Bizword's review of 2007 stock discussions projections

During a year when stock prices have been volatile as markets churned because of two major factors, stocks covered in the Bizword column were just as volatile with negative returns.
With prices driven by the frothy trading that accompanies market tops and by the fears connected to the U.S. mortgage credit crisis, markets hit a wall of fear even stronger than the Berlin Wall.
Just as the Berlin Wall crumbled, so will the wall of fear that has kept markets from building, but when?
As year end approaches, the Toronto Stock Exchange S&P composite benchmark index and the riskier TSE Venture index are both up seven per cent as of Dec. 12. The U.S. benchmark S &P 500 gained 5.1 per cent
Of the 27 stocks suggested in Bizword as interesting to watch, 14 fell in price, 13 increased.
After reducing prices by an average 10 per cent for closing prices of seven U.S. stocks covered, the group averaged a 4.2 per cent loss. That's terrible, and not at all worth the risk taken.
Leading the charge in gainers was oil and gas explorer, Grove Energy, now Stratic Energy, with a 145 per cent gain to 80 cents, based on properties in the North Sea and Romania.
Leading the losers was another oil and gas explorer, Fair Sky Resources, losing 94 per cent to close at 12 cents. With an empty treasury and resignation of directors. this company with promising properties around Moose Jaw may wind up being taken over at cents on the dollar.
A January review of promising oil and gas stocks saw Falcon Oil and Gas fall 90 per cent to 36 cents as its massive Hungarian natural gas play left technical questions with investors.
North Sea explorer Oilexco turned in an 83 per cent gain to $14.96. Another North Sea operator Sterling Resources, price $2.32, was up 60 per cent while Indian explorer Canoro Resources gained 13 per cent.
Retrocom Mid-Market Real Estate Income Trust, owner of the Town 'n' Country Mall, fell 38 per cent to $3.68. Not even a 60 cent annual distribution cushioned the loss.
A review of Saskatchewan gold producers and explorers found mixed results.
Producer Claude Resources lost 17 per cent for $1.41; GLR Resources gained 14 per cent to 53 cents; Golden Band Resources lost 19 per cent to 38.5 cents and U.S. listed Geneva Resources lost 75 per cent to 93 cents with the exchange loss.
Two of three solar energy stocks featured in February lost their brilliance.
HLT Energies, the Toronto apartment roof top installer, lost 30 per cent to 14 cents. Vancouver-based Carmanah Technologies, after deciding to shift focus, lost 67 per cent to $1.28. Chinese solar energy manufacturer Suntech Power gained 57 per cent after U.S. exchange losses.
Regional resource company, Whitemud Resources gained 31 per cent to $9.65. The company is developing a clay plant near Wood Mountain.
Local oil and gas explorer PanTerra Resource Corporation lost 11 per cent to 21 cents.
Foreign retailer Wal-Mex of Mexico lost 17 per cent with exchange to close at $38.10 U.S. Foreign dialysis power house Fresenius lost six per cent with exchange to $53.14. Danish diabetes fighter, Nova Nordisk, gained 22 per cent after exchange losses.
Chinese pork processor Zhongpin Inc lost 10 per cent - all in U.S. exchange losses.
Medical equipment sterilizer TS03 gained 24 per cent to $2.68 while ATA Automation, a robotics and solar energy company, lost 49 per cent to $4.15.
Bombardier, with operations at 15 Wing, lost seven per cent to $6.04.
In the agricultural field, Viterra, the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, gained 29 per cent to $12.96. Biofuels developer Bio-Extraction Inc, with plans for a Saskatoon plant, lost 43 per cent to 25 cents.
Well, there's always next year for better times. Sounds like a stereotyped Saskatchewan farmer's outlook, doesn't it?
Bizword columns do not solicit buying or trading of securities. Investors need to do their own homework or consult advisers.

Ron Walter can be reached at 691-1264.