American Rare Earths Limited (ARR:AU) has announced Successful Completion-Impurity Removal Neutralization Tests
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Locksley Resources (LKY:AU) has announced Locksley Qualifies for Trading on U.S. OTCQX Market
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Green Technology Metals (GT1:AU) has announced Successful A$4.5m Two Tranche Placement
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Thousands of U.S.-bound packages shipped by UPS are trapped at hubs across the country, unable to clear the maze of new customs requirements imposed by the Trump administration.
As packages flagged for customs issues pile up in UPS warehouses, the company told NBC News it has begun “disposing of” some shipments.
Frustrated UPS customers describe waiting for weeks and trying to make sense of scores of conflicting tracking updates from the world’s largest courier.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Matthew Wasserbach, brokerage manager of Express Customs Clearance, said of the UPS backlog. “It’s totally unprecedented.”
Wasserbach’s New York City-based shipping services firm helps clients move shipments through customs. He said the company has seen a spike in inquiries for help with UPS customs clearance.
More than two dozen people who are waiting for their UPS packages explained the circumstances of their shipments to NBC News.
They described shipments of tea, telescopes, luxury glassware, musical instruments and more — some worth tens of thousands of dollars — all in limbo or perhaps gone.
Others have deep sentimental value: notebooks, diplomas and even engagement rings.
The frustration has exploded online, with customers sharing horror stories on Reddit of missing skin care products, art and collectibles.
They are confused and angry, and they want answers.
“It’s almost impossible to get through to anybody to figure out what is happening,” said Ashley Freberg, who said she is missing several boxes she shipped via UPS from England in September.
“Are my packages actually being destroyed or not?”
Freberg’s boxes of journals, records and books were shipped on Sept. 18, according to tracking documents she shared with NBC News.
Over the next two weeks, she received two separate notifications from UPS that her personal mementos had not cleared customs and as a result had been “disposed of” by UPS.
Then, on Oct. 1, a UPS tracking update appeared for her packages, saying they were on the way. The tracking updates Freberg showed NBC News for that shipment revealed it was the most recent update she had received.
While sentimental value is impossible to measure, other customers fear they will not be able to recover financially if their goods were destroyed.
Tea importer Lauren Purvis of Portland, Oregon, said five shipments from Japan, mostly containing matcha green tea and collectively worth more than $127,000, were all sent via UPS over the last few weeks and arrived at UPS’ international package processing hub in Louisville, Kentucky. Purvis has yet to receive any of the shipments, only a flurry of conflicting tracking updates from UPS.
A series of notifications for one shipment, which she shared with NBC News, said that the shipment had not cleared customs and that UPS had disposed of it.
But a subsequent tracking update said the shipment had cleared customs and was on the way.
“We know how to properly document and pay for our packages,” Purvis said. “There should be zero reason that a properly documented and paid-for package would be set to be disposed of.”
At least a half-dozen people described an emotional seesaw they were put through by weeks of contradictory UPS tracking updates about their shipments. The updates, they said, compounded the stress of not knowing what had really happened to their possessions.
AJ, a Boston man who asked that NBC News use only his initials to protect his privacy, said he shipped a package from Japan via UPS on Sept. 12 including Japanese language books, a pillow and a backpack.
After it sat in Louisville for nearly two weeks, AJ got a tracking update on Sept. 26, one of several that he shared with NBC News. “We’re sorry, your package did not clear customs and has been removed from the UPS network. Per customs guidelines, it has been destroyed. Please contact the sender for more information,” it read.
Three days later, on Sept. 29, he received another, and this one read: “On the Way. Import Scan, Louisville, KY, United States.” For a moment, it appeared as though AJ’s shipment might have been found.
But less than 24 hours after his hopes were raised, another tracking update arrived: “We’re sorry,” it began. It was the same notice that his package had “been destroyed” that he had received on the 26th.
Two minutes later, he got his final update: “Unable to Deliver. Package cannot clear due to customs delay or missing info. Attempt to contact sender made. Package has been disposed of.”
