This item is part of Stockwatch's value added news feed and is only available to Stockwatch subscribers.

Here is a sample of this item:

by Will Purcell

The diamond and specialty minerals stocks box score for Friday was a mediocre 58-67-132. The TSX Venture Exchange fell fractionally to 791 while polished diamond prices were flat. George Putnam's Scandium international Mining Corp. (SCY) closed unchanged at 34.5 cents on 350,000 shares. The company is inching ahead with plans to build a scandium mine at Nyngan in Australia.

Dermott Desmond's Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (MPVD) lost 16 cents to $4.05 on 221,000 shares on word that it is parting way with its 11-year president and chief executive officer, Patrick Evans. The company said after the close yesterday that it had "reached a mutual decision" with Mr. Evans that he would "depart the company, effective immediately" -- a statement suggestive of the "you're fired; no, I quit" sophomoric scenario that plays out in the mailrooms and loading docks of companies around the world. (Mr. Evans's departure does not appear to be dripping with rancour, as he remains a director and has agreed to lend a hand during the transitional period.) Investors did not welcome the news. Mountain Province's stock tumbled as low as $3.61 in early trading, tripping a regulatory circuit breaker and prompting a four-minute halt.

The remainder is available to Stockwatch subscribers.
Sign-up for a FREE 30-day Stockwatch subscription and SEE NO ADS