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January 2025

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Tech giant Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) released results for its first fiscal quarter of 2025 on Thursday (January 30), revealing a mixed performance marked by slight revenue beats and iPhone sales dips.

Revenue came to US$124.3 billion, a 4 percent annual rise, narrowly surpassing analysts’ estimates of US$124.12 billion. Earnings per share hit US$2.40, up 10 percent from the previous year and above projections of US$2.35.

iPhone sales reached US$69.1 billion, a slight decrease from the previous year and short of the estimated US$70 billion.

AI challenges, iPhone sales weigh on Apple

Apple’s trading patterns have been turbulent, mirroring the broader trend in the tech sector.

Shares pulled back earlier this month after the company receiving ratings downgrades from Jefferies and Oppenheimer, but fared fairly well on Monday (January 27), when the DeepSeek selloff affected markets.

Apple is up about 6 percent for the week, while its peer NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is recovering from heavy losses.

“Apple obviously is taking a little bit more of an asset-light approach to artificial intelligence (AI), so they are not spending the capex and building the AI infrastructure like some of the other large internet companies are,” Barclays (NYSE:BCS,LSE:BARC) Managing Director Tim Long told CNBC’s Squawk Box.

Long added that Barclays analysts anticipated a “little bit of a reboot in strategy over the next year for AI offerings,” noting Apple Intelligence’s lack of success since its debut in June 2024.

Apple’s failure to impress users with its AI is coinciding with increased competition, particularly in China, where local brands are leveraging the company’s delayed AI rollout to gain market share, integrating AI into their newer models.

A January 13 report from Counterpoint Research shows that Chinese smartphone brands gained market share in 2024, while Apple’s iPhone 16 sales were mixed due to the lack of Apple Intelligence at launch.

The company has also been unable to lift a ban on the iPhone 16 in Indonesia, although Bloomberg reported last week that the company may be close to a deal to resolve the issue. Looking ahead, Apple plans to continue its global rollout of Apple Intelligence and expects revenue to grow in the low to mid-single digits in Q1.

Apple’s share price closed Thursday around 0.4 percent below its opening price, dropping off in the final hour of trading. After an initial fall after hours, Apple was up nearly 3.5 percent at the time of this writing.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Quantum computing (QC) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising to revolutionize industries ranging from cryptography to drug discovery. As this field evolves, investors are increasingly eyeing quantum computing stocks as potential high-reward opportunities. However, it’s essential to approach this nascent sector with a balanced perspective, recognizing both its vast potential and inherent risks.

The Allure of Quantum Computing Investments

Quantum computers operate on principles fundamentally different from classical computers, utilizing quantum bits or “qubits” that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This capability allows them to solve complex problems more efficiently than traditional computers. The potential applications are vast, including:

  • Cryptography: Developing unbreakable encryption methods.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Accelerating drug discovery through advanced molecular modeling.
  • Materials Science: Designing new materials with unique properties.

Given these prospects, the QC market is projected to grow significantly. Global Quantum Intelligence forecasts a market size ranging from $15 billion to $20 billion between 2025 and 2030, with substantial investments anticipated in cybersecurity to counteract future quantum threats to encryption. 

Current Market Players

Several companies have emerged as key players in the QC sector:

  • IonQ: Specializes in trapped-ion quantum computing technology.
  • Rigetti Computing: Focuses on superconducting qubit technology.
  • D-Wave Quantum: Known for its quantum annealing computers.

These companies have garnered attention from investors, leading to significant stock volatility. For instance, IonQ and Rigetti Computing experienced substantial gains in late 2024, driven by heightened interest in quantum technologies. 

Challenges and Risks

Despite the excitement, QC remains in its early stages, and several challenges persist:

  • Technological Maturity: Practical, large-scale quantum computers are still under development. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has suggested that meaningful commercialization of quantum technology could take 15 or more years.  
  • Market Volatility: Quantum computing stocks have exhibited significant volatility. For example, companies like IonQ and Rigetti Computing have seen their stock prices fluctuate dramatically, reflecting the market’s uncertainty about the sector’s future.  
  • Investment Risk: The nascent nature of the industry means that investing in quantum computing stocks carries higher risk compared to more established sectors. Equity dilution and the lack of immediate revenue streams are concerns for investors.  

Investment Considerations

For those considering investments in QC:

  1. Long-Term Horizon: Recognize that quantum computing is a long-term play. Meaningful returns may take years, if not decades, to materialize.
  2. Diversification: Given the uncertainties, it’s prudent to diversify investments across multiple sectors and companies to mitigate risk.
  3. Stay Informed: Continuously monitor advancements in quantum technologies and company developments to make informed decisions.
  4. Risk Assessment: Evaluate your risk tolerance carefully. Quantum computing investments are speculative and may not be suitable for all investors.

Conclusion

QC holds transformative potential, and investing in this frontier technology can be enticing. However, it’s crucial to approach such investments with caution, acknowledging the current limitations and uncertainties. A well-informed and measured strategy will be essential for those looking to navigate the complexities of the quantum computing investment landscape.

The post Quantum Computing Investments: Opportunities & Risks appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.

Gold stocks have risen, even after the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged. So it wasn’t surprising to find a few gold mining stocks filtered in my StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) scan. (This scan was created using StockCharts’ Advanced Scan Workbench and can be found at the end of the article for reference.)