International shipping was thrown into chaos after the long-standing “de minimis” tariff exemption for low-value packages ended on Aug. 29.
Packages with values of $800 or less, which were previously allowed to enter the United States duty-free, are now subject to a range of tariffs and fees.
They include hundreds of country-specific rates, or President Donald Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs, as well as new levies on certain products and materials.
The result is that international shipping to the United States today is far more complex and costly than it was even two months ago.
The sweeping changes have caught private individuals and veteran exporters alike in a customs conundrum.
It is difficult to know the exact number of the packages that are stuck in UPS customs purgatory. Shipping companies guard their delivery data closely.
UPS reported to investors that in 2023, its international service delivered around 3.2 million packages per day.
This week, the company told NBC News that it is clearing more than 90% of the packages it handles through customs on the first day.
The rest of the packages, or less than 10%, require more time to clear customs and need to be held until they do. That could easily mean that thousands of UPS packages every day are not clearing customs on their first try.
In a statement to NBC News, UPS said it is doing its best to get all packages to their destinations while abiding by the new customs requirements.
“Because of changes to U.S. import regulations, we are seeing many packages that are unable to clear customs due to missing or incomplete information about the shipment required for customs clearance,” it said.
UPS said it makes several attempts to get any missing information and clear delayed shipments, contacting shippers three times.
“In cases where we cannot obtain the necessary information to clear the package, there are two options,” it said.
“First, the package can be returned to the original shipper at their expense. Second, if the customer does not respond and the package cannot be cleared for delivery, disposing of the shipment is in compliance with U.S. customs regulations. We continue to work to bridge the gap of understanding tied to the new requirements and, as always, remain committed to serving our customers.”
NBC News asked UPS precisely what it does with packages when it tells customers their shipments have been unable to clear customs and have been “disposed of.” It would not say.
On Sept. 27, a shipper in Stockholm received a formal notification from UPS that two packages her glassware company sent to the United States — which failed to clear customs — would be destroyed.
“We are sorry, but due to these circumstances and the perishable nature of the contents, we are now required to proceed with destruction of the shipment in accordance with regulatory guidelines,” UPS told Anni Cernea in an email she shared with NBC News.
The email continued, “There is no need to contact our call center for further information or to attempt to clear this shipment.”
Cernea said, “It’s just outrageous that they can dispose of products like this without approval from either the sender or recipient.”
From now on, Cernea said, she plans to ship her products via UPS rival FedEx.
Cernea’s decision to switch carriers hints at the worst-case scenario for UPS, which is that people could abandon the company. It is a potential crisis for the roughly $70 billion company.
The company’s stock price is already down more than 30% this year, which analysts attribute to a mix of tariffs, competition and shifting shopping habits.
As she awaits her missing journals and diplomas from England, Freberg is looking ahead to the biggest shipping months of the year.
“I can’t even imagine how bad the holidays are going to be, because that’s a time where loads of people are shipping stuff overseas,” she said.
“If it doesn’t get solved soon, I can only see it becoming an even bigger issue.”
Isabella Morales contributed reporting.
This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
The S&P 500 ($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.
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.
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (October 10) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$121,578, down by 1.6 percent in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency’s lowest valuation of the day was US$119,967, and its highest was US$123,548.
Bitcoin price performance, October 10, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin may be trading near record highs, but one of its most respected on-chain indicators suggests the rally could still have significant room to run possibly as far as US$180,000.
The Mayer Multiple, a long-term metric that compares Bitcoin’s current price to its 200-week moving average, remains well below levels that have historically marked market tops.
“Bitcoin is at all-time highs and the Mayer Multiple is ice cold,” crypto analyst Frank Fetter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). According to Fetter, Bitcoin would need to climb to around US$180,000 before the indicator flashes “overbought” conditions, implying that the current cycle could still have room to expand.
The indicator’s historical context adds weight to that view. During Bitcoin’s 2017 and 2021 peaks, the Mayer Multiple surged well above 2.4, signaling excessive market exuberance before major corrections followed.
