U.S. Markets – June 9-15

Although the main indexes in the United States retreated slightly during the June 9-15 reporting period, consumer confidence south of the border rose to its highest level in nine months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7%, or 152 points, to 8,764, while the S&P 500 dropped a similar 1.6%, or 15 points to 939.

Gold continued its retreat, on a downward slope since topping US$980 per oz. at the beginning of June. Over the seven-day stretch, gold fell from about US$955 per oz. to US$928 per oz. And in true fashion, investors traded in their gold shares in significant numbers.

That caused the major gold producers to dominate as the top losers by value over the period. Agnico-Eagle Mines fell US$5.56 to US$52.52, Randgold Resources slipped US$4.80 to US$66.05 per share, and Anglo-Gold Ashanti slid US$4.01 to US$35.79.

At the top of the winning side were fertilizer producers Agrium and Mosiac Co., which increased the most by value. Agrium rose by US$2.31 to US$48.20, while Mosaic’s share price was up US$1.36 to US$53.12.

Alcoa was a volume leader with 215.6 million shares changing hands. The company finalized the sale of its wire harness and electrical distribution business, which has operations in 13 countries and employs 17,500 people, to Platinum Equity for an undisclosed amount. The stock was up US44¢ over the reporting period to US$11.21.

Aluminum prices rallied about 10% over the last few weeks as a result of a large drop in U. S. production. Primary aluminum production fell 38% in May, and year-to-date output is down 31% from 2008. News from Japan helped the price a little, too. Stockpiles there decreased by 18% in May, the fastest pace in the last two years. Since the end of May, aluminum has risen as high as US74¢ per lb. from US62¢. It closed the week at US72¢ per lb.

On a percentage basis, Dominion Minerals shares gained the most, surging 325% to 85¢ apiece on no recent news. In a June letter to shareholders, the company mentioned plans to drill 10,000 metres at the Cerro Chorcha porphyry copper project in Panama, which it bought from Cuprum Resources in April. The company has plans to list on the TSX Venture Exchange in the third quarter.

U. S. most active issues
	VOLUME	WEEK
	(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Golden Eagle* MYNG354962	0.00	1.0E8	0.00	0.00
Alcoa* AA	216606	12.38	10.83	11.21	+ 0.44
Freeport McMo*FCX	89736	61.55	55.12	55.14	-1.34
Barrick Gold* ABX	49823	37.23	32.60	32.90	-3.66
Teck B* TCK	39949	19.08	16.70	17.18	-0.38
Vale* VALE	38752	21.27	18.93	19.24	-0.33
Goldcorp* GG	37269	36.99	33.42	33.71	-2.44
Massey Energy* MEE	34961	26.46	22.19	22.30	-0.80
Cliffs Nat Rs* CLF	34920	31.37	25.92	26.12	-2.25
Arch Coal* ACI	33401	19.86	17.07	17.32	-1.10

U. S. greatest percentage change
		VOLUME	WEEK
		(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Savant Expl	SVT	42	0.06	0.04	0.05	+400.0
Appleton Expl	AEX	24286	0.67	0.16	0.63	+250.0
Arcus Dev Grp	ADG	703	0.26	0.08	0.19	+216.6
Gold Summit	GSM	70	0.25	0.14	0.25	+127.2
Mesa Uran	MSA	122	0.19	0.12	0.16	+100.0
Red Pine Expl	RPX	15849	0.10	0.03	0.06	+100.0
Manson Creek	MCK	2044	0.13	0.03	0.06	+100.0
Alder Res	ALR	225	0.35	0.24	0.33	+ 94.1
Pebble Ck Mng	PEB	49	0.12	0.06	0.09	+ 80.0
Pac Casc Minls	PCV	37	0.09	0.07	0.09	+ 80.0
Star Uranium	SUV	12926	0.08	0.03	0.04	-50.0
Archangel Dia	AAD	97	0.12	0.07	0.07	-41.6
Roxgold	ROG	119	0.05	0.03	0.03	-40.0
Vanstar Mng Rs	VSR	39	0.13	0.13	0.13	-35.0
Newcastle Mnls	NCM	469	0.02	0.02	0.02	-33.3
IGC Res	IGC	41	0.10	0.09	0.10	-33.3
Sea Green Cap	SGS	20	0.03	0.02	0.02	-33.3
Nevgold Res	NDG	18	0.20	0.13	0.13	-31.5
Rambler Mg&Mtl	RAB	201	0.37	0.32	0.34	-30.6
Premium Expl	PEM	2489	0.27	0.17	0.19	-29.6

U. S. greatest value change
WEEK
	VOLUME	CLOSE	CHANGE
Agrium* AGU	3462800	48.20	+ 2.31
Mosaic* MOS	26819806	53.12	+ 1.36
Thompson Crk* TC	3664600	11.05	+ 1.31
Rio Tinto* RTP	5251068	191.26	+ 1.26
Foundatn Coal* FCL	8154922	29.20	+ 1.04
China Shen Zh* SHZ	451200	1.65	+ 1.00
Alpha Nat Res* ANR	19802686	27.55	+ 0.95
Dominion Mnls* DMNM	193378	0.85	+ 0.65
Soc Quim&M Ch*SQM	4244387	36.85	+ 0.65
Patriot Coal* PCX	5495900	8.92	+ 0.53
Agnico-Eagle* AEM	14866500	52.52	-5.56
Randgold Res* GOL D	6793983	66.05	-4.80
AngloGold Ash* AU	10995087	35.79	-4.01
Barrick Gold* ABX	49823365	32.90	-3.66
ASA (Bermuda)* ASA	171919	62.50	-3.40
Newmont Mng* NEM	31510060	41.58	-3.08
Cabot Corp* CBT	5479589	13.00	-3.08
Seabridge Gld* SA	1251994	25.46	-2.97
CoeurdAlene* CDE	11895527	11.18	-2.75
Goldcorp* GG	37268627	33.71	-2.44