I selected Alamos Gold, Inc. (AGI), a gold mining stock in the materials sector for further analysis. Gold mining stocks have been rising, as have gold prices, and, with AGI trading at around $21, the stock is worth considering as an addition to a portfolio. 

A Deep Dive Into Alamos Gold

AGI has had an interesting run since late 2022, after it broke out of a shallow downward-sloping sideways range. The stock rode higher, moved sideways for almost a year, and then continued its upward trend. It pulled back again from late October 2024 to January 2025; it is now trading above its 21-week exponential moving average (EMA) and challenging its all-time highs.

FIGURE 1. WEEKLY CHART OF GOLD MINING STOCK ALAMOS. The stock has been trending higher since early 2024 and is now battling with its all-time highs.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

When a stock reaches its all-time high, that could be an incentive to go even higher. But there needs to be momentum. There are a handful of momentum indicators you could use, such as the relative strength index (RSI), moving average convergence/divergence (MACD), and average directional index (ADX).

Let’s look at the daily chart of AGI to identify potential entry points.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF ALAMOS GOLD. The SCTR score is 82.50, the price is very close to its 52-week high (in this case, an all-time high), and RSI is almost 70. The stock is also trading well above its 15-day EMA.Chart source: StockChartsACP. For educational purposes.

The Distance to 52-Week Highs indicator in the lower panel shows AGI is close to its 52-week high. The SCTR score is above 80, volume is picking up, the stock is trading above its 15-day EMA, and the RSI has been trending higher, just shy of 70. All indicators point to AGI retaining its bullish move.

AGI failed to close at a new all-time high on Thursday. It’s worth monitoring the stock’s momentum to see if it can close at a new high and push through it. If not, consider catching it on a pullback and trying to ride the wave up. It could be a golden opportunity.

However, as we know too well, things can change. If the dynamics of AGI start shifting — i.e. the SCTR score falls, the stock price moves closer to its 15-day EMA, or the RSI reverses and approaches the 50 line — then it may be time to exit the stock.

As always, if any of the indicators start reversing, which would suggest that the stock’s strength is declining, you may be better off moving on to find more promising investments.

The SCTR Scan

[country is US] and [sma(20,volume) > 100000] and [[SCTR.us.etf x 76] or [SCTR.large x 76] or [SCTR.us.etf x 78] or [SCTR.large x 78] or [SCTR.us.etf x 80] or [SCTR.large x 80]]


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

Overview

Nuclear Fuels Inc. (CSE:NF,OTCQX:NFUNF) is a uranium exploration company advancing early-stage, district-scale In-Situ Recovery (ISR) amenable uranium projects towards production in the United States of America. Leveraging extensive proprietary historical databases and deep industry expertise, Nuclear Fuels is well-positioned in a sector poised for significant and sustained growth on the back of strong government support. Nuclear Fuels has consolidated the Kaycee district under single-company control for the first time since the early 1980s. Currently executing its second drill program at the Kaycee Project, the company aims to expand on historic resources across a 35-mile trend with over 430 miles of mapped roll-fronts defined by 3,800 drill holes. The company’s strategic relationship with enCore Energy Corp., America’s Clean Energy Company, offers a mutually beneficial “pathway to production,” with enCore owning an ~18 percent equity interest and retaining the right to back-in to 51 percent ownership in the flagship Kaycee Project in Wyoming’s prolific Powder River Basin.

Our industry-leading team is dedicated to building America’s uranium resources and ensuring a reliable domestic fuel supply for nuclear energy—always on, always available. ISR technology allows for non-invasive, environmentally friendly uranium extraction using groundwater and oxygen, combined with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the uranium efficiently and sustainably.

The company’s flagship project, Kaycee, is located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, the backbone of the United States’ domestic uranium production. With existing historic resources of nearly 2.5 million pounds (Mlbs) of uranium, the project has the potential to become a large-scale uranium producer. Eighty-nine drill holes were completed in 2023 focused on the Saddle Zone. Phase 2 of the drill program currently underway is focused on the Saddle and Spur Zones. It commenced on April 29, 2024, with an additional 700 permitted drill holes designed to expand the areas drilled in 2023 and define new mineralized zones along trend.

Wyoming is the USA’s leading uranium-producing state, home to the largest known uranium ore reserves in the US. Wyoming is also a jurisdiction that supports energy development, being among a handful of US states with an ‘Agreement State’ status, which provides for a “one-window” streamlined permitting program for new uranium projects.

Nuclear Fuel’s Kaycee project is potentially amenable for in-situ recovery (ISR) extraction technology, an environmentally responsible and economically superior uranium extraction process. Over 60 percent of all uranium extractions globally use this technology.

In addition to the Kaycee project, some of the company’s other assets include the Bootheel project in Wyoming (uranium) and the Moonshine project in Arizona (uranium). Through this portfolio of projects, Nuclear Fuels is confident it can contribute to the U.S.’ need to develop a safe, environmentally superior, and reliable source of domestic uranium, thereby reducing foreign supply dependence and ultimately contributing to the global energy transition.

Assets in uranium mining jurisdictions

Some of the most important challenges faced by the world today are climate change and energy security. Nuclear energy can play an important role in addressing these concerns.