This time, the pattern looks different. The Multiple’s highest level in the current cycle—1.84 in March 2024, when Bitcoin neared US$72,000—never approached prior extremes, according to Glassnode data. Analysts see this moderation as a sign of a more sustainable advance.
Despite these encouraging on-chain signals, not everyone is convinced the path higher will be smooth. Short-term traders remain divided on whether Bitcoin can maintain momentum into the final quarter of the year.
Trader Tony “The Bull” Severino argued that Bitcoin may be entering a decisive 100-day window. Writing on X, Severino pointed to the Bollinger Bands indicator on Bitcoin’s weekly chart, which has tightened to levels not seen before. He noted that Bitcoin’s recent inability to hold above US$126,000, after briefly testing the upper band, could signal a short-term pullback before any sustained breakout.
Ether (ETH) also slid after last week’s rally, but has since recovered some of its losses. It was up by 0.7 percent over 24 hours to US$4,365.58. Ether’s lowest valuation on Friday was US$4,285.77, and its highest was US$4,401.99.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$222.58, an increase of 1.1 percent over the last 24 hours and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$217.57.
- XRP was trading for US$2.83, trading flat over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.78, and its highest was US$2.84.
Derivatives trends
The crypto derivatives market saw heavy liquidations over the past 24 hours, totaling roughly US$674 million, according to Coinglass data. Long positions accounted for US$505 million of that amount, while short positions made up US$169 million, marking one of October’s sharpest liquidation waves.
Among major assets, Bitcoin long liquidations reached US$116 million, compared to US$68.22 million in shorts, indicating that overleveraged bullish traders bore the brunt of the latest downturn. Ether long positions were liquidated for US$146 million, against US$34.54 million in shorts, reflecting a similar shakeout of optimistic bets amid heightened volatility.
Despite the sell-off, futures open interest for Bitcoin rose 0.23 percent in the last four hours to US$90.19 billion, suggesting that traders are gradually re-entering positions or maintaining leverage at elevated levels.
Ether futures open interest also ticked up 0.22 percent to US$59.53 billion, showing that market participants remain engaged even after widespread liquidations.
Bitcoin’s relative strength index (RSI) at 72.15 indicates that the asset remains in overbought territory, potentially signaling near-term price swings or corrective moves. Still, the market’s resilience near the US$120,000 level points to continued speculative interest.
Today’s crypto news to know
XRP, DOGE, SOL slip as US$2.7 billion flows into Bitcoin ETFs
Major altcoins faced losses Friday as traders took profits from Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally, even as spot ETF demand remained strong.
Bitcoin briefly dipped to around US$120,000 overnight before stabilizing near US$122,000, while Ether erased its weekly gains with a 2.4 percent drop.
Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Cardano each slid up to 3 percent, according to CoinDesk data. Despite the retreat, US-listed Bitcoin ETFs drew US$2.72 billion in inflows this week, highlighting resilient institutional appetite.
The ETF surge underscores Bitcoin’s growing role as a “digital safe-haven,” especially as gold surged above Us$4,000 an ounce. However, a possible pullback to the US$107,000–US$115,000 range could be imminent ahead of the Federal Reserve’s October 29 policy meeting.
EU dismisses ECB’s call for new stablecoin rules
The European Commission said Friday that existing crypto regulations under MiCA are adequate to handle stablecoin risks, pushing back on calls from the European Central Bank for stricter oversight.
According to a Reuters report, the ECB had urged Brussels to introduce new safeguards against “multi-issuance” models, where stablecoins minted outside the EU could be treated as interchangeable with those issued within.
Industry groups, including members like Circle, asked the Commission to formally clarify that multi-issuance is allowed under current rules.
In a statement to Reuters, the Commission said MiCA already provides a “robust and proportionate framework” and that further guidance will be published soon.
The ECB’s main concern is that redemptions from non-EU tokens could drain reserves inside the bloc, posing systemic risks. Stablecoin issuers countered that their reserve structures already mitigate such threats.
Bitcoin ETFs extend Uptober gains as Ethereum products lose momentum
US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted another strong day Tuesday, with US$197.8 million in net inflows, reinforcing Bitcoin’s dominance as institutional investors rotated away from Ethereum products.
