June 18, 2007

Canadian Stocks Rise With Gold, Copper Prices; Agrium Climbs

Canadian stocks rose, pushing the main equity index to a record, as such raw-materials producers as Goldcorp Inc. gained on higher metals prices. Agrium Inc. led agricultural companies higher after it raised its profit forecast.

The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index added 46.03, or 0.3 percent, to 14,183.44 as of 9:40 a.m. in Toronto. The benchmark built on last week's gain of 2.5 percent, the best since March. A close at this level would exceed its record close of 14,146.74 reached June 4.

Gold rose for a fourth day in London on speculation declines in the dollar will spur demand for the metal as a hedge against inflation.

Copper advanced for a fourth consecutive session in London as stockpiles fell and the prospect of strikes at Latin American mines led to speculation that supply will be disrupted. Lead rose to a record.

Goldcorp, Canada's second-largest bullion miner, gained 21 cents to C$26.67. Larger rival Barrick Gold Corp. rose 16 cents to C$31.29.

Agrium climbed C$1.24 to C$46.40. North America's largest producer of nitrogen fertilizer said second-quarter profit may exceed $1.55 a share. The profit projection had been $1.45 to $1.55 a share, Calgary-based Agrium said in a statement distributed by CCNMatthews. Earnings are expected to be ``at or slightly above'' the upper end of the range, the company said.

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., the biggest fertilizer company, rose C$1.96 to C$84.93.

Source : www.bloomberg.com

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