Nuclear energy is a clean and carbon-free energy source. It is the largest source of carbon-free electricity in the US, as it generates electricity without harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, or mercury. In addition, nuclear energy has a small land footprint meaning it can produce relatively large amounts of power using small land mass. Typically, a 1,000-MW nuclear plant requires around 1 square mile to operate. In comparison, wind farms require 360 times more land area to produce the same amount of electricity, and solar photovoltaic plants require 75 times more area, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Nuclear fuel is also extremely energy dense. For perspective, a half-inch-tall uranium pellet creates as much energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 120 gallons (about 454.25 L) of oil, or 1 ton of coal. Lastly, the nuclear power industry has a strong safety culture; delivering power safely and efficiently, especially so in comparison to coal-fired power plants.

Given these benefits, the world today is experiencing a nuclear renaissance. Roughly 200 nuclear reactors are currently under construction or planned – an increase of more than 40 percent of the currently operating nuclear fleet. In Japan, 10 reactors have restarted, and 16 additional reactors have applied for restarts. Likewise, the UK plans to build eight new nuclear reactors to increase its energy production. Additionally, the US is heavily focused on nuclear energy, with several nuclear power plants in America currently undergoing the permitting process to restart power generation. Approximately 20 percent of electricity generated in the US comes from nuclear energy sources, according to data from the US Department of Energy. However, about 95 percent of the uranium that fuels America’s nuclear reactors is imported. The continued increase in the price of uranium is fueling the drive to accelerate uranium exploration in the US to boost domestic production.

To produce large amounts of nuclear energy, the US needs domestically produced uranium fuel. Currently, the majority of uranium is imported from foreign producers such as Russia, Kazakhstan and China. To reduce dependence on foreign uranium supply, the US is seeking to strengthen its domestic supply sources. Nuclear Fuels is well positioned to become a leading domestic uranium exploration company with a potential pathway to production with enCore Energy, with the Kaycee Project in Wyoming.

Wyoming is a proven and effective uranium permitting jurisdiction. Its status as an Agreement State ensures permitting and advancing uranium projects are more efficient and streamlined compared to most other states. It is also important to note that most uranium production in Wyoming, especially in the Powder River Basin, involves the ISR extraction method. Wyoming hosts at least 10 ISR operations that have produced more than 45 Mlbs of U3O8.

What is in-situ recovery?

In-situ recovery (ISR) offers a minimally intrusive, eco-friendly and economically competitive approach to mineral extraction. It’s been proven a successful technique for mining uranium, especially from lower-grade deposits that might not warrant conventional open pit or underground mining due to costs. Unlike traditional mining, ISR doesn’t involve open pits, waste dumps or tailings, making it more environmentally friendly. This method also streamlines the permitting, development, and remediation processes. With ISR, uranium is extracted without disturbing the surface, and once the process is complete, the land is restored to its original state and purpose.

Since its development in the 1960s, ISR technology has evolved significantly. Today, it’s a controllable, safe and benign uranium production method that is highly regulated in the US. ISR currently accounts for about 70 percent of global uranium production. Some nations, like Kazakhstan and Australia, still employ strong chemicals like sulfuric acid for extraction. Many companies operating in the US opt for a mix of oxygen and sodium bicarbonate in the local groundwater, which extracts uranium with minimal environmental impact and at a near-neutral pH.

With ISR, uranium extraction is accomplished in liquid form through injection and recovery wells. Oxygen is injected with water and no toxic chemicals are used. Compared to conventional mining, it saves a significant amount of water. The use of this technology leads to minimal surface disruption, no tailings and no waste piles. Land and water revert to the original use category once the extraction is completed.

Company Highlights

  • Consolidation of the 35-mile trend of the Kaycee Project in Wyoming’s prolific Powder River Basin.
  • Permitted 700 hole drill program underway at the Kaycee Project to expand on historic resources across a 35-mile trend with over 430 miles of mapped roll-fronts defined by 3,800 drill holes.
  • Strategic relationship with enCore Energy Corp., America’s Clean Energy Company, for a pathway to production;
  • Leveraging extensive proprietary historical databases to build a long-term pipeline of projects in progressive jurisdictions.
  • The company is led by industry experts with extensive experience and credentials in uranium exploration and development, and all aspects of ISR uranium operations.
  • In the rising global demand for carbon-free sources of energy production, Nuclear Fuels is well positioned to contribute, through exploration, to a reliable supply of domestic uranium to fuel America’s nuclear energy.
  • The US is the world’s largest consumer of nuclear energy, with 20 percent of its electric grid fueled by nuclear energy, yet most of its uranium fuel is imported.
  • Uranium prices continue to rise due to consistent and growing uranium demand and constraints on current production capacity.
  • enCore Energy is the company’s largest shareholder with an 18.3 percent stake, while management and other insiders hold 6.7 percent, with CEO Greg Huffman holding 3.2 percent of this.

Key Project

Kaycee Project, Wyoming

The Kaycee project is the company’s flagship asset. It is the largest ISR exploration project in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin (PRB) and covers a 35-mile mineralized trend with over 430 miles of identified roll fronts and over 55 square miles of mineral rights. The project comprises three historically productive sandstone formations – Wasatch, Fort Union and Lance – that are mineralized and potentially amenable to ISR extraction. For the first time since the 1980s, the Kaycee Project is now held by a single company.

