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S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

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Stallion Uranium Announces Increase to Flow-Through Financing and Completes Private Placement

Investing 5 Mins Read

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Stallion Uranium Corp. (the ‘Company’ or ‘Stallion’) (TSX-V: STUD; OTCQB: STLNF; FSE: B76) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated December 12, 2025 and December 17, 2025, it has increased its non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of $7,723,064 (the ‘Offering’). The Company also announces that it has closed the Offering, issuing 17,162,365 flow-through shares of the Company as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a ‘FT Share’) at a price of $0.45 per FT Share.

The gross proceeds from the FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ that qualify as ‘flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures’ as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘Qualifying Expenditures‘) related to the Company’s uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2026. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2025.

The FT Shares issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the date of issuance under applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company paid the following cash fees to eligible arm’s length finders: $24,728 to Canaccord Genuity Corp., $353,524.84 to Accilent Capital Management Inc., $3,465 to Research Capital Corporation, $70,000 to PB Markets Inc., $47,250 to GloRes Securities Inc.; $28,000 to Wealth (WCPD Inc.), and $3,150 to Sightline Wealth Management.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act‘), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Stallion Uranium Corp.:

Stallion Uranium is working to ‘Fuel the Future with Uranium’ through the exploration of roughly 1,700 sq/km in the Athabasca Basin, home to the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. The company, with JV partner Atha Energy holds the largest contiguous project in the Western Athabasca Basin adjacent to multiple high-grade discovery zones. With a commitment to responsible exploration and cutting-edge technology such as the use of the proprietary Haystack TI technology, Stallion is positioned to play a key role in the future of clean energy.

Our leadership and advisory teams are comprised of uranium and precious metals exploration experts with the capital markets experience and the technical talent for acquiring and exploring early-stage properties. For more information visit stallionuranium.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Stallion Uranium Corp.:

Matthew Schwab
CEO and Director

Corporate Office:
700 – 838 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia,
V6C 0A6

T: 604-551-2360
info@stallionuranium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as ‘will likely result’, ‘are expected to’, ‘expects’, ‘will continue’, ‘is anticipated’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘estimated’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘forecast’, ‘projection’, ‘strategy’, ‘objective’ and ‘outlook’) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this material change report should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Silver Dollar Resources

Investing 7 Mins Read

Investor Insight

Silver Dollar Resources is repositioning its flagship La Joya silver-gold-copper project to unlock high-grade underground potential in Mexico’s prolific Durango-Zacatecas silver belt. Strengthened by the all-share sale of its Ranger-Page project to Bunker Hill Mining, the company offers investors leveraged exposure to near-term silver (zinc-lead) production in Idaho’s Silver Valley, while remaining fully funded to advance exploration across its core portfolio through 2026.

Overview

Silver Dollar Resources (CSE:SLV,OTCQX:SLVDF,FSE:4YW) is a precious metals exploration company focused on advancing high-grade silver and gold opportunities in Mexico. The company’s primary asset is the La Joya silver-gold-copper project, located in the southern portion of the Durango-Zacatecas silver belt, one of the world’s most productive silver regions.

La Joya has been the subject of extensive historical exploration, including more than 51,600 meters of drilling across 182 drill holes. This work outlined multiple mineralized zones, including the Main Mineralized Trend, Santo Niño and Coloradito. Silver Dollar is re-evaluating the project with an underground-focused exploration model, supported by structural analysis, underground sampling and reassessment of historic drill core to identify higher-grade targets at depth.

The company also owns the Nora silver-gold project in Durango, Mexico, which hosts the historic Candy mine and epithermal vein system that has returned high-grade surface sampling results. In addition, Silver Dollar holds an equity position in Bunker Hill Mining following the sale of the Ranger-Page project, providing equity exposure to the planned production restart in Idaho’s Silver Valley in the first 2026.

Silver Dollar is supported by an experienced management and technical team with expertise in underground exploration, epithermal systems and project evaluation. With a strong treasury, active exploration programs and multiple upcoming catalysts, the company is positioned to deliver exploration progress through 2026.

Company Highlights

  • 100 percent owned La Joya project, an advanced-stage silver-gold-copper system in Mexico’s Durango-Zacatecas silver belt
  • La Joya was originally proposed as an open pit in 2013 based on US$24 silver, US$1,200 gold and US$3 copper
  • Strategic shift toward evaluating La Joya’s high-grade underground potential supported by new 3D geological modeling, underground sampling, and drill target development
  • Completed sale of the Ranger-Page project to Bunker Hill Mining, providing equity exposure to a near-term US silver producer
  • Fully funded to carry out planned exploration programs through 2026
  • Largest shareholder is mining investor Eric Sprott, with approximately 17.5 percent ownership
  • Multiple exploration catalysts planned, including drilling at La Joya in early 2026

Key Projects

La Joya Silver-Gold-Copper Project

The La Joya project is Silver Dollar’s 100 percent owned flagship asset. It is located within the Durango-Zacatecas silver belt, which hosts numerous past-producing and operating mines, including assets operated by First Majestic Silver, Grupo México, Industrias Peñoles and Pan American Silver.

Historical exploration at La Joya outlined multiple zones of mineralization, including the Main Mineralized Trend, Santo Niño and Coloradito, with mineralization occurring as skarn, replacement and vein-style systems. Previous work was largely oriented toward evaluating open-pit potential.

