The Canadian Markets gained momentum during Thursday trading as investors bought equities ahead of the employment numbers for the United States set to come out on Friday. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange tacked on 1.10%, while the TSX Gold Index added 4.7% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, gained 1.26% with the advancing issuers edging out the decliners by a 388 to 335 margin on volume of 134 million shares traded.

The base metals were all stuck in the red once again on Thursday. Copper had a day of numerous fits and starts, but mostly fits, as it fell to just off its intraday low at $1.4696/lb., down 4½ cents.

The Canadian Markets started the first full trading week of 2009 in a festive mode with buyers continuing to step up to the plate during Monday’s session. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange added 0.56%, while the TSX Gold Index got hammered to the tune of 7.3% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, tacked on 3.28% with the advancing issuers beating out the decliners by a 515 to 264 margin on volume of 159 million shares traded.

The Canadian markets started the trading week off by going on their usual roller coaster ride with gains seen at the open gradually eroding into solid losses by the close of Monday trading. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange fell 0.63%, while the TSX Gold Index gained 3.7% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, lost 0.24% with the declining issuers beating out the advancers by a 458 to 399 margin on volume of 244 million shares traded.

After an ever so brief reprieve the bears returned and once again started mauling the bulls during Wednesday’s trading session on the Canadian markets. For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange plunged 5.32%, while the TSX Gold Index tanked 8.5% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, lost 5.71% with the declining issuers outpacing the advancers by a 607 to 224 margin, on volume of 141 million shares traded.

The junior bourse broke through the 2002 lows but the big board managed a late day rally to finish in the black during Thursday trading on the Canadian markets.

The base metals were mixed on Thursday. Copper went on a wild ride, rising and falling sharply through a 10-cent range before settling little changed at $1.8571/lb., down just a penny.

It was a quiet news day during Friday trading on the Canadian markets as investors bailed out of the gold stocks and went bargain hunting for undervalued base metal plays. For the tale of the tape, the TSX exchange rallied 3.16%, while the TSX Gold Index fell 2.9% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, added 0.89% with the declining issuers inching past the advancers by a 444 to 419 margin on good volume of 169 million shares traded.

The base metals were all slammed on Thursday. Copper held steady until the New York open, then headed straight down for the rest of the day, finishing at its intraday low of $2.636/lb., down 17 cents. Nickel also plunged, but started earlier and fell more steeply, closing at $6.6776/lb., down 36½ cents.

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