With over 3,800 drill holes, historic drilling has confirmed uranium mineralization in all three historically productive sandstones within the PRB, occurring over more than 1,000 feet of vertical section. The majority of the project is not well-explored, with drilling concentrated on approximately 10 percent of the area. The company’s Phase 1 drilling program, conducted in 2023, focused on the Saddle Zone which hosts a historic resource of 519,000 lbs. The initial results from the first 12 holes were encouraging. High-grade mineralization was encountered in five holes with grade thickness (GT) ranging from 0.441 to 0.908. The highest-grade intercept is 3 feet of 0.240 percent e U3O8. Five holes have a GT of >0.3 which is considered suitable for inclusion in a wellfield.

Table of Significant Results

Phase 1 drilling during 2023 successfully confirmed and expanded historic resources returning grades ranging from trace to 6.5 feet at 0.187 percent U3O8 (Gamma log) with a grade thickness of 1.216; Phase 2 of the drill program, commenced on April 29, 2024, focused on the Saddle and Spur Zones to expand historic uranium mineralization at depth and expand mineralization along trend and on other high-priority targets identified with an additional 700 permitted drill holes.

Nuclear Fuels acquired this project from enCore Energy, which, upon Nuclear Fuels establishing a minimum of an NI 43-101 compliant resource of 15 Mlbs U3O8, retains a back-in right for 51 percent of the project by paying 2.5 times the exploration costs and financing the project to production. This provides a clear path to production in case of major discovery at Kaycee.

Technical Report

The Technical Report, prepared by WWC Engineering, has identified an exploration target of 11.5 to 30 million pounds of uranium “U3O8) supported by available historical data from previous operators and recent exploration recently conducted by Nuclear Fuels.

Highlights of the Technical Report:

  • An exploration target of 11.5 to 30 million pounds uranium (U3O8) at average grades of 0.06 percent to 0.10 percent;
  • A more extensive, in-depth review of historical data identified approximately 430 miles of roll fronts, an increase from the +110 miles previously outlined. Approximately 10 percent of the mapped redox trends have been explored with close-spaced drilling;
  • The identification of the presence of multiple stacked roll fronts in each of the three stratigraphic formations that are known to host uranium mineralization;
  • Indication the uranium mineralization lying under the water table may be amenable to In-Situ Recovery (ISR), based on historical metallurgical and mineral processing test work. ISR is an economical and environmentally responsible means of extracting uranium through wellfield technology and the use of oxygenated water, eliminating the use of conventional mining techniques;
  • Details regarding the eleven (11) reported areas of historical uranium resources occurring at depths that range from less than 50 to 1,300 feet with a shallow water table typically lying between 50 and 250 feet.
  • The Technical Report recommended that the Company should continue the current drilling program to delineate mineralization and explore for additional mineralized areas on the Project. In addition, the Technical Report recommended that the Company should prepare a classified mineral resource estimate for the Project, contingent on positive results of the drilling program.

Other Projects

Bootheel Project, Wyoming

The Bootheel project in Southeast Wyoming consists of roll-front mineralized zones identified in three distinct, stacked sandstone formations. Historic metallurgical testing has indicated better-than-average uranium recovery kinetics and aquifer rehabilitation. A historic NI 43-101 report in 2007, includes an indicated resource of 1.443 million (Mt) @ 0.038 percent U3O8 for 1.089 Mlbs U3O8, and inferred resource of 4.399 Mt @ 0.037 percent U3O8 for 3.249 Mlbs U3O8.

Bobcat Project, Wyoming

This project is located in the Shirley Basin, 25 miles south of Casper, Wyoming in Albany County. The Shirley Basin is a proven and prolific producer of uranium credited with over 84 million pounds produced between 1959 and 1992 from producers including Getty Oil Company, Texaco, Pathfinder Mines Corporation, and Cogema Mining. Moreover, the Shirley Basin is home to the first commercial use of the ISR technique to extract uranium from sandstone-host deposits.

Moonshine Project, Arizona

The Moonshine Springs project is in Mohave County, Arizona. The project comprises approximately 1,000 acres, including 23 owned lode mining claims along with seven lode mining claims and 320 acres of fee land held under lease. This property was earlier explored during the 1970s and 1980s by Exxon Corp and later by Pathfinder.

This project consists of at least three stratigraphic zones, where the sandstone-hosted uranium occurs. The upper two zones lie at an average depth of 170 feet and are considered open pit candidates with the lower zone lying at a depth of 760 feet. The project is amenable to ISR with a historic resource of 2.4 Mlbs grading 0.16

Lisbon Valley Project, Utah

This project is in the Lisbon Valley Uranium District in Southeast Utah and covers approximately 2,211 acres. The project has two claim blocks – LS and JB. The LS claim group is located southeast and adjacent to the Lisbon mine, which was operational between 1972 and 1988, producing approximately 22 Mlbs of U3O8. Historical drilling at LS claim dating back to 2007 reported uranium mineralization amounting to 17.5 feet grading 0.11 percent U3O8.

Management Team

William M. Sheriff – Chairman

William Sheriff is the founder and presently serves as the executive chair of enCore Energy Corp., a leader in ISR uranium production. He was a pioneer in the uranium renaissance as co-founder and chairman of Energy Metals, which was acquired by Uranium One for $1.8 billion and owns the largest domestic uranium resource base in US history.