Data from SoSoValue showed total Bitcoin ETF assets climbing to US$164.79 billion, representing nearly 7 percent of Bitcoin’s market cap.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT) led inflows with US$255 million, extending its lead over rivals as total assets surpassed $97 billion. Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (BATS:FBTC) and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (NYSEARCA:GBTC) saw outflows of US$13 million and US$45 million, respectively.
The renewed demand follows a surge of US$1.19 billion in inflows earlier this week, the highest since July, with BlackRock again accounting for the majority.
Bitcoin has gained over 10 percent in October, peaking at US$126,080 before easing to $121,000. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs snapped their eight-day inflow streak with US$8.7 million in withdrawals, reflecting a temporary pause after a strong start to the month.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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This week, the technology sector remained the dominant force shaping overall market trends in the US, despite the ongoing complexity of macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions.
The partial US government shutdown continued to delay key economic reports, creating a data vacuum that heightened reliance on soft data like consumer sentiment surveys. Notably, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index held steady at a subdued 55, reflecting persistent concerns about high prices and a challenging labor market.
Meanwhile, Canada reported a surprising gain of 60,400 jobs in September, with employment increases concentrated in full-time positions and manufacturing. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 percent, defying expectations and signaling a cautious stabilization after recent job losses.
Investor appetite for AI and related innovation remained high, pushing the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) and S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) to record or near-record levels midweek. However, ongoing trade frictions between the US and China continue posing risks to semiconductor supply chains and international tech trade flows.
On Friday (October 10), China introduced additional export restrictions on rare earth metals and related refining technologies, expanding controls to five more elements critical for electronics, defense and high-tech industries. US President Donald Trump responded by threatening to escalate tariffs on Chinese imports and warned of the potential cancellation of his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping at APEC in South Korea.
The news sent major stock indexes lower, with the S&P 500 seeing its largest decline since tariffs were first announced in April and the Nasdaq Composite losing 3.56 percent. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index led losses, pulling back 6.32 percent.
After a nearly three-year rally fueled by enthusiasm for AI, concerns among analysts and investors about elevated valuations and concentrated exposure in AI-related companies continue to emerge.
The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee warned of an increased risk of market correction, particularly in AI-focused tech firms, due to stretched valuations. They noted high market concentration in the S&P 500’s top five companies, many being AI-centric. Disappointing AI adoption or increased competition could trigger a downturn by reassessing high earnings expectations. Bottlenecks in AI advancements also pose valuation risks.
Similarly, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that AI-fueled global stock prices are overvalued and vulnerable to a sudden correction. She cited weakening job creation and US tariffs as “troubling signs” that could lead to instability and dampen global growth.
Analysts from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) also wrote in a Monday (October 6) note that AI-related debt has reached US$1.2 trillion, making it the largest segment in the investment-grade market. AI companies now represent 14 percent of the high-grade market, exceeding US banks. However, this debt is primarily in investment-grade bonds from companies with strong balance sheets,
This complex interplay of cautious optimism underscores the evolving narratives dominating the tech market.
Three tech stocks that moved markets this week
1. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD)
AMD’s stock opened over 31 percent higher on Monday after announcing a multi-year deal to supply up to 6 gigawatts of AI chips to OpenAI, starting with its MI450 series in the second half of 2026.
The company extended its gains on Tuesday (October 7) after Jefferies upgraded the stock rating to “buy” as other brokerages hiked their price targets. The news helped temper losses seen throughout the tech sector as trade tensions escalated on Friday.
The partnership grants OpenAI warrants to acquire up to 160 million shares of AMD, representing around 10 percent ownership upon achieving deployment milestones. This deal positions AMD as a major AI hardware supplier and represents a challenge to Nvidia’s dominance in the sector.
2. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)
Intel shares jumped as much as 3.05 percent on Friday after the company unveiled its Panther Lake architecture, the first PC processor built on its advanced 18A semiconductor manufacturing process, with high-volume production beginning later this year at its Fab 52 facility in Arizona.
