some notes from vancouver

Spent a day at the Cambridge Minerals Investment Conference...just a few things to share with those interested

basically TSX-V companies represented at Booths down 70%
TSX companies with booths down about 50%. mood negative, but informed investors say although it is possibly not the bottom..it is a great time to buy...IF you know what you are doing.

About 2000 companies on TSX-V, a lot doing very little, except going broke and supporting life styles. Prob would be excellent if they did this quick so TSX-V can become functional , but right now the TSX-V appears to be broken. Some Co may go the M and A to get scale and something wirth investing in.

investor message was get onto good companies - means good solid assets (grade and scale) and management. Interesting comments on political risk...one Sprott guy said he regarded the political risk in southern Armenia similar to that of BC (Can)..!! Look for companies with compliant resources...best value is in companies moving toward PFS/BFS as if these come through with solid numbers, these will give best leverage.

Gold OPEX about $700-900 per ounce. Total costs running at $1400 - 1500 per ounce (incl CAPEX and Exploration and admin). So gold at less than $1400 is going to see some sudden shocks come through on the supply side. Some say supply side cuts will make the demand drop of 13% look miniscule. ETFs will chase the money as usual.

More action in Private Equity firms, who are now moving into the Resource industry
...Purchase of La Mancha for $500m by Egyptian Private interests
...Purchase of 80% of Parkes, NSW by Carlyle Group
...KKR circling with some bids rumoured...*
...new Mining Resource Priv Equity Funds have raised more than $8.5b in 2012, which is more than the total raised in Private Equity in all 2006-2010.
Smart Ops are being recruited to help shape the investments.
Money not spent, but certainly will be...

So what is underpriced by the markets, and is of solid value will be targeted...a space to watch

Hottest play...Colorado Resources in BC..scale and grade...but early days.

AMX? Watching for the PFS, but there is a lot of smart money around in the private equity space...so do not get obsessed by the market.