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 (11,618.53 down 46.18points):

Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX:K). Miner. Down 37 cents, or 4.42 per cent, at $8.01 on 8,651,818 shares. The gold sector was one of the decliners on the main index, dropping 0.82 per cent. The price ofbullion closed US$6.80 to $1,603.70 an ounce at the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Pengrowth Energy Corp. (TSX:PGF). Oil and gas. Up five cents, or 0.78 per cent, at $6.44 on 5,774,999 shares. The energy sector was one of the advancers, as it climbed 0.43 per cent. Oil closed 85 cents higher to US$88.91 per barrel.

Talisman Energy (TSX:TLM). Oil and gas. Up 91 cents, or 7.34 per cent, at $13.31 on 5,206,023 shares. The Calgary-based company’s second-quarter profit fell sharply to US$196 million from $698 million while revenue dropped to $1.87 billion from $2.23 billion. Talisman said the drop was due to weaker commodity prices and higher operating costs.

Yamana Gold Inc. (TSX:YRI). Miner. Down nine cents, or 0.61 per cent, at $14.78 on 5,135,849 shares.

Goldcorp. Inc. (TSX:G). Miner. Down 46 cents, or 1.27 per cent, at $35.74 on 4,877,112 shares.

Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX). Miner. Down 33 cents, or one per cent, at $32.68 on 4,461,037 shares.

TSX Venture Exchange (1,189.33 up 6.25 points):

Enablence Technologies Inc. (TSXV:ENA). Telecom equipment. Up half a cent, or 100 per cent, at a penny on 51,355,594 shares.

ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. (TSXV:SNM). Oil and gas. Up half a cent, or 2.50 per cent, at 20.5 cents on 9,877,373 shares.

Companies reporting major news:

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSX:MFI). Food processor. Up 72 cents, or 7.20 per cent, at $10.72 on 432,535 shares. The company reported net income of $32.5 million in the second quarter, up 32 per cent from $24.6 million in the second quarter of 2011. Total sales from Maple Leaf’s four business groups edged up to $1.26 billion from $1.24 billion.

Torstar Corp. (TSX:TS.B). Publisher. Down 50 cents, or 5.49 per cent, at $8.60 on 99,216 shares. The media company said a slightly improved operating profit at its Harlequin book-publishing division in the second quarter partially offset a decline at its media division. Torstar earned $35.7 million or 45 cents per share, from $112.7 million or $1.42 per share a year earlier, though that included $74.6 million or 94 cents per share from the sale of Torstar’s investment in CTV Inc.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA). Airliner. Down 59 cents, or 3.56 per cent, at $15.99 on 360,007 shares. The company says it will hike its quarterly dividend to shareholders by 33 per cent and will be offering passengers more leg room for a new class of premium seating. The Calgary-based airline said its second-quarter profits hit a record $42.5 million or 31 cents per share, up from $25.6 million or 18 cents per share. Revenue was up 12.2 per cent to $809.3 million.