Counting down to last trading days... NG.to, MAI, TNR, GG

Another week of exciting developments and trading leading up the final days of trading in an otherwise turmoil-filled 2008. 

NovaGold is surrounded with rumors of a buyout. Since dipping to its lows of $0.60, NG.to made a surprisingly rebound last Friday and yesterday with a 60-70% gain per day. Currently it's up another 20% to $2.20. Rumors of spinout of Alaskan property Rock Creek to major is storming news sites and getting investors a run for their money. 

Brien Lundin must be liking this pick, calling it a buy at $0.60 last few weeks. Can't say much for his other selections of late...

Lundin says buy NovaGold

2008-12-02 23:05 ET - In the News

Brien Lundin, in the November, 2008, edition of the Gold Newsletter, says buy NovaGold Resources Inc., recently $2.45. Mr. Lundin said buy NovaGold six times between May, 2001, and December, 2007, at prices ranging from 64 cents to $15.97. Assuming a $1,000 investment for each of the six buys, the $6,000 investment is now worth $5,198. The newsletter editor says chief executive officer Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse has not lost confidence in NovaGold's strategic plan. Mr. Lundin also says Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse is more resolute than ever that he is on the right track. The company is ramping up to produce 100,000 ounces of metal yearly from its Rock Creek gold mine in Alaska. Rock Creek is a conventional open-pit mining operation that is run year-round. The gold producer has also "delivered excellent results in support of company plans to produce a feasibility study and start permitting in early 2009." Drill highlights include 130 metres of 3.58 g/t gold. As for Galore Creek, the goldbug says he will wait until the end of the year to see how the company plans to develop the project. The stock market guru still believes NovaGold is a company worth buying for the long term.

What's great about this?

Well for one thing, it shows how vialble this area of the world is for large scale deposit and production. And remember TNR Gold Corp? It has 50% joint venture at Shotgun project with NovaGold, not to mention a giant early stage property at the footsteps of the mammoth Pebble project that BHP Billiton owned before - Iliamna property... I think many majors would consider the project if only the credit markets were not so shaky right now. 

Honestly, for $0.05 a share for TNR these days, it's not too much to risk - and a tremendous amount to gain.

A reminder as well seeing as it's December - Minera Andes should be delivering an update on Los Azules 11.2 billion pounds of copper very soon with their scoping study. I personally can't wait to see their cost per pound of production and more! Minera Andes is trading at $0.50 - down almost 1/5 from their $2.50+ stock price earlier in 2008 - but yet they are making money and with an updated inferred resource with a large elephant copper deposit - featured by Canaccord.

Let's hope the rate cut today by US gives more optimism and will wake the public up to the inflation that is coming late 2009. Auto bailout or not, no amount of low-quality and horrid resale value Ford and Chryslers will move the economy - $15 billion won't even be enough at the rate the factories are burning through cash. it has been said that for each car Ford sells, $3000+/car in legacy costs is added on.

$3000. 

Of union fees, dues, benefits, and pensions.

If GoldCorp (GG.to) ran a terrible business and it lost money quarter after quarter - does the government come and say "Oh that's not good!" and give them billions to burn through because they are paying their contractors $300/hour???

Things like this makes me see why people get really upset and throw shoes at Presidents.