Silver Dollar is advancing a reinterpretation of La Joya as a potential high-grade underground system. Recent work includes:

  • Underground sampling from historic workings, returning values of up to 2,753 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver equivalent
  • Identification of the Central Dyke zone over approximately 770 meters, including a sample returning 3,513 g/t (~124 oz/ton) silver
  • Discovery of the Brazo zone, located approximately 1 kilometer west of the Main Mineralized Trend, with Phase II drilling returning up to 451 g/t silver over 5 meters
  • The Brazo Zone provides evidence of deeper, high-grade mineralization at La Joya
  • Development of new 3D geological models is in progress incorporating the large database of structural, geochemical and fault-kinematic analysis

Silver Dollar plans to advance a new phase of drilling at La Joya in the first quarter of 2026, with a focus on testing high-grade underground targets identified through recent modeling and sampling.

Nora Silver-Gold Project

The Nora project is located in Durango, Mexico, within the same regional silver trend as several major operations. The property hosts an epithermal vein system known as the Candy vein.

Geological mapping and surface sampling have returned high-grade gold, silver and base metal values, including samples grading up to 29.61 g/t gold and 2,215 g/t silver, along with locally elevated copper, lead and zinc values.

In 2025, Silver Dollar identified the North Canyon zone, located approximately 1.5 kilometers north of the historic Candy mine. Channel sampling returned 162 g/t silver equivalent over 12.48 meters within a broad oxidation zone. Ongoing mapping and trenching are being used to define drill targets for potential drill testing in the first quarter of 2026.

Ranger-Page Project (Sold)

Silver Dollar acquired the Ranger-Page silver-lead-zinc project in Idaho’s Silver Valley in August 2024 and agreed to sell the asset to neighbor Bunker Hill Mining in October 2025 for C$3.5 million, payable by the issuance of 23,333,334 Bunker Hill shares at a deemed price of C$0.15 per share. The sale closed in December and the value of those Bunker Hill shares at the time of closing was approximately $5.8 million.

The Ranger-Page project is geologically contiguous with the Bunker Hill mine system. The transaction provides Silver Dollar with equity exposure to Bunker Hill’s planned production restart in the first half of 2026. Teck Resources owns ~32 percent of Bunker Hill and has life-of-mine off-take agreement for 100 percent of the zinc and lead production. Silver Dollar expects Bunker Hill to receive increased analyst coverage and a higher valuation next year as production commences.

Red Lake Area Properties

Silver Dollar also holds two 100 percent owned gold grassroots exploration properties in Ontario’s Red Lake mining division: Pakwash Lake and Longlegged Lake. Early-stage work has included airborne magnetic surveys, geological mapping and surface sampling, identifying structural and geophysical targets associated with the Pakwash Lake Fault Zone.

While not a primary focus, the properties provide optionality in a well-established gold district with major Kinross Gold discovery drilling on the Dixie Halo property that adjoins both properties to the north.

Management Team

Gregory Lytle — President, CEO and Director

Gregory Lytle has more than 20 years of experience advising mineral exploration companies on corporate strategy, capital markets and communications. Prior to becoming CEO in 2025, Lytle served as a consultant to Silver Dollar and has facilitated more than $100 million in financings for mining-sector clients.

J.J. (Jeff) Smulders — CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director

Jeff Smulders has more than 45 years of experience in accounting, taxation and financial management. He has provided financial consulting services to public and private companies for more than 25 years.

Bruce MacLachlan — Independent Director

Bruce MacLachlan is an exploration professional with more than four decades of experience across grassroots and advanced-stage projects. He has worked with companies including Noranda, Hemlo Gold, Battle Mountain and Noront.

Guillermo Lozano-Chávez — Independent Director

Guillermo Lozano-Chávez is a geologist with more than 40 years of experience in exploration and mine management across the Americas. He previously served as vice president of exploration at First Majestic Silver.

Dale Moore — Exploration Manager and Qualified Person

Dale Moore is an underground-focused geologist with more than a decade of experience in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Mining District. His work includes major deposits such as Lucky Friday and the Galena Complex, and he leads technical work at La Joya.

Mark Malfair — Country Manager, Mexico

Mark Malfair is a bilingual geologist with more than 25 years of experience in exploration and project management in Mexico, including previous work at Chesapeake Gold’s Metates project.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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LaFleur Minerals Closes Upsized, Fully Subscribed LIFE Offering and FT Offering

Investing 10 Mins Read

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (‘LaFleur Minerals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘Issuer’) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated December 15, 2025, and December 16, 2025, the Company has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the ‘LIFE Units’) at a price of $0.50 per Unit under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (as defined herein) for an upsized amount and gross proceeds of $4,695,000 (the ‘LIFE Offering’). The Company also announces that it has closed its previously announced Flow-Through Offering (the ‘FT Units’) at a price of $0.60 per flow-through unit for an oversubscribed amount and gross proceeds of $2,205,421.

With both these financings closed, upsized due to demand and oversubscribed, LaFleur is now funded for the restart of its Beacon Gold Mill, intending to source mineralized material from its nearby Swanson Gold Project, and starting with an estimated 10,000-20,000 metric tons (mt) of mineralized stockpiles remaining on the site of its wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mill.

