THE PIGS MONDAY NIGHT MADNESS

THE PIG HAD A LOUSY DAY TODAY. A COUPLE OF THE PIGLETS ESCAPED FROM SCHOOL SO THE PIG HAD TO GO ROUND EM' UP GET EM'. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT CUT INTO THE PIGS ROUTINE AND HE WAS NOT PLEASED. WELL, TODAY WE SEE MORE VOLUME AND INTEREST IN THE GUL/MNL PLAY. THE PIG FINALLY RECEIVED SOME PERTINENT INFORMATION ON THIS SITUATION AND ITS RUMOURED HAPPENINGS. ALL THE PIG CAN SAY IS, "WOO HOO" ....HANG ON FOR THE RIDE PEOPLE.ONCE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER IT SHOULD BE A TEN BAGGER FROM THESE LEVELS.

A SLOW NIGHT IN THE SCAN DEPARTMENT...........ON WITH THE SHOW.

REM.V....BIG SCANNER OF THE NIGHT. RARE EARTHS EXPLORATION PLAY THAT'S BEEN HELD UP BY NATIVE GROUPS NEAR THEIR PROPERTY. BIG NUMBERS NONETHELESS IN SEVERAL AREAS. ACCUMULATION FOR SOME TIME, DECENT FLOAT, ETC. THE PIG THINKS IT COULD BE A NICE PUT AWAY FOR THE LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER WHEN RESULTS SHOULD BE KNOWN.

 

MPS.V..SOME GREAT NUMBERS FOR THE THIRD NIGHT IN A ROW AND OUT OF SIGHT ON A COUPLE. RUMOURS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THIS ONE. THE PIG LIKES THE NUMBERS, THE PROPERTIES AND THE SITUATION. DOUBLE TO TRIPLE WRITTEN ALL OVER THIS ONE IN THE MEDIUM TERM.

 

NCM.V...THIRD BIG PIG OF THE NIGHT. EXCELLENT NUMBERS ION SEVERAL AREAS AND 

SOME DECENT STORY LINES TOO. REASONABLE FLOAT AND PROPERTY OWNERSHIP. A BIT EARLY IN THE PLAY BUT ANPOTHER TUCK AWAY FOR SUMMER. DON'T CHASE IT BUT ITS GOT A MEDIUM TERM DOUBLE WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

  

Energy stocks take TSX lower

February 22, 2010

Malcolm Morrison

The Toronto stock market closed lower Monday, snapping a long string of gains as the market was weighed down by energy stocks even as oil closed above US$80 a barrel.
The S&P/TSX composite index lost 74.54 points to 11,634.75 as investors took a pause ahead of a big slate of economic data and earnings news this week.
The negative showing came after eight straight days of gains that sent the main index up more than five per cent on signs of a strengthening U.S. economy and higher commodity prices.
“(The market) certainly has a good tone despite all the problems out there that are going on in Greece and potentially other countries,” said Ian Nakamoto, director of research at MacDougall, MacDougall and MacTier, referring to the sovereign debt crisis that has unnerved investors in recent weeks.
“Earnings are doing very well here and I guess all the signs point to further earnings improvement.”
The Canadian dollar slipped 0.2 of a cent to 95.91 cents US.
The TSX energy sector was the leading decliner, losing 1.02 per cent as oil prices established a toehold above the US$80 a barrel mark. The March crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange, which expired Monday, gained 25 cents to US$80.16 a barrel. The more active April contract also rose 25 cents to US$80.31. EnCana Corp. (TSX:ECA) fell 92 cents to C$33.87.
Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU) said its production of synthetic crude oil and bitumen in February and March will be below the company’s Feb. 2 guidance due to repairs required at a fire-damaged upgrader. The upgrader is expected to be operational again in April. Suncor shares were down 38 cents at $31.55.
Investors also took in a major piece of dealmaking over the weekend in the energy sector. Schlumberger Ltd. is buying rival oilfield-services provider Smith International Inc. in a stock deal worth about US$11.34 billion. Smith shares climbed $3.33 to US$41.03 and Schlumberger shares declined $2.33 to US$61.57.
The April gold contract on the Nymex was $9 lower to US$1,113.10 an ounce and the gold sector moved down 1.05 per cent. Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) declined 93 cents to C$40.07.
The telecom sector lent support, up 0.27 per cent with Telus Corp. (TSX:T) ahead 32 cents to $33.82.
The base metals sector advanced 0.21 per cent, even as the March copper contract in New York dipped five cents to US$3.30 a pound. First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FM) gained $2.23 to C$81.15 while HudBay Minerals (TSX:HBM) gave back 22 cents to C$13.56.
Earnings and economic data will continue to provide traders with insight into the U.S. economy throughout the week.
In Canada, CIBC and National Bank will kick off the quarterly earnings reporting season for the big Canadian banks. Both banks issue quarterly reports on Thursday and analysts are looking for a positive quarter.
“I think capital markets should surprise on the upside,” Nakamoto said. “Loan losses I think, are contained (and) loan growth, primarily on the residential mortgage side, is probably pretty robust here.”
Ahead of those earnings, the TSX financial sector was down 0.52 per cent as Royal Bank (TSX:RY) lost 49 cents to $56.60 while Manulife Financial (TSX:MFC) trimmed 17 cents to $19.48.
In the United States, retailers are in focus this week. On Monday, home improvement retailer Lowe’s Cos. reported fourth-quarter profit rose 27 per cent. But its earnings forecast for the prime spring quarter was below analyst expectations and its shares were six cents lower at US$23.07.
Elsewhere in the sector, Canadian home renovations leader Rona Inc. (TSX:RON) is entering the specialized plumbing market in Quebec with the acquisition of distributor and retailer Plomberie Payette & Perreault Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Its shares were off 18 cents to $15.22.
An updated estimate on U.S. economic output for the fourth quarter is also scheduled for release this week. The gross domestic product report, due out Friday, is expected to show that the American economy grew at a pace of 5.6 per cent in the final three months of 2009.
An initial reading of GDP showed growth of 5.7 per cent.
Also, the latest reading on consumer confidence from the U.S. Conference Board will be released on Tuesday.
The TSX Venture Exchange moved down 3.43 points to 1,528.47.
New York’s Dow Jones industrials edged 18.97 points lower to 10,383.38. The Nasdaq composite index lost 1.84 points to 2,242.03 while the S&P 500 index closed down 1.16 points at 1,108.01.
Investors will also focus on testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday and Thursday.
Canadian transponder maker Sirit Inc. (TSX:SI) said it has received a higher takeover offer from Federal Signal Corp. (NYSE:FSS), which is now offering 43 cents per share cash _ up from the initial offer of 30 cents per share. The new offer values Sirit’s outstanding shares at about $69.3 million. Sirit shares rose 12.5 cents to 42.5 cents.

