Avion Resources tabled an updated resource for its Segala and Tabakoto gold projects in Mali. The Segala zone hosts an open pit measured and indicated resource of 4.1 million tonnes grading 3.3 grams gold per tonne and an inferred resource of 2.5 million tonnes running 3.52 grams gold per tonne. The underground resources came in at nearly 2.7 million grading 3.73 grams gold per tonne in the measured and indicated camp, while the inferred section hit nearly 3.4 million tonnes grading 3.68 grams gold per tonne. Avion ended the day up C$0.35 at C$0.38.

One time highflying Katanga Mining reported a first quarter loss of US$52 million, or US$0.25 per share compared to a loss of US$17.4 million or US$0.10 per share in the same quarter last year. The company sold US$47 million of copper cathode, cobalt and cobalt concentrate from its Democratic Republic of Congo operation in the quarter. Katanga ended the session down C$0.02 at C$0.83.

It was a rough day for shareholders of Cardero Resource (AMEX:CDY). The company announced that a subsidiary of Nanjinzhao Group Co. Ltd. has declined to pay a US$10 million deposit due May 17 to purchase the Pampa de Pongo iron property in Peru. The US$200 million price tag is currently being negotiated. Cardero ended the day down C$0.32 at C$1.02.

Grayd Resource tagged a nice hole on its La India project in Mexico. The hole returned 89.9 metres grading 4.26 grams gold per tonne. Grayd ended the day up C$0.10 at C$0.45.

Despite more weak housing data out of the United States, investors continued to gobble up equities. We shall see what Wednesday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup:Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (NYSE:POT) tabled first quarter earnings of $308.3 million or $1.02 per share down from the $566 million or $1.74 per share tallied in the first quarter of 2008. Prices for potash actually rose during the quarter but demand fell by 86 per cent. Potash ended the day down C$2.91 at C$97.49.

Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU) reported a first quarter loss of C$189 million or C$0.20 per share with output hitting 278,000 barrels per day during the first three months of the year. The second-largest oil sands producer, which is in the midst of a merger with Petro Canada (NYSE:PCZ), added C$0.86 on the day to close at C$30.33.

Fortress Minerals came out with an inferred resource of 5.975 million tonnes grading 2.43 grams gold per tonne at its Amy prospect on the Svetloye gold project in the Russian Far East. Fortress ended the day up C$0.075 at C$0.315.

Upstart gold miner Avion Resources produced 6,211 ounces of gold during the six weeks since beginning production in Mali. The cash cost per ounce of gold for the year is currently projected to be $505 per ounce. Avion ended the session up C$0.005 at C$0.30.

Shares of Chariot Resources added C$0.005 to close at C$0.295 after the company reported a positive feasibility study for the Mina Justa project located on its 70-per-cent-owned Marcona copper property in Peru. Using $2 per pound for copper, the pretax net present value comes in at $616.2 million at a discount rate of 8 per cent. The internal rate of return is 19.9 per cent and the cash operating cost over the life of the mine is $0.885 per pound of payable copper.

A stock to watch is beaten-down nickel player Belvedere Resources. Shares in the company were halted pending news at C$0.12.

The market is defying all the economic data and without verification that the earnings picture will improve, a selloff is in the cards at some point. We shall see what Friday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup: Friday, April 24th, 2009

Avion Resources and Dynamite Resources are the latest wedding candidates with Avion proposing 0.75 of an Avion share for each Dynamite share. The move would consolidate ownership of the Tabakoto-Segala gold mine in Mali. Dynamite ended the day up C$0.005 at C$0.155, while Avion added C$0.02 at C$0.23.

Terrane Metals got a boost after announcing that it had received the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the province of British Columbia for its Mt. Milligan copper-gold project. Terrane ended the session up C$0.06 at C$0.25.