FMI Securities Inc. acted as a special advisor and selling group member on the closed LIFE and FT Offerings, along with participation from other key investment banks and advisory firms such as Red Cloud Securities Inc., Ventum Financial Corp., Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., Research Capital Corp., Raymond James Ltd. and Stonegate Securities Ltd.

Beacon Gold Mill: A Strategic, High-Value Infrastructure Asset

The Company is uniquely positioned as one of the few junior gold companies in Canada that owns a fully permitted, existing gold mill, providing a clear pathway to cash flow without the long timelines, dilution, and capital intensity typically associated with mill construction. The completion of these financings materially de-risks LaFleur’s business model, enabling the Company to advance directly into gold production at its Beacon Gold Mill while simultaneously unlocking value from its nearby Swanson Gold Project. This vertically integrated strategy allows LaFleur to control the full value chain, from mineralized material to doré, creating the potential for early revenue generation, margin capture, and shareholder value accretion.

LaFleur’s wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mill represents a rare and highly strategic asset within the Abitibi Gold Belt. The 750 tpd mill is fully constructed, in good condition, permitted, historically proven, and ready for restart of operations, significantly reducing execution risk and capital requirements compared to greenfield development scenarios. With funding now secured, the Company intends to restart mill operations and advance toward gold production, with impending Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’) results expected mid-January, positioning LaFleur as the newest producer in one of the world’s most prolific gold districts. Led by Environmental Resources Management (ERM), a global mining, sustainability, and environmental consulting firm with extensive technical mining expertise, the PEA is conducted for the purpose of evaluating the restart of gold production at LaFleur’s wholly-owned and recently refurbished Beacon Gold Mill using mineralized material from its nearby Swanson Gold Deposit, both located in the recognized mining camp of Val-d’Or, Québec. Ownership of the Beacon Gold Mill provides LaFleur with operational flexibility and optionality, including the ability to process mineralized material from its own project and potentially third-party feed from regional deposits, creating additional revenue opportunities beyond its core assets.

Swanson Gold Project: High-Grade Feed Potential Close to the Mill

The Swanson Gold Project, located in close proximity to the Beacon Gold Mill, is a cornerstone of LaFleur’s production strategy. The project hosts various showings of high-grade gold mineralization within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, positioned in an area renowned for producing over 200 million ounces of gold historically. The Company plans to advance Swanson as a primary source of mill feed, leveraging short haul distances to reduce operating costs and enhance project economics. With funding in place, LaFleur can aggressively advance exploration and development activities at Swanson, targeting the definition of near-surface, high-grade zones that could be rapidly transitioned into production. This approach supports a low-capex, staged production model designed to generate cash flow while continuing to grow the resource base.

Beacon-Swanson Synergy: A Clear Path to Value Creation

The combination of a wholly-owned, restart-ready gold mill and a nearby, district-scale gold project with high-grade potential, positions LaFleur Minerals as a differentiated junior gold company with a clear and executable growth strategy. Being funded enables the Company to move decisively toward production, reduce financing risk, and focus on operational execution. Management believes this milestone places LaFleur in a strong position to deliver near-term production, establish cash flow, and build a scalable gold platform in Québec, creating long-term value for shareholders as the Company advances toward becoming a sustainable gold producer.

Financing Details

Each Unit of the LIFE Offering consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘LIFE Share‘) and one transferrable common share purchase warrant (a ‘LIFE Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitled the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.75 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (‘NI 45-106‘), the LIFE Offering was made to purchasers’ resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the ‘Listed Issuer Financing Exemption‘). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption are not subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Each Unit of the Flow-Through Offering consists of one common share in the capital of the Company, to be issued as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec) (each, a ‘FT Share‘), and one transferrable common share purchase warrant (a ‘FT Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitled the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.75 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry upon thirty (30) business days’ notice from the Company in the event the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE‘) is equal to or above a price of $0.90 for fourteen (14) consecutive trading days any time after closing of the Offering.

In connection with the LIFE and FT Offerings, the Company paid an aggregate cash finder fee of $480,229.43 and issued an aggregate of 909,466 non-transferable finders’ warrants (each, a ‘Finder’s Warrant‘). Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.75 each for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance, all in accordance with the policies of the CSE.

The gross proceeds from the LIFE Offering will be used for the advancement of exploration initiatives at the Company’s Swanson Gold Project and for operational purposes for the restart of gold production operations at the Company’s wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mill, in addition to working capital and general corporate expenses.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. ‘United States’ and ‘U.S. person’ are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral’s fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LaFleur Minerals INC.

Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer
E: info@lafleurminerals.com
LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279262

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Top 5 Small-cap Biotech Stocks of 2025

Investing 7 Mins Read

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) is trading at three year highs despite market volatility, responding to breakthrough innovations and increased deals involving NASDAQ biotech stocks.

After dropping to a low of 3,637.05 in October 2023, the index climbed to a nearly three year peak of 4,954.813 on September 19, 2024. While the index pulled back to 4,530.69 in August 2025, it staged a robust recovery in the second half of the year, closing at 5,766.59 on December 29, 2025, a gain of approximately 34 percent for the year.

The top NASDAQ biotech stocks have seen sizeable share price increases over the past year. For those interested in investing in biotech companies, the best-performing small-cap biotech stocks are outlined below.