Gregory Huffman – Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Gregory Huffman brings more than two decades of mining analysis and equity finance experience with a focus on uranium and other energy-related metals. Huffman’s diverse background includes roles in mining specialty sales, fund management, and equity research in the metals and mining sector. In his career, he has been instrumental in leading cross border coordination in global mining financial matters, including his work as a mining analyst focused on uranium from 2004 to 2007. His most recent experience, from 2016 to 2024, was as the global head of mining sales at Canaccord Genuity where he employed his broad range of geological and financial skills to evaluate mining companies exploring, developing, and producing precious, base and energy-related metals, including uranium. Huffman is known for his insightful industry publications, the ‘Canaccord Genuity High Grade Mining Minute’ and ‘Huffer’s High Grade Nuggets.’

Eugene Spiering – Director

Eugene Spiering is a registered geologist with more than 30 years of experience and recently served as VP of exploration for Quaterra Resources, where he led the discovery of the only two uranium deposits in Arizona. He also worked on the Kaycee Uranium District in the early 1980s.

David Miller – Director

David Miller is a businessman, professional economic geologist, and a past member of the Wyoming State Legislature. He previously served as the chief executive officer of Strathmore Minerals before its merger with Energy Fuels in 2013. His career has spanned more than 40 years and started with Utah International in the US, which evolved into Orano Group, the French nuclear power conglomerate.

Richard Munson – Director

Richard Munson has been active in the natural resources business for more than 35 years, starting as a natural resources lawyer specializing in taxation. He moved to the private sector in the mid-80s when he joined the Energy Fuels companies owned by John Adams. Energy Fuels Nuclear became the largest US uranium producer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1999, Munson and John Adams co-founded ETK, which then owned the Toroparu gold-copper project in Guyana, South Africa. Munson continues to be active in the international resource sector.

Brahm Spilfogel – Director

Brahm Spilfogel is an award-winning financial executive with over 25 years of experience in resource portfolio management. He recently retired from RBC Global Asset Management where he served as managing director and senior portfolio manager, co-managing a number of portfolios including the RBC Global Precious Metal Fund, RBC Global Resources Fund, and the RBC Small and Mid-Cap Resources Fund, with assets exceeding $2 billion. As one of Canada’s most well-regarded resource portfolio managers, Spilfogel has actively engaged with corporate boards, offering strategic insights and contributing to governance, safety, and sustainability discussions. His deep expertise in the resources sector extends to financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets.

Monty Sutton – Chief Financial Officer

Monty Sutton brings more than 35 years of experience in public markets, corporate governance, senior administration and accounting and has served on the management teams and boards for many private and publicly traded companies. Sutton has held positions as senior management accountant for MacMillan Bloedel, investment advisor, insurance specialist, corporate development manager and most recently chief financial officer.

Mark Travis – Project Manager

Mark Travis has over 17 years of mineral industry experience in a variety of different settings including both energy and precious metals. He was instrumental in the Strathmore Minerals development of the Gas Hills Wyoming properties during the 2006-2013 uranium cycle. He is the director of the Geological Society of Nevada and the Nevada Mineral Exploration Coalition and is a certified professional geologist through AIPG.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

First Helium Inc. (‘First Helium’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV: HELI) (OTCQB: FHELF) (FRA: 2MC) today announced that it has completed drilling its proven undeveloped (‘PUD’) 7-30 oil location at its Worsley Property in Northern Alberta 1,2 . The 7-30 well has now been cased for completion and testing. In addition to the targeted Leduc formation, the Company encountered multiple uphole, shallower zones with prospectivity for oil, natural gas and helium. These zones have been previously recognized and mapped on the Worsley land base. The drilling rig is now being mobilized to the 7-15 location to begin drilling over the next few days, barring any unforeseen delays. The Company will continue to provide regular updates on ongoing field activities.

‘We are pleased to have completed drilling our 7-30 well which was delivered on time and within budget. We will follow up by drilling our high impact Leduc anomaly, 7-15, which on seismic is approximately 5X the areal extent of our successful 1-30 light oil pool discovery. Favorable results from these two wells will further de-risk our Leduc Play, where we have identified 10 additional primary locations on proprietary 3D seismic, and potential for further southeast extension across our 100% owned lands,’ said Ed Bereznicki, President & CEO of First Helium. ‘With success, the combined oil potential from these two operations would provide immediate cash flow and meaningful near-term value for our shareholders,’ added Mr. Bereznicki.

The 7-15 vertical well location (see Figure 1) has been prepared for drilling. The proximity of the two locations, approximately 6 kilometers apart, will enable efficient rig transfer and minimize mobilization costs. Subject to results, necessary preparations are being made to complete, equip and tie-in both wells prior to spring break up in Alberta (a period from mid/late March through May when Provincial highway restrictions limit heavy equipment movement), further setting the stage for systematic development across the Company’s extensive, 100% owned land base.

Figure 1:
East Worsley Project Inventory

Notes:

(1)   Prepared by Sproule Associates Limited (‘Sproule’), independent qualified reserves evaluator, in accordance with COGE Handbook.
(2)   Assigned 196,700 Barrels of Gross Proved plus Probable Undeveloped reserves, per Sproule, Evaluation of the P&NG Reserves of First Helium Inc. in the Beaton Area of Alberta (as of March 31, 2023). See First Helium’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca .

ABOUT First Helium

Led by a core Senior Executive Team with diverse and extensive backgrounds in Oil & Gas Exploration and Operations, Mining, Finance, and Capital Markets, First Helium seeks to be one of the leading independent providers of helium gas in North America.