Panther Lake is set to significantly enhance power efficiency and performance, delivering an anticipated 50 percent increase in CPU and GPU capabilities compared to earlier generations. This chip is designed for premium laptops and is central to Intel’s plan to re-establish its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing within the US.
Intel also previewed its first 18A-based server processor, Clearwater Forest, slated for release in the first half of 2026. Panther Lake is scheduled for commercial availability in early 2026, coinciding with major consumer electronics shows.
3. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Tesla released the long-awaited lower-priced versions of the Model Y and Model 3 on Tuesday, with the Model Y Standard starting at US$39,990.
After an initial rally on Monday following a weekend teaser of the announcement, shares fell by as much as 4.57 percent after an underwhelming reaction to modest price cuts and the vehicles’ lack of key features present in the pricier models.
The company also reportedly paused large-scale production of its humanoid robot Optimus due to technical difficulties and faced a new preliminary safety investigation by the NHTSA into its Full Self-Driving system, covering nearly 2.9 million vehicles amid reports of traffic law violations.
Company announcements helped Intel and AMD weather sector-wide losses on Friday
Chart courtesy of Google Finance
ETF performance
This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) only declined by about 6.27 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) pulled back by approximately 6.49 percent.
For its part, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) only lost 5.86 percent.
These losses occurred against a backdrop of heightening trade tensions between tech’s two largest markets.
Other tech market news
Tech news to watch next week
Next week, investors will be closely monitoring a slate of important earnings reports from leading financial and technology companies, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), IBM, Intel and Tesla.
Additionally, the US government’s shutdown resolution or extension will affect the release of vital economic data, influencing market sentiment and investment strategies.
On the policy front, investors should watch for Federal Reserve communications for clues on interest rate directions, as well as progress in US-China trade negotiations, which will undoubtedly define the near-term trajectory of the tech market.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
This post appeared first on investingnews.com
It’s been yet another historic week for gold, as well as silver.
Gold broke through US$4,000 per ounce midway through the period, entering never-before-seen territory as the US government shutdown continued into a second week.
Silver’s milestone was perhaps even more impressive. The white metal pushed through the elusive US$50 per ounce mark and continued on past US$51, marking a new record.
What’s behind its takeoff? Silver is known for its duality as both a precious and industrial metal, and experts have emphasized that it’s a mix of factors moving silver right now. It’s catching up to gold, which itself is supported by global geopolitical uncertainty and concerns about fiat currencies, and it’s also got its own specific elements at play.
Backwardation, which happens when a commodity’s spot price is higher than its futures price, has been a frequent topic of discussion, and prior to silver’s move past US$50, precious metals analyst Ted Butler gave a rundown of the implications for silver.
Here’s what he said:
‘Normally, (backwardation) results in an overwhelming demand for physical. That could take the form of SLV investors standing for delivery, whether that be the the industrial players, who are notoriously resolute, or even billionaire whales from India.
‘But in that event, which is already playing out, by the way, silver prices and premiums will continue to increase, maybe even dramatically, as the news of insufficient physical silver transmits itself through the market.’
As those who follow precious metals will know, silver has only been at the US$50 level twice before — the first time was in 1980, when the Hunt brothers tried to corner the market, and the second instance was over a decade ago in 2011. Both of those moves were brief, and investors are understandably wondering if this time is different for silver.
It’s impossible for anyone to say for sure, but I’ve been hearing market watchers highlight the gold-silver ratio as a way to gauge the outlook for silver.
Ahead of silver’s US$50 landmark, David Morgan of the Morgan Report explained that the ratio shows silver still has room to rise. Here’s what he said:
‘We’re still in the 80s for the gold-silver ratio, which is historically high. And until we get to 70, I’m not going to be particularly happy. And off of today’s gold price, a 71 ratio would be like … US$55 silver, and that would be over that US$50 mark.’
Morgan also talked about the psychological impact of US$50 silver, saying that it could prompt algorithmic traders and institutions to enter the sector:
‘You’ll see algorithms come in and start trading silver, and you’ll probably see institutions come in, because they know that it’s a small market, and they can move the market with a buy order, if it’s significant enough.