Data was gathered on December 29, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Small-cap biotech stocks with market caps between US$50 million and US$500 million at that time were considered for this list.

1. SELLAS Life Sciences Group (NASDAQ:SLS)

Year-to-date gain: 210.19 percent
Market cap: US$477.18 million
Share price: US$3.35

SELLAS Life Sciences Group is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer immunotherapies. The company’s approach involves ‘teaching’ the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells by targeting specific proteins that are overexpressed in tumors.

Its flagship asset is galinpepimut-S (GPS), a vaccine-like immunotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are in remission but at high risk of relapse. Its secondary asset, SLS009, is a highly selective CDK9 inhibitor currently showing promise in Phase 2 trials for various blood cancers.

The company’s stock price surged on December 29 after SELLAS shared an update on the Phase 3 REGAL trial evaluating GPS as a maintenance therapy in patients with AML. The trial is designed as a blind survival study, with the end point triggered on the 80th patient death.

In the update, the company reported that 72 deaths had occurred as of December 26. Because it is taking longer than expected for the trial to complete, which was previously anticipated to happen before the end of 2025, investors are speculating that the patients in the trial are living significantly longer than the historical average.

2. IO Biotech (NASDAQ:IOBT)

Year-to-date gain: 129.47 percent
Market cap: US$144.28 million
Share price: US$2.16

IO Biotech is developing immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win technology platform, designed to activate T cells to target both tumor cells and the immune-suppressive cells.

The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company’s lead cancer vaccine candidate is IO102-IO103, which has the brand name Cylembio. IO102-IO103 has breakthrough therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in combination with Merck’s (NYSE:MRK) anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda for the treatment of advanced melanoma based on positive Phase 1/2 first line metastatic melanoma data.

The candidate reached a major milestone in August 2025 with the readout of its pivotal Phase 3 trial of IO102-IO103 with Keytruda for treating advanced melanoma. While the vaccine combined with Keytruda showed a significant survival benefit — reaching 19.4 months of progression-free survival compared to 11 months for Keytruda alone — it narrowly missed the strict statistical significance threshold.

Following a December meeting with the FDA to discuss a path forward for Cylembio, IO Biotech ended the year focused on a new registrational trial to address the Phase 3 miss and securing further funding to extend its operations into 2026.

Throughout 2025, the company continued to expand its pipeline. In November, it presented new pre-clinical data for IO112 targeting arginase 1 and for IO170 targeting transforming growth factor.

3. Tiziana Life Sciences (NASDAQ:TLSA)

Year-to-date gain: 124.64 percent
Market cap: US$184.22 million
Share price: US$1.55

Tiziana Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharma which is developing therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases and cancer-related to the liver. Its pipeline of candidates is built on its patented drug delivery technology that provides a possible alternative to intravenous delivery.

Tiziana’s lead candidate is intranasal foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, which it is currently studying for treatment of a range of conditions.

In March, the company filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA for a Phase 2 clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is supported by the ALS Association. The Phase 2 trial is slated to begin in January 2026. Tiziana also began dosing patients in a Phase 2a trial for multiple system atrophy in August.

In April, John Hopkins University and the University of Massachusetts commenced dosing of the biotech company’s intranasal foralumab in Phase 2 trials for patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). On May 7, the company shared positive results from the use of its lead candidate in improving the quality of life for patients with that form of MS.

Tiziana is also studying the use of intranasal foralumab for treating moderate Alzheimer’s disease. On May 9, it announced that PET scans of a patient with moderate Alzheimer’s showed a significant reduction in microglia activation associated with neuroinflammation after three months of treatment.

On July 21, the company announced an ‘unexpected discovery’ following immunologic analysis of the patient with Alzheimer’s disease: ‘The analysis revealed an increase in phagocytosis markers in classical monocytes, suggesting that nasal foralumab may enhance their ability to clear amyloid plaques. This unexpected effect may open new avenues for treating Alzheimer’s Disease by targeting both inflammation and amyloid accumulation.’

The company dosed the first patient in its randomized Phase 2 Alzheimer’s trial in December.

To end the year, Tiazana submitted a comprehensive safety report to the FDA documenting over 37 patient-years of treatment with no serious drug-related adverse events across its studies.

4. Spero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SPRO)

Year-to-date gain: 119.05 percent
Market cap: US$129.58 million
Share price: US$2.30

Spero Therapeutics is developing novel treatments for rare diseases and multi-drug resistant bacterial infections with high unmet need.

The company’s lead drug candidate is tebipenem pivoxil hydrobromide (HBr), a late-stage development asset developed in collaboration with pharma giant GSK (NYSE:GSK). GSK has an exclusive license agreement to commercialize the drug candidate in most markets.

Tebipenem HBr is an oral carbapenem developed to treat complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), including pyelonephritis. The FDA granted tebipenem HBr qualified infectious disease product and fast-track designations.

Spero’s stock surged 245 percent on May 28 to reach US$2.35 after the company reported that its Phase 3 trial evaluating tebipenem HBr for treating cUTIs met its primary endpoint and stopped early for efficacy.

On December 19, GSK officially filed the new drug application resubmission to the FDA for tebipenem HBr for treating cUTIs supported by the Phase 3 results. This filing triggered a US$25 million milestone payment to Spero that is expected in Q1 2026.

