11:08 AM EST - First Quantum Minerals : reported Wednesday fourth-quarter net earnings of US$70 million, or $1.04 per share, up from $57 million, or 93 cents per share, during the same period a year ago. The company, which reports results in U.S. dollars, posted record annual net earnings of $414.4 million, or $6.37 per share, a major leap from 2005's $152.8 million, or $2.48 per share. Revenues in the three months ended Dec. 31 were $216.4 million -- comprising copper revenues of $212 million and gold revenues of $4.4 million -- up 22 percent from $176.9 million in the same period of 2005. First Quantum Minerals
shares T.FM are trading down $1.98 at $61.51.