Most actively traded companies on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange markets

 

(CP) – 4 hours ago

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (11,634.75 down 74.54 points):
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (TSX:DPM). Miner. Down 16 cents, or 4.61 per cent, at $3.31 on 7,642,814 shares. The international miner's stock sank after announcing it would raise $66 million in a bought-deal financing with a syndicate of underwriters led by GMP Securities L.P. The deal includes an option to raise up to $75.9 million, with proceeds to be used for development and general corporate purposes.
Petrolifera Petroleum Ltd. (TSX:PDP). Oil and gas. Down 22 cents, or 18.8 per cent, at 95 cents on 5,682,528 shares after reporting technical problems with oil flow from its La Pinta 1X well in Colombia.
Sirit Inc. (TSX:SI). Technology. Up 12.5 cents, or 41.67 per cent, at 42.5 cents on 5,052,734 shares. The Canadian transponder maker has received an improved takeover offer from Federal Signal Corp. (NYSE:FSS), which is now offering 43 cents per share cash, up from the initial offer of 30 cents per share. The new offer values Sirit's outstanding shares at about $69.3 million.
Crew Gold Corp. (TSX:CRU). Miner. Up 6.5 cents, or 13.40 per cent, at 55 cents on 4,464,587 shares.
Chariot Resources Ltd. (TSX:CHD). Miner. Up 6.5 cents, or 13.40 per cent, at 55 cents on 4,464,587 shares.
Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Down 38 cents, or 1.19 per cent, at $31.55 on 4,017,249 shares. Suncor said it would miss production targets until its fire-damaged oilsands upgrader in Alberta is back in service in early April.
TSX Venture Exchange (1,528.47 down 3.43 points):
Canext Energy Ltd. (TSXV:CXZ). Oil and gas. Up half a cent, or 1.06 per cent, at 47.5 cents on 15,286,000 shares.
Ecometals Ltd. (TSXV:EC). Miner. Up 52 cents, or 86.67 per cent, at $1.12 on 6,046,082 shares after announcing a "significant" intersection of porphyry-epithermal style mineralization at its Rio Zarza Gold Project in Ecuador.
Companies reporting major news:
Open Text Corp. (TSX:OTC). Business software. Up 94 cents or 1.91 per cent at $50.15 on 133,174 shares. Open Tex offered to buy Montreal-based digital content manager Nstein Technologies Inc. (TSXV:EIN) for $35 million or 65 cents a share, a 91 per cent premium on Friday's closing price. Nstein shares soared 30 cents or 88.24 per cent to 64 cents on 1,804,987 shares.
Yellow Pages Income Fund (TSX:YLO.UN). Directory publisher. Down four cents, or 0.67 per cent, at $5.89 on 1,613,716 units. Yellow Pages Group purchased Clear Sky Media Inc. and the 411.ca brand for an undisclosed amount. Clear Sky is the owner of RedFlagDeals.com, PriceCanada.com and Scarlett Lounge.