How high can gold and silver prices go?
Taking a step back to look at the precious metals rally as a whole, I want to reiterate that the experts I’ve been hearing from don’t think this is the end of the bull market.
While many have emphasized that a correction would be healthy for gold and silver, they think the current cycle is still in progress and is likely to end with much higher prices.
Here’s Lynette Zang of Zang Enterprises on what could be coming:
‘If you go back to the beginning of the year, what you actually see is that while everything is going up, the spot contracts on gold and silver, and particularly silver, are much stronger and more powerful than those prices that we’re seeing in the stock market, or even in the Bitcoin market, in the crypto markets.
‘Gold and silver are handily outperforming, and that’s telling us (why) the central banks have been accumulating more gold than they ever have since they began tracking — because they know what they’re doing to destroy the currencies.’
It’s also worth noting that it’s not just people in the gold and silver space that are optimistic.
Precious metals are increasingly making news headlines, and more and more mainstream authorities are touting their protective benefits.
Just this week, American billionaire Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates suggested that investors allocate as much as 15 percent of their portfolios to gold. He compared the current environment to the 1970s, a time of high inflation and debt.
Dalio’s opinion is similar to that of DoubleLine Capital’s Jeffrey Gundlach, who recently said a 25 percent weighting toward gold wouldn’t be excessive.
Platinum and palladium take off
Gold and silver may be attracting the most attention, but platinum and palladium are also on the move.
Platinum, which spent years trading at rangebound levels, has broken out in 2025, and is currently above US$1,600 per ounce, a price not seen since 2013.
Palladium, whose price has been subdued since seeing several spikes between about 2020 and 2022, was also on the move this week, approaching US$1,500 per ounce.
While these precious metals are similar, it’s mostly platinum that’s being talked about as a potential opportunity for investors. Historically it’s often been priced higher than gold, and some see the two finding parity again in the future.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
This post appeared first on investingnews.com
Statistics Canada released September’s job data on Friday (October 10). According to the release, 60,000 jobs were added to the Canadian economy during the month, and the employment rate increased to 60.6 percent, up 0.1 percent from August. However, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.1 percent.
The increase in the labor market follows a significant decline of 106,000 combined jobs over the previous two months.
Leading the gains was the manufacturing sector, which added 28,000 jobs to the labor force. The increase was followed by 14,000 new workers in the health care and social assistance sector, and 13,000 new roles in the agriculture sector.
The natural resources sector posted a 2.2 percent gain, adding 7,100 new jobs over August’s numbers, but the sector shed 18,200 workers over September 2024.
Earlier in the week, StatsCan released a report on the economic contribution of critical mineral production in 2023 on Monday (October 6).
In 2023, critical mineral production contributed C$30.2 billion in nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and C$20.9 billion in real GDP terms, which accounted for 1.1 percent of the total economy and 37.4 percent of the mineral and mining sector.
The report also details a nominal GDP increase of 63 percent and a real GDP growth of 12.7 percent between 2019 and 2023. During the same period, job growth increased by 6.2 percent, with the subsector employing nearly 55,000 workers, outpacing the entire mineral and mining sector and the broader economy, which grew by 5.2 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.
South of the border, the White House announced on Monday that President Donald Trump approved the Ambler Access Road project in Alaska. This was followed by a 50 to 46 vote by the Senate on Thursday evening to repeal a land management plan for Alaska that had delayed development of the road.
The controversial project would connect the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District via a route that passed through the Gates of the Arctic National Park, considered one of the United States’ best-preserved parks.
The access road was initially approved during Trump’s first term in office, but approvals were rescinded in 2024 under the Biden administration due to the impact on the Western Arctic caribou herd, salmon and other wildlife. The Native American Tribes who live, hunt and fish in the area have largely stood in opposition to the road.
Proponents point to access to critical minerals like copper and gallium, which have become a focal point as the US seeks to increase domestic production of these minerals, which are required for the advancement of AI technologies, data centers and national defense.