5. OKYO Pharma (NASDAQ:OKYO)

Year-to-date gain: 60.50 percent
Market cap: US$74.85 million
Share price: US$1.91

OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease. Its lead candidate is urcosimod, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and non-opioid analgesic.

OKYO is currently evaluating urcosimod for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain. The treatment received fast track designation from the FDA in May after the company ended its Phase 2 clinical trial early to analyze data.

On July 17, the company posted strong top-line data from the Phase 2 trial and stated it is planning a meeting with the FDA to discuss next steps for its lead drug candidate. The following day, OKYO received US$1.9 million in non-dilutive funding to support its clinical development of urcosimod.

In September, OKYO announced a 120 patient, multi-center multiple ascending dose clinical trial designed to identify the optimal dose for Phase 3 registration.

A scientific breakthrough followed on December 11, when new imaging data revealed that urcosimod may actually help restore corneal nerve structure, showing median increases in nerve fiber count and length, while those in the placebo group saw median decreases for both.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagan Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Sankamap Provides an Update on Status of Late Filing of Financial Statements

Investing 6 Mins Read

Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) (‘Sankamap’ or the ‘Company’) the Company and its auditor continue to work diligently toward the completion and filing of the Company’s annual audited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 (the ‘Required Filings’). The Company has applied to the Alberta Securities Commission for an extension of the Management Cease Trade Order (‘MCTO’), however, there can be no assurance that a further extension will be granted. The additional delay in completing the Required Filings is primarily due to the auditor awaiting the receipt of certain required information from government authorities in Solomon Islands, as well as timing constraints associated with the holiday period. The Company estimates that approximately 90% of the audit work has been completed.

The Required Filings were due to be filed by October 28, 2025. In connection with the anticipated delays in making the Required Filings, the Company made an application for a Management Cease Trade Order (‘MCTO‘) under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders (‘NP 12-203‘) to the Alberta Securities Commission, as principal regulator for the Company, and the MCTO was issued on October 29, 2025. The MCTO restricts all trading by the Company’s CEO and CFO in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect. The MCTO does not affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade their securities. The MCTO will remain in effect until the Required Filings are filed or until it is revoked or varied.

The Company expects to proceed with the filing of its interim first-quarter financial statements shortly after the Required Filings have been completed and submitted.

The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release until it meets the Required Filings requirement. The Company has not taken any steps towards any insolvency proceeding and the Company has no material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.

For further information with respect to the MCTO, please refer to the Company’s news releases dated October 21, 2025, November 4, 2025, November 18, 2025, December 3, 2025 and December 17, 2025, available for viewing on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Sankamap Metals Inc.

Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) is a Canadian mineral exploration company dedicated to the discovery and development of high-grade copper and gold deposits through its flagship Oceania Project, located in the South Pacific. The Company’s fully permitted assets are strategically positioned in the Solomon Islands, along a prolific geological trend that hosts major copper-gold deposits; including Newcrest’s Lihir Mine, with a resource of 71.9 million ounces of gold¹ (310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred).

Exploration is actively advancing at both the Kuma and Fauro properties, part of Sankamap’s Oceania Project in the Solomon Islands. Historical work has already highlighted the mineral potential of both sites, which lie along a highly prospective copper and gold-bearing trend, suggesting the possibility of further, yet-to-be-discovered deposits.

At Kuma, the property is believed to host an underexplored and largely untested porphyry copper-gold (Cu-Au) system. Historical rock chip sampling has returned consistently elevated gold values above 0.5 g/t Au, including a standout sample assaying 11.7% Cu and 13.5 g/t Au2; underscoring the area’s significant potential.

At Fauro, particularly at the Meriguna Target, historical trenching has returned highly encouraging results, including 8.0 meters at 27.95 g/t Au and 14.0 meters at 8.94 g/t Au3. Complementing these results are exceptional grab sample assays, including historical values of up to 173 g/t Au3, along with recent sampling by Sankamap at the Kiovakase Target, which returned numerous high-grade copper values, reaching up to 4.09% Cu. In addition, limited historical shallow drilling intersected 35.0 meters at 2.08 g/t Au3, further underscoring the property’s strong mineral potential and the merit for continued exploration. With a commitment to systematic exploration and a team of experienced professionals, Sankamap aims to unlock the untapped potential of underexplored regions and create substantial value for its shareholders. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under Sankamap’s profile.

1.Newcrest Technical Report, 2020 (Lihir: 310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred)

2. Historical grab, soil and BLEG samples from SolGold Kuma Review June 2015, and SolGold plc Annual Report 2013/2012

3. September 2010-June 2012 press releases from Solomon Gold Ltd. and SolGold Fauro Island Summary Technical Info 2012

QP Disclosure

The technical content for the Oceania Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person in accordance with CIM guidelines. Mr. John Florek is in good standing with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (Member ID:1228) and a director and officer of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ ‘John Florek’
John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol
Chief Executive Officer
Sankamap Metals Inc.

Contact:
John Florek, CEO
T: (807) 228-3531
E: johnf@sankamap.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to Sankamap and there is no assurance that the actual results will meet management’s expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘targets,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘plans,’ ‘expects,’ ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘could’ or ‘would.’