Meanwhile, Hawthorne Gold tabled an inferred resource of some 33 million metric tons grading 0.99 gram gold per ton for its Taurus deposit in British Columbia, Hawthorne closed out the day at C$0.275 for a C$0.02 gain.

Strathmore Minerals tabled resource estimates for its Nose Rock and Dalton Pass uranium properties in New Mexico. Nose Rock hosts a measured and indicated resource of 884,091 tons running 0.147% U3O8, plus an inferred resource of 167,012 tons averaging 0.135% U3O8. Dalton Pass hosts a measured and indicated resource of 1,622,750 tons running 0.095% U3O8, plus an inferred resource of 908,127 tons averaging 0.084% U3O8. Strathmore ended the session up C$0.035 at C$0.355.

Shares of Greystar Resources added C$0.43 to close at C$4.24 on no new developments. The first stage of its feasibility study on its multi-million ounce Angostura gold resource is expected shortly.

Well it looks like the United States dollar is finally coming under some pressure and that is good for commodity stocks, which are priced in United States dollars. How long will this trend continue? We will see what Friday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup: Friday, March 20th, 2009

Merger mania amongst the junior explorers continued with Avion Resources looking to acquire Dynamite Resources. The proposal calls for Dynamite shareholders to get 0.75 of an Avion share for each Dynamite share. The move would consolidate the Segala mine property, in which Dynamite has a 40 per cent interest. Dynamite closed at C$0.14, up C$0.01, while Avion was unchanged at C$0.20.

Shareholders of Frontera Copper got an early Valentine’s Day present as Invecture Group raised its formal take over offer to C$0.75 from C$0.59 per share. Frontera ended the day up C$0.10 to C$0.78.

Drill results from the Border coal project in Saskatchewan sent shares of Goldsource Mines lower. Out of 18 core holes, five encountered thick intervals of core including a 50.9 metre section. Goldsource ended the day down C$0.57 at C$1.42.

In need of cash, Minera Andes inked a deal with Robert McEwen that would see the founder of Goldcorp (AMEX:UXG) take down 121.2 million shares at C$0.33 per share for a cool C$40 million. Minera ended the day up C$0.12 at C$0.49.

Red Back Mining posted record production in the fourth quarter for its mines in Mauritania and Ghana. Cash operating costs came in at an enviable $393 per ounce for the 72,664 ounces of gold. Despite the good news, Red Back followed the price of gold lower by ended the day down C$0.29 at C$6.81.

Shares of Kinbauri Gold added C$0.03 to close at C$0.42 after the company reported that a scoping study for its El Valle-Carles gold-copper project in northwestern Spain yields a net present value at a 10 per cent discount of $132 million and an internal rate of return of 42 per cent.

The buy side interest in resource stocks remains at favourable levels but with unemployment in North America soaring one has to wonder how long the optimism will last. We will see what Tuesday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup: Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Iamgold (NYSE:IAG) went shopping and picked up Orezone Resources (AMEX:OZN) in an all stock deal valued at C$139 million. Of interest to Iamgold is the advanced Essakane project in West Africa where full production is expected to begin in 2010. Iamgold ended the day down C$0.22 at C$5.88, while Orezone added C$0.345 to close at C$0.52.

Meanwhile, Avion Resources tagged 26.94 grams gold per tonne over 16.9 metres at its Tobakoto property in Mali. Avion ended the day up C$0.02 at C$0.07.

Shares of Rubicon Minerals (AMEX:RBY) added C$0.18 to close at C$1.18 after the company reported that a step out hole yielded 3,151.1 grams gold per tonne over 0.5 metre at its Phoenix property in Ontario.

Victoria Gold cut 16.75 grams gold per tonne over 29.6 metres on the Helen zone of its Cove project in Nevada. Shares in the company were halted from trading pending the news at C$0.20.

The junior market bucked the negative tone by posting a winning session. It looks like some investors finally stepped up to the plate to buy the undervalued exploration companies. We will see what Friday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup: Friday, December 12th, 2008