For the tale of the tape, the TSX Exchange fell 0.32%, while the TSX Gold Index (TSE:XGD) dropped 1.6% and the TSX Venture Exchange, Canada’s largest junior exploration bourse, lost 1.10% with the declining issuers continuing to swamp the advancers this time by a 523 to 414 margin on volume of 136 million shares traded.

Golden Predator Mines (TSE:GP) and Midway Gold (AMEX:MDW) have inked a deal to merge. Under the initial terms, Golden Predator shareholders would receive one Midway share for each Golden Predator share held. Midway would then change its name to Golden Predator. The move would create a company with numerous advanced projects in Nevada. Midway ended the day down C$0.03 at C$1.87, while Golden Predator was unchanged at C$1.70.

Latin American Minerals got a boost after discovering 10 diamonds, ranging in size from 0.002 to 0.04 carat, on its Capiibary diamond exploration property in northeastern Paraguay. Latin ended the day up C$0.18 at C$0.45.

Tyhee Development (CVE:TDC) says that its Yellowknife gold project in the Northwest Territories has a pre-tax net present value of $145 million and would generate a pre-tax internal rate of return of 21.3% using a gold price of $750 per oz. and a 5% discount rate. The proposed 3,000 tonne per day combined open pit and underground operation would produce 165,000 ounces of gold annually for the first seven years. Tyhee ended the day flat at C$0.415.

Shares of Medoro Resources (CVE:MRS) added C$0.01 to close at C$0.21 after the junior tabled 16.5 grams gold per tonne over 11.9 metres at its Lo Increible gold project in Venezuela.

Thoughts that the worst is over for the more speculative stocks was short lived after Thursday trading. We will see what Friday trading has in store.

Source: Resource Stock Roundup: Friday, July 18th, 2008