First Helium holds over 53,000 acres along the highly prospective Worsley Trend in Northern Alberta which has been the core of its exploration and development drilling activities to date.

Building on its successful 15-25 helium discovery well, and 1-30 and 4-29 oil wells at the Worsley project, the Company has identified numerous follow-up drill locations and acquired an expansive infrastructure system to facilitate future exploration and development across its Worsley land base. Cash flow from its successful oil wells at Worsley has helped support First Helium’s ongoing exploration and development growth strategy. Further potential oil drilling locations have also been identified on the Company’s Worsley land base.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.firsthelium.com .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Edward J. Bereznicki
President, CEO and Director

CONTACT INFORMATION

First Helium Inc.
Investor Relations
Email: ir@firsthelium.com
Phone: 1-833-HELIUM1 (1-833-435-4861)

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

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘anticipate’, ‘plan’, ‘continue’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘should’, ‘predict’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the completion of future planned activities. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with the state of the equity financing markets and regulatory approval.

Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company’s future operations. The Company’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

SOURCE: First Helium Inc.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f69ce090-4b41-4f95-af1c-7869bf8f4ec4

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Gold has long been considered a store of wealth, and the price of gold all time high often makes its biggest gains during turbulent times as investors look for cover in this safe-haven asset.

The 21st century has so far been heavily marked by episodes of economic and sociopolitical upheaval. Uncertainty has pushed the precious metal to record highs as market participants seek its perceived security. And each time the gold price rises, there are calls for even higher record-breaking levels.

Gold market gurus from Lynette Zang to Chris Blasi to Jordan Roy-Byrne have shared eye-popping predictions on the gold price that would intrigue any investor — gold bug or not.

While some have posited that the gold price may break US$3,000 per ounce and carry on as high as US$4,000 or US$5,000, there are those with hopes that US$10,000 gold or even US$40,000 gold could become a reality.

These impressive price predictions have investors wondering, what is gold’s all time high? In the past year, a new gold all time high (ATH) has been reached dozens of times, and we share the latest one and what has driven it to this level below. We also take a look at how the gold price has moved historically and what has driven its performance in recent years.

In this article

    How is gold traded?

    Before discovering what the highest gold price ever was, it’s worth looking at how the precious metal is traded. Knowing the mechanics behind gold’s historical moves can help illuminate why and how its price changes.

    Gold bullion is traded in dollars and cents per ounce, with activity taking place worldwide at all hours, resulting in a live price for the metal. Investors trade gold in major commodities markets such as New York, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. London is seen as the center of physical precious metals trading, including for silver. The COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange is home to most paper trading.

    There are many popular ways to invest in gold. The first is through purchasing gold bullion products such as bullion bars, bullion coins and rounds. Physical gold is sold on the spot market, meaning that buyers pay a specific price per ounce for the metal and then have it delivered. In some parts of the world, such as India, buying gold in the form of jewelry is the largest and most traditional route to investing in gold.

    Another path to gold investment is paper trading, which is done through the gold futures market. Participants enter into gold futures contracts for the delivery of gold in the future at an agreed-upon price. In such contracts, two positions can be taken: a long position under which delivery of the metal is accepted or a short position to provide delivery of the metal. Paper trading as a means to invest in gold can provide investors with the flexibility to liquidate assets that aren’t available to those who possess physical gold bullion.

    One significant long-term advantage of trading in the paper market is that investors can benefit from gold’s safe-haven status without needing to store it. Furthermore, gold futures trading can offer more financial leverage in that it requires less capital than trading in the physical market.

    Interestingly, investors can also purchase physical gold via the futures market, but the process is complicated and lengthy and comes with a large investment and additional costs.

    Aside from those options, market participants can invest in gold through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in a gold ETF is similar to trading a gold stock on an exchange, and there are numerous gold ETF options to choose from. For instance, some ETFs focus solely on physical gold bullion, while others focus on gold futures contracts. Other gold ETFs center on gold-mining stocks or follow the gold spot price.

    It is important to understand that you will not own any physical gold when investing in an ETF — in general, even a gold ETF that tracks physical gold cannot be redeemed for tangible metal.

    With regards to the performance of gold versus trading stocks, gold has an interesting relationship with the stock market. The two often move in sync during “risk-on periods” when investors are bullish. On the flip side, they tend to become inversely correlated in times of volatility.

    According to the World Gold Council, gold’s ability to decouple from the stock market during periods of stress makes it “unique amongst most hedges in the marketplace.” It is often during these times that gold outperforms the stock market. For that reason, it is often used as a portfolio diversifier to hedge against uncertainty.

    What was the highest gold price ever?

    The gold price closed at US$2797.81, its all-time highest price, on January 30, 2025. What drove it to set this new ATH?

    The gold price set new highs in all currencies on January 30 alongside a weakening US dollar, US Federal Reserve leaving rates unchanged, a rush to safe haven assets and the looming threat of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Additionally, new US economic data showed inflation-adjusted gross domestic product in the country increased an annualized 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 after rising 3.1 percent in the third quarter.

    Gold has seen upward momentum in recent months on a variety of factors. Gold was on the rise early in the new year as President Trump and his team began to seriously talk about a wide-ranging set of tariffs on several countries. Gold also reacted to a weaker-than-expected US private employment report which showed that the economy added 122,000 jobs in the private sector in December, below the estimated 140,000.

