Despite more profit taking on the big board, the junior bourse made it five winning sessions in a row during Monday trading on the Canadian Markets. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange lost 0.42%, while the TSX Gold Index fell 1.9% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, added 2.22% with the advancing issuers swamping the decliners by a 429 to 351 margin on volume of 150 million shares traded.

Commodities are governed by supply and demand – more than any other variable. Just take a look at the precious metals bull market we’ve enjoyed since 2001.

Despite what you read from the financial newsletter industry, there aren’t many secrets left in the mining sector.

Q: Even if the U.S. should go into an extended recession and dampen the global markets as well, won’t the emerging markets’ need for oil and other material commodities continue to boost demand and prices? – L.H.