Harter Schlag für Bill Murphy und sein Verschwörungs-Café: Blanchard muß sich bei Barrick für die Preismanipulationsklage entschuldigen und einen ungenannten, aber angeblich beträchtlichen Schadensersatz leisten. Für Murphy war schon allein die Zulassung der Klage der halbe Beweis für die Richtigkeit der Manipulationsvorwürfe.
Barrick wins apology from Blanchard for allegations of price manipulation
Romina Maurino
Canadian Press
Monday, November 21, 2005
TORONTO (CP) - Barrick Gold Corp. has won an apology from Blanchard & Co. for its allegations of gold price manipulation as all lawsuits against the company were dismissed.
The apology came with the settlement of a libel suit that was filed by Barrick in 2003, a few months after Blanchard and gold seller Herbert Davies took the Toronto-based company to court, accusing it of manipulation of gold prices and violations of U.S. antitrust laws.
Blanchard and Davies both alleged they were injured as a result of reduced interest in gold as an investment and sought damages - as well as an injunction terminating certain trading agreements with J.P. Morgan and other bullion banks.
Barrick said Friday that all claims had been dismissed and it will not make any payments in connection with the antitrust accusations or class actions.
Instead, the settlement handed Barrick an apology and a cash payment of an undisclosed amount.
"We regret having made the statements that gave rise to the libel action filed by Barrick in Canada and any embarrassment those statements may have caused Barrick or its officers or directors," Blanchard said in a statement.
Blanchard and Davies had filed their suit Dec. 18, 2002, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Barrick filed its counter suit in March 2003 at Ontario's Superior Court.
Blanchard and Davies later amended their complaint to add an allegation of violating the Commodity Exchange Act in February 2005. A trial date had been set for January, in case no agreement was reached.
Barrick could not elaborate on the other terms of the settlement or say how much money it had received. The company would only say the payment was "substantial."
"We're just very pleased that we've been able to settle all the differences that we've had with the complainants over time," said spokesman Vincent Borg.
"All litigation related to this matter in any way, shape, or form is all settled."
The markets had little reaction to the news, with Barrick shares (TSX:ABX) losing 10 cents to close at $31.70 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. On the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ABX), the shares dropped 10 cents US to $26.80 US.
Analysts said few investors had placed much weight on the lawsuits, which amounted to "more noise than substance."
"Many of us had kind of determined that the whole thing was a bit more contrived than it was substantial," said Barry Allan, an analyst with Research Capital Corp.
"The whole Blanchard action . . . . I thought it was a bit outlandish, and obviously Barrick did too because they filed a libel suit and succeeded. It's just a nice thing that it's gone away."
© The Canadian Press 2005