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest US jobs report on January 10, showing that nonfarm payrolls for December 2024 rose the most since March 2024, while unemployment fell to 4.1 percent.

    On January 29, the Bank of Canada shaved 25 basis points of its policy interest rate (its sixth consecutive decrease), and announced plans to end quantitative tightening. On the same day, the US Federal Reserve opted to leave its interest rate unchanged. The following day, President Trump announced it very likely will be placing 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada as of February 1.

    As for gold demand, on October 30 the World Gold Council reported that gold purchases from undocumented sources and gold ETF inflows were both drivers of demand growth in Q3 2024. On the other hand, central bank gold purchases were down during the quarter.

    Read our in-depth breakdown of gold’s recent price performance below.

    2025 gold price chart

    2025 gold price chart. December 31, 2024, to January 30, 2025.

    What factors have driven the gold price in the last five years?

    Despite these recent runs, gold has seen its share of both peaks and troughs over the last decade. After remaining rangebound between US$1,100 and US$1,300 from 2014 to early 2019, gold pushed above US$1,500 in the second half of 2019 on a softer US dollar, rising geopolitical issues and a slowdown in economic growth.

    Gold’s first breach of the significant US$2,000 price level in mid-2020 was due in large part to economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To break through that barrier and reach what was then a record high, the yellow metal added more than US$500, or 32 percent, to its value in the first eight months of 2020.

    The gold price surpassed that level again in early 2022 as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine collided with rising inflation around the world, increasing the allure of safe-haven assets and pulling the yellow metal up to a price of US$2,074.60 on March 8, 2022. However, it fell throughout the rest of 2022, dropping below US$1,650 in October.

    5 year gold price chart. January 30, 2020, to January 30, 2025.

    Although it didn’t quite reach the level of volatility as the previous year, the gold price experienced drastic price changes in 2023 on the back of banking instability, high interest rates and the breakout of war in the Middle East.

    After central bank buying pushed the gold price up to the US$1,950.17 mark by the end of January, the US Federal Reserve’s 0.25 percent rate hike on February 1 sparked a retreat as the dollar and Treasury yields saw gains. The precious metal went on to fall to its lowest price level of the year at US$1,809.87 on February 23.

    The banking crisis that hit the US in early March caused a domino effect through the global financial system and led to the mid-March collapse of Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second-largest bank. The gold price jumped to US$1,989.13 by March 15. The continued fallout in the global banking system throughout the second quarter of the year allowed gold to break above US$2,000 on April 3, and go on to flirt with a near-record high of US$2,049.92 on May 3.

    Those gains were tempered by the Fed’s ongoing rate hikes and improvements in the banking sector, resulting in a downward trend in the gold price throughout the remainder of the second quarter and throughout the third quarter. By October 4, gold had fallen to a low of US$1,820.01 and analysts expected the precious metal to be on the path to drop below the US$1,800 level.

    That was before the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel ignited legitimate fears of a much larger conflict erupting in the Middle East. Reacting to those fears, and rising expectations that the US Federal Reserve would begin to reverse course on interest rates, gold broke through the important psychological level of US$2,000 per ounce and closed at US$2,007.08 on October 27. As the Israel-Hamas fighting intensified, gold reached a then new high of US$2,152.30 during intraday trading on December 3.

    That robust momentum in the spot gold price has continued into 2024, chasing new highs on fears of a looming US recession, the promise of Fed rate cuts on the horizon, the worsening conflict in the Middle East and the tumultuous US presidential election year. By mid-March, gold was pushing up against the US$2,200 level.

    That record-setting momentum continued into the second quarter of 2024 when gold broke through US$2,400 per ounce in mid-April on strong central bank buying, sovereign debt concerns in China and investors expecting the Fed to start cutting interest rates. The precious metal went on to hit US$2,450.05 per ounce on May 20.

    Throughout the summer, the hits have just kept on coming. The global macro environment is highly bullish for gold in the lead up to the US election. Following the failed assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump and a statement about coming interest rate cuts by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the gold spot price hit a new all-time high on July 16 at US$2,469.30 per ounce.

    One week later, news that President Joe Biden would not seek re-election and would instead pass the baton to his VP Kamala Harris eased some of the tension in the stock markets and strengthened the US dollar. This also pushed the price of gold down to US$2,387.99 per ounce on July 22.

    However, the bullish factors supporting gold over the past year remain in play and the spot price for gold has gone on to breach the US$2,500 level first on August 2 on a less than stellar US jobs report before closing just above the US$2,440 level. A few weeks later, gold pushed past US$2,500 once again on August 16, to close above that level for the first time ever after the US Department of Commerce released data showing a fifth consecutive monthly decrease in a row for homebuilding.

    The news that the Chinese government issued new gold import quotas to banks in the country following a two month pause also helped fuel the gold price rally. Central bank gold buying has been a significant tailwind for the gold price this year, and China’s central bank has been one of the strongest buyers.

    Market watchers expected the Fed to cut interest rates by a quarter point at their September meeting, but news on September 12 that the regulators were still deciding between the expected cut or a larger half-point cut led gold prices on a rally that carried through into the next day, bringing gold prices near US$2,600.

    At the September 18 Fed meeting, the committee ultimately made the decision to cut rates by half a point, news that sent gold even higher. By Friday, September 20, it moved above US$2,600 and held above US$2,620.

