Most actively traded companies on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange markets

TORONTO – Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (12,306.93 up 9.84 points):

Surge Energy Inc. (TSX:SGY). Oil and gas. Up 12 cents, or 2.14 per cent, at $5.73 on 8.69 million shares. The energy sector was the second biggest gainer by percentage on the main index, up 0.72 per cent to 254.50 points as the price of crude oil closed at a new 15-month high. The August crude contract rose US$2.99 to $106.52 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K). Miner. Up six cents, or 1.25 per cent, at $4.87 on 6.23 million shares. The gold sector inched up 0.05 per cent to 161.40 points as the price of the bullion closed US$1.50 higher to $1,247.40 per ounce.

Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Insurer. Up 16 cents, or 0.89 per cent, at $18.14 on six million shares.

Ram Power Corp. (TSX:RPG). Power. Up a penny, or 5.71 per cent, at 18.5 cents on 3.89 million shares.

TORC Oil and Gas Ltd. (TSX:TOG). Oil and gas. Up three cents, or 1.75 per cent, at $1.74 on 3.89 million shares.

Toronto Venture Exchange (879.24 up 2.18 points):

Brookemont Capital Inc. (TSXV:BKT). Metals and mining. Up a penny, or 50 per cent, at three cents on 4.44 million shares. The Vancouver-based company’s shares continue to rise a day after announcing it will acquire 100 per cent interest in the Albany East Prospect from an arm’s length vendor.

Cavan Ventures Inc. (TSXV:CVN). Up a penny, or 40 per cent, at 3.5 cents on 4.33 million shares. Cavan is following the footsteps of Brookemont as it announced its acquisition of the Cage claims, which is near the Albany East Prospect. The acquisition consists of about 760 hectares of land containing hydrothermal graphite versus Brookemonth’s 417 hectares.

Company reporting major news:

Athabasca Oil (TSX:ATH). Oil. Up seven cents, or 1.02 per cent, at $6.92 on 1.08 million shares. The oil company is looking for a joint-venture partner to help develop its land in Alberta’s Duvernay shale region this year. Athabasca currently has nearly 142,000 hectares of land in the Duvernay, with most of it in the “sweet spot” of the region.

BlackBerry (TSX:BB). Wireless technology. Down 40 cents, or 3.92 per cent, at $9.80 on 3.95 million shares. The stock has closed at its lowest level since November a day after its chief executive asked for patience from its shareholders, promising that a time of profitability will come after it executes its recovery plan.

MTY Food Group Inc. (TSX:MTY). Quick service franchisor. Up 8.5 cents, or 0.30 per cent, at $28.57 on 20,556 shares after announcing it will open franchised Sushi Shops in Kuwait, furthering its growth in the Middle East. In January, it signed an agreement to expand Mr. Sub and Jugo Juice in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.