TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/02/09 -- Worldwide intelligence-based advisory firm Brendan Wood International (BWI)'s TopGun Press today released the results of its 30th annual Equity Research, Sales and Trading Report. The Brendan Wood Panel consists of over 200 of Canada's largest and most influential buy-side portfolio managers and traders who provided in-depth rankings of analysts, sales professionals and traders based on who they 'vote to pay' and why. The BWI Panel also nominated the most influential analysts on over 100 of Canada's largest stocks. A TopGun analyst is one who finishes in the top three in his/her individual sector. The 2009 study saw 33 TopGuns rise to prominence who were not in the top 3 last year, with 19 of those analysts being nominated as a TopGun for the first time in their careers.

The 2009 TopGun Analysts ranking 1st in their sector are:

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             Sector                          #1 TopGun Analyst
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Alternative Energy               Matthew Akman (Macquarie Bank)
Auto Components                  Peter Sklar (BMO Capital Markets)
Banks                            Ian de Verteuil (BMO Capital Markets)
Base Metals & Mining             Greg Barnes (TD Newcrest)
Biotech & Healthcare             Doug Miehm (TD Newcrest)
Chemicals                        Sam Kanes (Scotia Capital)
Communications Equipment         Mike Abramsky (RBC Capital Markets)
Consumer Products                Perry Caicco (CIBC World Markets)
Diversified Financials           Kevin Choquette (Scotia Capital)
Economics                        John Aitkens (TD Newcrest)
High Tech                        Chris Umiastowski (TD Newcrest)
Income Trusts (Royalty)          Menal Patel (National Bank Financial)
Income Trusts
(Utilities/Pipelines)            Tony Courtright (Scotia Capital)
Index Analysis                   Peter Haynes (TD Newcrest)
Industrial Products              Ben Cherniavsky (Raymond James)
Insurance                        Tom MacKinnon (Scotia Capital)
Integrated Oil & Gas             Randy Ollenberger (BMO Capital Markets)
Media                            Adam Shine (National Bank Financial)
Merchandising                    Perry Caicco (CIBC World Markets)
Oil & Gas (Equipment & Services) Roger Serin (TD Newcrest)
Oil & Gas (Exploration &
Production)                      Brad Borggard (CIBC World Markets)
Portfolio Strategy               Peter Gibson (CIBC World Markets)
Precious Metals & Diamonds       Tanya Jakusconek (National Bank Financial)
Pulp, Paper & Forest Products    Paul Quinn (RBC Capital Markets)
Quantitative Analysis            Peter Gibson (CIBC World Markets)
Real Estate & REITS              Neil Downey (RBC Capital Markets)
SmCap/SpSits                     Anthony Zicha (Scotia Capital)
Software & Services              Richard Tse (National Bank Financial)
Technical Analysis               Mark Deriet (Cormark Securities)
Telecommunications & Wireless    Dvai Ghose (Genuity Capital Markets)
Transportation & Environment     Randy Cousins (BMO Capital Markets)
Utilities                        Matthew Akman (Macquarie Bank)
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Furthermore, eight analysts qualified as TopGuns in the global SuperLeague. A SuperLeague Analyst is one who is a nominated TopGun by both the BWI Institutional Panel of portfolio managers and by BWI's Corporate Panel of senior corporate executives.

The 2009 SuperLeague Analysts are:

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             Sector                        SuperLeague Analyst
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Diversified Financials          Kevin Choquette (Scotia Capital)
Income Trusts (Royalty)         Menal Patel (National Bank Financial)
Income Trusts (Royalty)         Brad Borggard (CIBC World Markets)
Oil & Gas (Equipment & Services)Roger Serin (TD Newcrest)
Precious Metals & Diamonds      Tanya Jakusconek (National Bank Financial)
Precious Metals & Diamonds      Barry Cooper (CIBC World Markets)
Pulp, Paper & Forest Products   Sean Steuart (TD Newcrest)
Real Estate & REITS             Neil Downey (RBC Capital Markets)
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BMO Capital Markets, TD Newcrest and Scotia Capital achieved TopGun Research Team designations with RBC in the runner-up spot.

GMP Securities, RBC Capital Markets and TD Newcrest ranked as having the TopGun Sales Teams with CIBC World Markets and Scotia Capital as runners-up. CIBC World Markets, BMO Capital Markets and TD Newcrest ranked as having the TopGun Trading Teams with RBC Capital Markets as runner-up.

According to Stewart Borden, the Brendan Wood International Partner in charge of Canada, Canadian investors continue to "vote to pay" a broad array of professionals and broker dealer organizations - "There is considerable integrity in the awarding of commissions by Canada's major investors," said Borden. "Investors are becoming weary of ineffectual regulations and intolerant of poor financial merchandise but continue to encourage broker dealers who focus quality coverage on investor interests."

The contents of Brendan Wood Reports are confidential and proprietary. Any unauthorized publication of the results by the media is in violation of the report's copyright.