Three listings graduated from the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) go the Toronto Stock Exchange in February 2004, bringing the total number of year to date graduates to five.

These graduates represent 29.4% of the senior market’s new listings this year compared to 35.7% for the same period last year.

So far in 2004, two TSX-V companies have been acquired/merged with TSX listed companies.

In its statistical overview for the month, the TSX-V noted that as of the end of February, there were 492 financing deals on junior exchange, raising a total of $746.2 million, an increase of 133.8% compared to last year’s numbers of $319.1 million through 418 financing deals.

So far this year, the mining sector is leading the way in financing, raising a total of $383.8 million (representing 51% of the total). The oil and gas sector is second with $197 million (representing 26% of the total). The technology sector has captured 8% of the financing with $62.4 million raised.

EuroZinc Mining Corp. completed the largest single financing in the month, raising $30 million through a private placement deal.

There were 11 new listings in the month. Year-to-date new listings have increased 214.3% compared to the same period in 2003.

The Capital Pool program has generated 64% of the new listings, 18% have come from the oil and gas sector and 9% have come from the technology sector.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite Index closed at 1,889.31 on February 27, up 7.9% from the beginning of 2004. In comparison, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 6.9%, the Nasdaq composite was up 1.3% and the Dow Jones industrial average increased 1.2% over the same period.

The market capitalization for TSX-V equities was $24.30 billion as of February 27, — an increase of 9.5% from January 2004 and an increase of 103% from the same period last year.