at the company’s existing assets.

All it took was a little bit of love from one of Canada’s most esteemed gold investors and VG Gold’s share price shot through the roof. The stock rose 185% for the period to 37¢ after Lexam Explorations agreed to invest $3 million in the company. Lexam is 49.4%-owned by Robert McEwen of Goldcorp fame. Once closed, the deal will leave Lexam with 27% of VG Gold. VG Gold has four properties in Ontario’s Timmins gold camp.

PC Gold managed to gain some positive attention as well. The company’s shares climbed 37% to $1.08 apiece after announcing a private placement that saw it issue 4.6 million units at 53¢ apiece -enough to raise $2.4 million. PC Gold says the money will go towards exploration at its past-producing Pickle Crow gold property in northwestern Ontario.

Copper Mountain Mining also had astrong period, gaining 31% to finish at $1.47. The surge came ahead of news on July 28 that the company will release an updated and optimized technical report on its past-producing Similco copper project, in southern British Columbia, in August. The company says the update of last year’s feasibility study will include higher copper production in the initial years and a longer mine life.

TSX most active issues
	VOLUME		WEEK
	(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Western C Coal WTN	62019	3.07	2.02	2.86	+ 0.68
TeckB TCKB	54249	27.18	23.21	26.28	+1.96
Grande Cache C GCE	42261	3.17	2.16	2.96	+ 0.69
Mercator Mnls ML	39307	1.99	1.49	1.91	+ 0.39
Equinox Minls EQN	31157	2.91	2.51	2.81	+ 0.11
Rockwell Diam RDI	24688	0.05	0.04	0.05	+ 0.01
Anvil Mining AVM	23092	2.45	1.56	2.13	+ 0.36
Eastern Platin ELR	21859	0.54	0.47	0.53	+ 0.05
Uranium One UUU	19309	3.09	2.72	3.09	+ 0.33
Yamana Gold YRI	18958	10.94	9.92	9.98	-0.90

TSX greatest percentage change
		VOLUME		WEEK
		(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
VG Gold	VG	8053	0.41	0.13	0.37	+184.6
Linear Metals	LRM	2450	0.14	0.05	0.12	+100.0
Colombia Goldf	GOL	10011	0.19	0.08	0.17	+ 88.8
Goldstake Exp	GXP	888	0.03	0.02	0.03	+ 50.0
PC Gold	PKL	1009	1.10	0.76	1.08	+ 36.7
Wallbridge Mng	WM	4898	0.13	0.10	0.12	+ 33.3
Zaruma Res	ZMR	259	0.05	0.04	0.04	+ 33.3
Coro Mining	COP	746	0.25	0.18	0.25	+ 31.5
Copper Mtn Mng	CUM	1387	1.47	1.14	1.47	+ 31.2
Western C Coal	WTN	62019	3.07	2.02	2.86	+ 31.1
Yorbeau Res A	YRBA	162	0.12	0.11	0.11	-21.4
Fletcher Nicke	FL	124	0.05	0.04	0.04	-20.0
Dejour Enterp	DEJ	314	0.32	0.25	0.26	-18.7
Erdene Res Dev	ERD	554	0.25	0.20	0.20	-16.6
Energy Fuels	EFR	1239	0.38	0.31	0.31	-16.2
Acadian Mng	ADA	817	0.07	0.05	0.06	-14.2
Longview Cap	LV	226	0.06	0.05	0.06	-14.2
South Am Silvr	SAC	194	0.42	0.37	0.39	-13.3
Excellon Res	EXN	1318	0.39	0.34	0.34	-12.8
Rubicon Mnrls	RMX	3256	3.41	2.93	2.94	-12.7

TSX greatest value change
WEEK
		VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
Agrium	AGU	5086576	47.80	+ 2.50
Quadra Mng	QUA	12000967	10.66	+ 2.28
Teck B	TCKB	54248806	26.28	+ 1.96
Teck A	TCKA	32835	27.50	+ 1.86
PotashCpSask	POT	6020536	102.95	+ 1.59
Russell Metals	RUS	1615538	17.00	+ 1.57
Labdr I-Ore Ro	LIF_U	563866	37.07	+ 1.43
Major Dr illing	MDI	529870	22.68	+ 1.42
Thompson Creek	TCM	7294164	15.45	+ 1.41
Sherritt Intl	S	18536731	6.35	+ 1.11
Agnico-Eagle	AEM	2254820	61.59	-2.40
IShCOMEXGTr	IGT	23475	101.51	-1.83
Newmont Mng	NMC	18919	44.89	-1.65
Barrick Gold	ABX	11259972	37.80	-1.60
First Quantum	FM	3241884	68.16	-1.48
Franco-Nevada	FNV	2220023	26.55	-1.33
CentralGold-T	GTU_U	14204	40.62	-1.23
Alamos Gold	AGI	1978922	9.27	-1.12
Yamana Gold	YRI	18958120	9.98	-0.90
Horizns G Bull	HGU	10698281	11.06	-0.87