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• Financials, energy stocks boost TSX;NY weak following housing data
  The Toronto stock market racked up a solid gain of more than 100 points Friday, the second-last trading day of the year, with almost all sectors positive in a broad-based advance led by financial and energy stocks.
• MedMira reports Q1 loss of $1.5 million or two cents per share
  MedMira Inc. (TSXV:MIR) said a sharp drop in sales in the first quarter led it to report a loss that was consistent with its loss for the same period last year.
• AMS Homecare Inc. settles with HG. Soliman Enterprises Ltd.
  AMS Homecare Inc, a maker of scooters, walkers, wheelchairs and other medical products, says it will pay $6.2 million as part of a settlement with HG. Soliman Enterprises Ltd., a partner that has helped keep its business afloat in recent months.
• Legg Mason reduces ABCP Investments in 2 funds, one in Canada
  Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) said it has reduced its asset-backed commercial paper investments in two of its non-U.S. liquidity funds - one in Ireland and the second in Canada.
• Most actively traded companies on Toronto markets
  Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange:
• State Farm to send refunds to 23,000 Ontario policyholders after pricing errors
  State Farm Insurance says it's issuing refunds to about 23,000 customers in Ontario as a result of errors in the way premiums were calculated on some automobile insurance policies.
• CEP Local 233 union says it supports Tembec's recapitalization plan
  The union representing workers at Tembec Inc. (TSX:TBC) said Friday it supports the company's recapitalization plan to reduce net debt by about US$1.2 billion.
• Market volumes Friday
  Friday's trading volume for the major stock market:
• Financial market highlights
  Highlights at the close of Friday's world financial market trading: Stocks:
• Canadian dollar closed 0.22 of a cent higher to 101.99 cents US
  The Canadian dollar closed at 101.99 US, gaining 0.22 of a cent on Friday. The U.S. dollar stood at C$98.05, down 0.21 of a cent.
• TSX Venture Exchange closed 30.83 points ahead at 2,790.26
  The TSX Venture Exchange added 30.83 points closing at 2,790.26 from Thursday's close. Volume at 4 p.m. ET was 146.05 million shares.
• U.S. new-home sales plunge to lowest level in more than 12 years
  Sales of new homes in the United States plunged last month to their lowest level in more than 12 years, a grim testament to the problems plaguing the housing sector.
• Gas prices rise back to US$3 a gallon, following oil's recent rally
  Gas prices rose back to US$3 a gallon at the pump Friday, following rising futures prices on concerns about tight inventories and potential supply disruptions.
• Thomas Cook gold quote: C$823 at close Friday
  Gold was quoted at C$823 bid (US$838) and C$827 asked (US$839) at the close of trading Friday by Thomas Cook, a major gold and foreign exchange dealer.
• Homburg Invest acquires 54 properties in Baltics for $268.3M
  Homburg Invest Inc. (TSX:HII.A) has acquired 54 properties in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the SEB Group for $268.3 million, closing a sale-and-leaseback portfolio that was reduced from 63 properties originally.
• Gas prices rise back to US$3 a gallon, following oil futures higher
  Gas prices rose back to US$3 a gallon at the pump Friday, following rising oil futures on concerns about tight inventories and potential supply disruptions.
• Western Financial Group sells $20 million of preferred shares
  Western Financial Group Inc. (TSX:WES) has completed the sale of $20 million of its Series 4 preferred shares, the company said Friday.
• Quebec securities regulator investigating Montreal-based investment firm
  The Quebec government has named a temporary administrator for Triglobal Capital Management Inc. because of allegedly illegal investments in offshore tax havens.
• Semafo's Mana gold project approaches start-up
  The battered shares of Semafo Inc. (TSX:SMF) continued to rally Friday after the mining company announced the start-up at its Mana gold project in West Africa is still scheduled for mid-February
• North American automakers likely to report weak December sales
  Industry analysts are predicting a lacklustre end to an already dismal year for North American automakers, likely the worst in nearly a decade.
• Bear Stearns CEO Jimmy Cayne sells US$15.4M of investment bank's stock
  Bear Stearns Cos. chairman-CEO James Cayne sold US$15.4 million of the investment bank's stock this month, at the end of a year in which he found himself at the forefront of a global credit crisis.
• London closing metal market prices
  Closing metal market Friday U.S. dollars a metric ton.
• London FT-100 index down 20.90 points to close at 6,476.90
  The Financial Times Index of 100 industrials closed 20.90 points lower at 6,476.90 on Friday.
• BacTech merger with Scorpio Gold gets shareholder approval
  Shareholders of BacTech Mining Corp. (TSXV:BM) have voted 99.6 per cent in favour of merging the company with a subsidiary of Scorpio Mining Corp (TSX:SPM).
• German inflation projected to rise 2.2 per cent for 2007; highest in 13 years
  Germany's annual inflation is projected to eclipse two per cent this year, the highest it has been since 1994, according to government estimates released Friday.