Both gold and silver soared to record highs this week, with the gold price reaching US$4,058.98 per ounce on Wednesday (October 8) and the silver price climbing to an intraday all-time high of US$51.14 per ounce on Thursday (October 9). While gold has been consistently setting new records in 2025, silver broke its all-time high set in 1980.
Precious metals have seen broad gains since the start of the year, fueled by widespread uncertainty in the global economy due to factors including chaotic US trade policy and, most recently, the failure of US lawmakers to agree on a funding package to prevent the federal government from shutting down.
For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.
Markets and commodities react
Canadian equity markets were mixed this week.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) halted its record-breaking run this week, losing 1.17 percent to close Friday at 29,850.89.
The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fared better, ending a volatile week up 1.75 percent at 980.77. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) was up 2.2 percent to close out the week at 184.31.
The gold price set another new record, reaching an intraday high of US$4,058.98 per ounce on Wednesday. On the week, gold was up 3.39 percent to US$4,018.68 by Friday’s close.
The silver price saw even stronger gains, breaking its own all time high on Thursday at US$51.14 per ounce, before pulling back slightly to post a weekly gain of 4.27 percent to US$50.03 per ounce by 4:00 p.m. EDT Friday.
Copper was up as much as 3 percent on the week during trading Thursday, but the copper price collapsed on Friday, falling from US$5.10 to end the week at US$4.80 per pound.
The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) fell 0.71 percent to end Friday at 539.97.
Top Canadian mining stocks this week
How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?
Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.
Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.
1. Valhalla Metals (TSXV:VMXX)
Weekly gain: 282.35 percent
Market cap: C$44.59 million
Share price: C$0.65
Valhalla Metals is a polymetallic exploration company with a pair of projects in Alaska’s Ambler Mining District, the Sun and Smucker projects.
Its primary focus, the Sun project consists of 392 claims that cover an area of 25,382 hectares.
A May 2022 technical report states that the indicated resource for the project is 1.71 million metric tons of ore containing 55.85 million pounds of copper, 162.96 million pounds of zinc, 42.04 million pounds of lead, 3.3 million ounces of silver and 12,000 ounces of gold.
It also reported an inferred resource of 9.02 million metric tons containing 239.64 million pounds of copper, 831.33 million pounds of zinc, 290.26 million pounds of lead, 23.68 million ounces of silver and 73,000 ounces of gold.
The project is largely dependent on the construction of the 211 mile Ambler Access Road, which Trump approved in his first term. Former President Joe Biden rescinded the federal permit in 2024 due to environmental concerns, which is discussed in-depth above.
Shares in Valhalla surged this week after the Senate and the White House signaled support for the project. The company said in a news release on Tuesday (October 7) that it was excited by the reversal and will now be able to restart exploration and expand the known resources at the Sun Deposit.
2. Trilogy Metals (TSX:TMQ)
Weekly gain: 191.35 percent
Market cap: C$1.53 billion
Share price: C$8.42
Trilogy Metals is a polymetallic exploration and development company working to advance its Upper Kobuk mineral projects in Northern Alaska, which it owns in a 50/50 joint venture with South32 (ASX:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF).
Its most advanced asset is the Arctic copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver project, which is in the feasibility stage. In an updated feasibility study from February 2023, the company reported annual payable production volumes of 148.68 million pounds of copper, 172.6 million pounds of zinc, 25.75 million pounds of lead, 32,538 ounces of gold and 2.77 million ounces of silver.
After tax, the study pegged the net present value at US$1.11 billion, with an internal rate of return of 22.8 percent and a payback period of 3.1 years.
Trilogy’s other key asset is the Bornite copper-cobalt project located 25 kilometers southwest of its Arctic project. The site hosts widespread mineralization and has seen historic exploration dating back to the 1950s.
A preliminary economic assessment for Bornite, dated January 15, established an after-tax net present value of US$393.9 million, with an internal rate of return of 20 percent and a payback period of 4.4 years. The updated mineral resource included with the report estimates an inferred resource of 6.53 billion pounds of copper with an average grade of 1.42 percent from 208.9 million metric tons of ore.
