HL , Hecla Mining Comp., update.

hl b 2012HL s 2012

See also previous blogs that more or less anticipated today’s events. The top chart gives the big picture. It was a screaming buy at under $1 back in 2001 – on account of the multi year wedge that ended then – when it started of gaining by a multiple of 8x in a matter of years. In 2009 it crashed like everything else but then regained its composure in what was undoubtedly a B-wave. The implication is that the stock should ultimately make a new  low. The first stop , as almost always, the level of the b wave in the  larger B-wave. In this case just above $4  which we did today.  Obviously this stock is not a buy for a long term hold, but it may be for a quick trade. If you are so inclined it could bounce a few dollars, perhaps even to about $7 before resuming the down trend. Percentage wise that would be a great trade but also a little risky.   

The cause of this problem is that authorities have shut the mine down as a result of accidents caused by rubble in the shafts. Supposedly it will take a year to clean it up. Almost 300 people work here and this is a very old mine,if not the oldest one (Coeur d’Alene  is just up the road). If it lives up to it’s name, “Lucky Friday”, things might be resolved a lot faster providing a good backdrop to a bounce. My guess is that we are in a 5th wave now that should not go beyond $3, but not at all sure it will go that far now.

The mine has gone 25 years without a fatal accident and the owners are determined to reopen it as soon as possible. Coeur d’Alene ( NY ,CDM TO) has not been affected recently but has somewhat underperformed HL

Below is  day chart. It is little more than a wild guess;

hl d 2012