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding management’s expectations about obtaining the MCTO and completing the Required Filings within the anticipated timeline. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sankamap does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements or information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company’s continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279270

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

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SQM, Codelco Seal Landmark Lithium Joint Venture in Salar de Atacama

Investing 3 Mins Read

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM) and Codelco have finalized their long-awaited partnership, forming a new joint venture that will oversee lithium production in Chile’s Salar de Atacama through 2060.

SQM announced on Saturday (December 27) that it has completed its strategic partnership with state-owned miner Codelco through the merger by absorption of Codelco subsidiary Minera Tarar into SQM Salar.

Following the transaction, SQM Salar has been renamed Nova Andino Litio, the new vehicle that will consolidate lithium exploration, production, commercialization and related community and environmental initiatives in the Atacama.

The merger was carried out under the terms of a partnership agreement that was signed in May 2024.

While the transaction has been completed, it remains subject to a resolutory condition tied to a pending Supreme Court decision on an appeal filed by Inversiones TLC. The appeal challenges regulatory approvals granted earlier this year, and Inversiones TLC is a subsidiary of China’s Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696,OTC Pink:TQLCF).

The appeal comes after a November ruling by the Santiago Court of Appeals that rejected a claim of illegality against an exemption resolution issued by Chile’s Financial Market Commission.

Despite the unresolved litigation, the economic framework of the partnership has already taken effect. SQM confirmed that the preferences and economic rights attached to the Series A shares held by Codelco and the Series B shares held by SQM became effective on January 1, 2025, including the dividend distribution methodology set out in the agreement.

SQM and Nova Andino Litio are currently determining dividend allocations and other accounting effects, which will be reflected in their respective 2025 financial statements.

The new company preserves contractual continuity with Chilean development agency Corfo, both under existing agreements and those that will govern operations from 2031 onward.

SQM Chief Executive Ricardo Ramos also said the joint venture provides long-term stability for lithium operations in Atacama, while raising operational and sustainability standards.

“This joint venture allows us to project the development of the Atacama Salt Flat and continue advancing with standards of operational excellence, sustainability and shared value creation, combining complementary capabilities for the benefit of Chile and global markets,” Ramos said in a press release issued by Codelco.

As part of the agreement, SQM has also transferred all of its mining concessions in the Maricunga salt flat to Codelco.

Nova Andino Litio’s board will be evenly split between the partners, with three representatives from each company. Its first board meeting is scheduled for Monday (December 29).

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Top 5 Canadian Nickel Stocks of 2025

Investing 12 Mins Read

Nickel prices have experienced volatility in the past few years due to supply and demand uncertainty.

While demand has been consistent, prices have been mainly influenced by structural oversupply stemming from high output from Indonesia, which rapidly increased output in recent years to become the world’s top nickel producer.

Low prices led several companies to curtail production in 2024 and 2025, and ultimately prompted Indonesia to lower its mining quota in February. While prices haven’t recovered, they stabilized above US$15,000 per metric ton in H2.

Demand from the electric vehicle industry is one reason nickel’s outlook looks bright further into the future. Battery nickel demand is poised to triple by 2030, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

In Canada, nickel is listed as a top priority in the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy. The country is the world’s fourth largest producer of nickel, with much of its production coming from mines in Ontario’s Sudbury Basin.

Against that backdrop, how did Canadian nickel stocks perform in 2025? Below are the top nickel stocks in Canada on the TSX, TSXV and CSE by share price performance so far this year.

All year-to-date and share price data was obtained on December 22, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Canadian nickel stocks with market caps above C$10 million at that time were considered.

1. Talon Metals (TSX:TLO)

Year-to-date gain: 617.65 percent
Market cap: C$654.99 million
Share price: C$0.61

Talon Metals is a nickel exploration and development company working to advance its Tamarack nickel-copper-cobalt project in Minnesota, US, toward production.

The project is a joint venture with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO). Talon currently holds a 51 percent interest in the property, but under the terms of the deal, it has the option to increase its stake to up to 60 percent.

In November 2022, Talon released a resource estimate, reporting an indicated resource of 8.56 million metric tons with an average grade of 1.73 percent nickel, and an inferred resource of 8.46 million metric tons grading 0.83 percent.

The company is currently working to produce a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), and noted on October 20 that it had received a 12 month extension from Rio Tinto to complete the PEA as part of the earn-in agreement. Talon said the extended deadline will allow it to better time the release with an environmental assessment.

Talon’s share price has increased significantly on a series of massive sulfide discoveries at Tamarack throughout the year at what it has named the Vault Zone. Most recently, on December 11 Talon released results from step-out drilling at the Vault Zone at Tamarack, reporting that two of the three holes intersected the same massive sulfide, extending the zone.

The third demonstrated the zone’s copper enrichment, with highlights from the hole showing grades of 2.38 percent nickel and 4.72 percent over 19.11 meters, including 3.22 meters grading 2.77 percent nickel and 11.69 percent copper.

Additionally, Talon announced on May 28, that it secured a site from Westmoreland Mining that it will use to develop its Beulah Minerals Processing Facility. The facility has been separated from Tamarack to streamline the environmental review for the mine. Construction on the facility is slated to begin in 2027.