Like Valhalla’s, shares in Trilogy surged this week on the news that the US government approved construction of the Ambler Access Road.
Additionally, Trilogy reported on Monday that it had entered into a binding letter of intent, that would see the US Department of Defense invest US$17.8 million in Trilogy in exchange for 8.22 million shares, or 10 percent of the company, and will hold warrants for an additional 7.5 percent.
Both Trilogy and the DoD stated that they will work in good faith to facilitate financing for the construction of the road and will include permit applications for the FAST-41 process to expedite mining development.
3. ARES Strategic Mining (CSE:ARS)
Weekly gain: 180.65 percent
Market cap: C$184.54 million
Share price: C$0.87
Ares Strategic Mining is a development company advancing its Lost Sheep fluorspar mine in Utah, US, to production.
Initially acquired in 2020, the property consists of 353 claims across 5,982 acres south-west of Salt Lake City. The Lost Sheep fluorspar mine is currently in the construction phase and has received backing from the state of Utah and the federal government. It is the only permitted fluorspar mine in the country.
Ares reported on July 31 that it had launched a program with Iowa State University and the Ames National Laboratory to explore the potential of extracting gallium from the site in addition to fluorspar,
As part of this research, the company indicated on September 16 that it had also confirmed the presence of germanium within fluorspar samples from its Lost Sheep mine. The company said that the discovery has the potential to unlock additional critical mineral value from the project.
In its most recent construction update on September 11, Ares reported the Lumps plant has reached an advanced stage, with concrete foundations and pads being completed and steel frame structures being erected.
4. Nord Precious Metals (TSXV:NTH)
Weekly gain: 154.55 percent
Market cap: C$17.04 billion
Share price: C$0.42
Nord Precious Metals is focused on advancing its projects in Ontario, Canada, and owns the TTL silver gravity plant in the region.
The company’s primary exploration property is the Castle project located south of Timmins in the Cobalt Camp. It covers an area of 7,332.76 hectares and hosts the past producing Castle mine complex, which produced 9.4 million ounces of silver and 376,000 pounds of cobalt.
A 2021 mineral resource estimate revealed a total inferred silver equivalent resource of 7.57 million ounces, with an average grade of 7,149 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver, 2,537 g/t cobalt, 628 g/t of copper, and 467 g/t of nickel, from 32.9 million metric tons of ore.
The company also owns the past-producing Beaver Mine, located just east of Castle along the border between Ontario and Quebec. The mine operated until 1940 and produced 7.1 million ounces of silver.
The company has been working on the development of a tailings recovery program at the site, announcing on October 1 that test work produced commercial high-grade silver with concentrations up to 2,114.9 g/t.
Nord is planning to apply for a recovery permit to process tailings at its TTL gravity plant, which it plans to begin commissioning once it receives the permit.
The company said that the results validate the technical approach to the tailings program.
5. Avalon Advanced Materials
Weekly gain: 145.45 percent
Market cap: C$47.82 billion
Share price: C$0.135
Avalon Advanced Materials is an explorer and developer focused on lithium projects in Canada.
The company’s flagship project is its 40 percent owned Separation Rapids lithium project in Ontario, a joint venture with SCR-Sibelco, which owns the remaining 60 percent.
The project consists of three primary lithium targets: the Separation Rapids deposit; the Snowbank target, located near Kenora; and the Lilypad project near Fort Hope, which also hosts tantalum and cesium mineralization.
The pair increased the project’s measured and indicated resource by 28 percent in late February.
Avalon is also developing the Lake Superior lithium processing facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The most recent news from Avalon came on Thursday when it reported that it had produced lithium hydroxide and analcime using an alkaline leach process developed by Finnish mineral processing company Metso.
The company said that early assessments indicate a 60 percent potential reduction in water use, along with a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional methods. It stated that the achievement marked a milestone for the company to establish a sustainable lithium processing solution at its facility
FAQs for Canadian mining stocks
What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?
The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.
How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?
As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.
Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.
How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?
There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.
The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.
These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.
How do you trade on the TSXV?
Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.
Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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