The Financial Post reports in its Friday edition Matt Skipp at SW8 Asset Management says buy Barrick Gold. The Post's Jonathan Ratner, writing in Buy & Sell, says Mr. Skipp bought Barrick shares for his SW8 Strategy Fund LP. Mr. Skipp likes Barrick in part for its copper assets. "Barrick has plunged in price in recent years because of a weak gold market, heavy debt loads and management upheaval," he said. "A turn higher in the gold market or a strategic deal with someone like the Chinese could send this stock materially higher. At some point, monetary stimulus might send investors scrambling for hard assets." He also noted the company has made serious progress on reducing its all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced. The biggest risks to owning Barrick are continuing low gold prices and excessive debt. Mr. Skipp is keen on contrarian trades and beaten up-sectors. "Gold is much maligned, but the stocks are starting to look interesting despite the lower gold price and hefty debt levels," he said. "They are heavily shorted and out of favour, and that we view as a positive." He figures U.S.-centric investing themes such as retail are extremely crowded, so a sell-off could come quickly if momentum reverses.