The company is also the operator of the Boulderdash nickel-copper discovery and numerous high-grade nickel-copper prospects in Michigan, US, for which Talon entered option agreements for Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN,OTC Pink:LUNMF) to acquire a 70 percent interest in the group of projects in early March.

2. Nickel Creek Platinum (TSXV:NCP)

Year-to-date gain: 400 percent
Market cap: C$16.19 million
Share price: C$2.55

Nickel Creek Platinum is advancing its flagship Nickel Shäw project toward production. Located in Yukon, Canada, it consists of 711 mineral claims and 91 quartz mining leases covering 14,650 hectares. Mineralization at the property was first discovered in 1952, with historic mining operations being carried out between 1972 and 1973.

A resource estimate included in a 2023 prefeasibility study demonstrates a measured and indicated nickel resource of 2.47 billion pounds from 436.7 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 0.26 percent nickel. It also holds an inferred resource of 668 million pounds of nickel from 114.02 million metric tons grading 0.27 percent.

Nickel Creek is planning for a 2026 drill program at Nickel Shäw, and stated the next step is a feasibility study.

On November 19, the company announced the closing of the first tranche of a private placement for proceeds of C$1.5 million. The company’s largest shareholder, Electrum Strategic Opportunities Fund, joined in the placement for up to C$800,000. As of May, Electrum held a 49.85 percent stake in Nickel Creek.

This was followed by an announcement on December 10 that it closed the second and final tranche of the placement for an additional C$276,000. The company said it intends to use the funds raised for a 2026 exploration drill program and permitting activities at Nickel Shäw.

Shares of Nickel Creek Platinum reached a year-to-date high of C$3.86 on October 13.

3. Grid Metals (TSXV:GRDM)

Year-to-date gain: 314.29 percent
Market cap: C$33.79 million
Share price: C$0.145

Grid Metals is an exploration company focused on a portfolio of projects in Manitoba, Canada.

Among its properties is the Makwa project located within the Bird River greenstone belt of Southeastern Manitoba. The project hosts nickel, copper and platinum group metals (PGMs) mineralization.

A June 2024 mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Makwa deposit demonstrated an indicated open pit resource of 68,243 metric tons of nickel with an average grade of 0.48 percent from 14.21 million metric tons of ore, as well as 317 million pounds of copper and 452,000 ounces of combined PGMs and gold.

In December 2024, Grid signed a definitive option and joint venture agreement with Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) to explore and develop the project. Under the terms of the agreement, Teck can earn up to a 70 percent interest in Makwa through cumulative expenditures of C$15.7 million and cash payments of C$1.6 million.

The company also owns the nearby Mayville nickel-copper-PGM project. In the 2024 MRE, the company reported an open-pit indicated resource of 51,230 metric tons of nickel, averaging 0.16 percent, from 32.02 million metric tons of ore.

On April 3, the company announced Teck was advancing towards a Phase One drill program at Makwa that would include 2,500 meters within an initial target area identified through an aerial geophysical survey.

Then on August 11, Grid reported that initial exploration at Makwa led to the discovery of surface-level semi-massive nickel mineralization, with grab samples returning grades of up to 1.1 percent, at the new Pavo anomaly. The company said the anomaly, which was identified through the aerial survey, would become the priority target for the drill program.

In a follow-up on November 11, the company announced that it received the necessary drilling permits for Makwa and that the drill rigs had been mobilized to the site.

In addition to its nickel properties, Grid Metals owns the Falcon West cesium and Donner lithium-cesium projects, also located in Southeastern Manitoba. Its cesium projects were another significant area of focus for Grid in 2025.

Shares in Grid Metals reached a year-to-date high of C$0.175 on November 20

4. SPC Nickel (TSXV:SPC)

Year-to-date gain: 300 percent
Market cap: C$25.76 million
Share price: C$0.08

SPC Nickel is an exploration company working to advance a pair of projects in Nunavut and Ontario, Canada.

Its Muskox property is a copper, nickel and platinum group metals exploration project in Nunavut, consisting of 26 mining claims and two prospector permits covering a total land area of 49,600 hectares. Mineralization at the site was first identified in the 1950s.

On July 21, SPC announced it would be carrying out a property-wide 1,000 line kilometer magneto-telluric (MobileMT) electromagnetic geophysical survey at Muskox that will be used to develop a 3D model.

In an exploration update released on September 17, the company said its summer exploration program had advanced the geologic understanding of the mineralization system present on the property, and that the MobileMT survey was the most thorough and modern survey ever flown at the site.

On November 24, the company released results from its exploration program, which included 77 grab samples across four primary and several additional target areas along the 125 kilometer long Muskox Intrusion.

In the report, SPC said results confirmed widespread high-grade mineralization of copper, nickel and platinum-group metals. The highest-grade nickel highlight was from the Speers Lake target, where one grab sample returned 6.24 percent nickel, while one sample from the Equinox target graded 70.62 percent copper equivalent.

Then, on December 8, SPC announced that the MobileMT survey outlined “numerous strong conductors … along the margins of the Muskox Intrusion and within the Feeder Dyke.” It noted that some of the conductors coincide with known mineralized zones, and some define new exploration targets.

The company is also working on its advanced-stage Lockerby East project near Sudbury, Ontario.

