U.S. Stocks in 2015: Barrick Gold (USA) (ABX), Agnico Eagle Mines (USA) (AEM) , AngloGold Ashanti (ADR) (AU), AuRico Gold (AUQ), Yamana Gold (USA) (AUY)

It might surprise you to know that – after a third consecutive year of double-digit growth – stocks in 2014 were actually dominated by defensive names. Utilities ruled the roost. Consumers staples beat consumer discretionary.

But that’s going to change in 2015, Carin Pai, the director of equity management at Fiduciary Trust Co., said this morning on the MoneyBeat show. Next year the firm thinks that cyclical stocks will present a good opportunity, and companies in the healthcare and tech fields should benefit from growing demand. {1}

Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX) closed gained 3.77% to $10.88, recently declared that the organization will initiate procedures to suspend operations at the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia following the passage of legislation that raises the royalty rate on the country's open pit mining operations from six percent to 20 percent. The new taxation regime, which is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2015, eliminates corporate income tax, but imposes a 20 percent gross royalty on income without any consideration of profitability.

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd (USA) (NYSE:AEM) closed gained 5.29% to $25.10, declared that it has finished the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Cayden Resources Inc. ("Cayden"). Per the Arrangement, each share of Cayden was exchanged for 0.09 of an Agnico Eagle share and C$0.01 in cash. Common shares of Cayden, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle, will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange.

AngloGold Ashanti Limited (ADR) (NYSE:AU) closed gained 3.99% to $8.73, on Tuesday as gold prices rebound from Monday's losses. U.S. gold futures for February 2015 delivery was up 2% to $1,205.90 an ounce on the Comex this morning. Spot gold prices were gaining 1.9% to $1,205.30 an ounce. The company operates as a gold mining and exploration company. It also produces silver, uranium oxide, and sulphuric acid as by-products. The company has 20 operations comprising open-pit and underground mines, and surface metallurgical plants in the Americas, South Africa, Continental Africa, and Australasia.

AuRico Gold Inc (NYSE:AUQ) closed gained 6.15% to $3.27, recently declared that it has joined into a contract with Crocodile Gold providing for termination of the deferred cash payment arrangement with Crocodile Gold that was previously established in 2012 and its replacement with a revised contract that provides both parties with a more satisfactory and mutually beneficial arrangement. Completion of the transaction is subject to final approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board ("FIRB") of Australia.

Yamana Gold Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AUY) closed gained 4.91% to $4.06, declared a new vein discovered at El Peñón and the best drill intersections in the history of Chapada, immediately west of the main pit. At El Peñón the new north-south vein, named Ventura, is expected to lead to expansion of the mineral resource base at what appears to be high grades. The results at Chapada, from the newly discovered mineralization named Sucupira, continue to support the potential of a much bigger district of mineralization, which could also significantly expand mineral resources. In both cases, operational outlook of these cornerstone mines is significantly better because of grade, proximity to plant or mine workings or both.

Source {1}: http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/12/30/u-s-stocks-in-2015-more-cyclical-less-defensive/

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Barrick Gold, NYSE:ABX, Agnico Eagle Mines, NYSE:AEM , AngloGold Ashanti, NYSE:AU, AuRico Gold, NYSE:AUQ, Yamana Gold, NYSE:AUY, ABX, AEM, AU,AUQ, AUY