A March 2024 resource estimate demonstrates an indicated in-pit resource of 179.1 million pounds of nickel from 19.23 million metric tons with an average grade of 0.42 percent nickel and an out-of-pit resource of 45.7 million pounds of nickel from 3.24 million metric tons grading 0.64 percent from the West Graham target. It also shows an additional 17.2 million pounds of nickel from 665,000 metric tons grading 1.17 percent at the LKE deposit.

The most recent news from the project came on October 23, when the company announced it started a 1,000 meter drill program at the site designed to test anomalies located down-dip from the LKE deposit.

Shares in SPC Nickel reached a year-to-date high of C$0.80 on December 1.

5. Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSXV:PGE)

Year-to-date gain: 208.33 percent
Market cap: C$90.94 million
Share price: C$0.37

Stillwater Critical Minerals is an exploration and development company advancing its flagship Stillwater West nickel project in Montana, US. The property hosts 14 multi-kilometer-scale exploration targets and boasts 32 kilometers of strike length that adjoins the adjacent Sibanye-Stillwater mine property.

A resource estimate released in January 2023, shows an inferred nickel resource of 1.05 billion pounds from 254.8 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 0.19 percent. The project also holds platinum group elements, copper, cobalt and gold.

In late March, the company reported multiple large-scale magmatic sulfide targets following analysis of a property-wide third-party MobileMT geophysical survey completed in late 2024.

The data from the survey was also used to build a new 3D geological model of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex that the company used to further prioritize targets at Stillwater West for its 2025 drill campaign.

In June, the company mobilized for a new drill program focused on the advanced project areas, while testing adjacent targets identified using the 3D model.

In an exploration update released on September 15, Stillwater noted that it had completed over 3,100 meters in its 2025 campaign and was working on the fifth and sixth holes. It plans to use results from the program, combined with other drill data, to support an updated resource estimate in the first half of 2026.

On November 6, the company released a corporate update stating that the program’s results were pending and would be released when they became available. Additionally, Stillwater noted that 14 drill holes from the past two drill campaigns would be used to update the project MRE.

The company is anticipating completion of the MRE during the first half of 2026.

Stillwater’s most recent news came on December 15 when it increased the size of a bought deal from C$10 million to C$15 million. Proceeds from the fundraising will be used for exploration of Stillwater West and for general corporate purposes.

Shares of Stillwater Critical Minerals reached a year-to-date high of C$0.57 on October 8.

FAQs for nickel investing

How to invest in nickel?

There are a variety of ways to invest in nickel, but stocks and exchange-traded products are the most common. Nickel-focused companies can be found globally on various exchanges, and through the use of a broker or a service such as an app, investors can purchase companies and products that match their investing outlook.

Before buying a nickel stock, potential investors should take time to research the companies they’re considering; they should also decide how many shares will be purchased, and what price they are willing to pay. With many options on the market, it’s critical to complete due diligence before making any investment decisions.

Nickel stocks like those mentioned above could be a good option for investors interested in the space. Experienced investors can also look at nickel futures.

What is nickel used for?

Nickel has a variety of applications, including stainless steel, coins and lithium-ion batteries. Its main use is an alloy material for products such as stainless steel, and it is also used for plating metals to reduce corrosion. As for coins, its uses include the 5 cent coin, named the nickel, in the US and Canada; the US nickel is made up of 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper, while Canada’s nickel has nickel plating that makes up 2 percent of its composition.

Nickel is also used in certain lithium-ion battery compositions, bringing demand from sectors like electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Where is nickel mined?

The world’s top nickel-producing countries are primarily in Asia: Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia make up the top three. Rounding out the top five are Canada and China. Indonesia’s production stands far ahead of the rest of the pack, with 2024 output of 2.2 million metric tons compared to the Philippines’ 330,000 metric tons and Canada’s 190,000 metric tons.

Significant nickel miners include Norilsk Nickel (MCX:GMKN), Nickel Asia, BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF).

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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LaFleur Minerals Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of up to C$1,000,000

Investing 6 Mins Read

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (‘LaFleur Minerals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘Issuer’) announces that, due to additional demand to participate in the LIFE Offering, the Company announces a non-brokered hard dollar private placement offering of up to 2,000,000 units of the Company (the ‘Units’) at a price of $0.50 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 (the ‘Hard Dollar Offering’). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Common Share’) and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant’) granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional Common Share of the Company (a ‘Warrant Share’) at a price of $0.75 at any time on or before 36 months from the Closing Date (defined below).

The closing of the Hard Dollar Offering is expected to occur on or about January 5, 2026 (the ‘Closing Date‘), or such other earlier or later date as the Company may determine. The securities offered under the Hard Dollar Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring four (4) months and one day from the closing of the Offering, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The gross proceeds from the Hard Dollar Offering will be used for the commissioning and restart of gold production operations at the Company’s wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mine and Mill, as well as work at the Company’s Swanson Gold Project in Val d’Or, Québec, as well as for general working capital purposes.

The Company has agreed to pay qualified finders and brokers a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Hard Dollar Offering and such number of broker warrants (the ‘Broker Warrants‘) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the Hard Dollar Offering. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

The Company continues to progress in the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement LIFE Offering and Flow-Through Offering further to its news releases dated December 15, 2025, and December 16, 2025.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. ‘United States’ and ‘U.S. person’ are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral’s fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LaFleur Minerals INC.

Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer
E: info@lafleurminerals.com
LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279190

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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