    In October, gold breached the US$2,700 level and has continued to set new highs on a variety of factors, including further rate cuts and economic data anticipation, the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hezbollah, and economic stimulus in China — not to mention the very close race between the US presidential candidates.

    What’s next for the gold price?

    What’s next for the gold price is never an easy call to make. There are many factors that affect the gold price, but some of the most prevalent long-term drivers include economic expansion, market risk, opportunity cost and momentum.

    Economic expansion is one of the primary gold price contributors as it facilitates demand growth in several categories, including jewelry, technology and investment. As the World Gold Council explains, “This is particularly true in developing economies where gold is often used as a luxury item and a means to preserve wealth.” Market risk is also a prime catalyst for gold values as investors view the precious metal as the “ultimate safe haven,” and a hedge against currency depreciation, inflation and other systemic risks.

    Going forward, in addition to the Fed, inflation and geopolitical events, experts will be looking for cues from factors like supply and demand. In terms of supply, the world’s five top gold producers are China, Australia, Russia, Canada and the US. The consensus in the gold market is that major miners have not spent enough on gold exploration in recent years. Gold mine production has fallen from around 3,200 to 3,300 metric tons each year between 2018 and 2020 to around 3,000 to 3,100 metric tons each year between 2021 and 2023.

    On the demand side, China and India are the biggest buyers of physical gold, and are in a perpetual fight for the title of world’s largest gold consumer. That said, it’s worth noting that the last few years have brought a big rebound in central bank gold buying, which dropped to a record low in 2020, but reached a 55 year high of 1,136 metric tons in 2022.

    The World Gold Council has reported that central bank gold purchases in 2023 came to 1,037 metric tons, marking the second year in a row above 1,000 MT. In the first half of 2024, the organization says gold purchases from central banks reached a record 483 metric tons.

    David Barrett, CEO of the UK division of global brokerage firm EBC Financial Group, is also keeping an eye on central bank purchases of gold.

    In addition to central bank moves, analysts are also watching for escalating tensions in the Middle East, a weakening US dollar, declining bond yields, and further interest rate cuts as factors that could push gold higher as investors look to secure their portfolios.

    Speaking at the Metals Investor Forum, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, this September, Eric Coffin, editor of Hard Rock Analyst, outlined those key factors as supporting his prediction that gold could reach US$2,800 by the end of 2024.

    “When it comes to outside factors that affect the market, it’s just tailwind after tailwind after tailwind. So I don’t really see the trend changing,” Coffin said.

    Also speaking at the Metals Investor Forum, Jeff Clark, founder and editor at TheGoldAdvisor.com, was even more bullish on the precious metal. He sees Santa delivering US$3,000 gold as a good possibility.

    However, others see gold taking a little longer to breach the US$3,000 level. Delegates at the London Bullion Market Association’s annual gathering in October have forecasted a gold price of US$2,941 in the next 12 months.

    Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is predicting gold will hit US$2,900 in early 2025, as it expects to see an increase in gold ETF inflows, continued central bank buying and interest rate cuts, as well as further conflicts in the Middle East.

    Should you beware of gold price manipulation?

    As a final note on the price of gold and buying gold bullion, it’s important for investors to be aware that gold price manipulation is a hot topic in the industry.

    In 2011, when gold hit what was then a record high, it dropped swiftly in just a few short years. This decline after three years of impressive gains led many in the gold sector to cry foul and point to manipulation. Early in 2015, 10 banks were hit in a US probe on precious metals manipulation. Evidence provided by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) showed “smoking gun” proof that UBS Group (NYSE:UBS), HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC), the Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) and other firms were involved in rigging gold and silver rates in the market from 2007 to 2013.

    Not long after, the long-running London gold fix was replaced by the LBMA gold price in a bid to increase gold price transparency. The twice-a-day process, operated by the ICE Benchmark Administration, still involves a variety of banks collaborating to set the gold price, but the system is now electronic.

    Still, manipulation has by no means been eradicated, as a 2020 fine on JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) shows. The next year, chat logs were released in a spoofing trial for two former precious metals traders from the Bank of America’s (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch unit. They show a trader bragging about how easy it is to manipulate the gold price.

    Gold market participants have consistently spoken out about manipulation. In mid-2020, Chris Marcus, founder of Arcadia Economics and author of the book “The Big Silver Short,” said that when gold fell back below the US$2,000 mark after hitting close to US$2,070, he saw similarities to what happened with the gold price in 2011.

    Marcus has been following the gold and silver markets with a focus specifically on price manipulation for nearly a decade. His advice? “Trust your gut. I believe we’re witnessing the ultimate ’emperor’s really naked’ moment. This isn’t complex financial analysis. Sometimes I think of it as the greatest hypnotic thought experiment in history.”

    Investor takeaway

    While we have the answer to what the highest gold price ever is as of now, it remains to be seen how high gold can climb, and if the precious metal can reach as high as US$5,000, US$10,000 or even US$40,000.

    Even so, many market participants believe gold is a must have in any investment profile, and there is little doubt investors will continue to see gold price action making headlines this year and beyond.

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    For those new to copper investing, keeping track of copper prices can be confusing. Below is a look at the different metals exchanges that copper investors should know about.

    Copper traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME), or LME copper, is priced per metric ton (MT). COMEX copper, or contracts traded on the COMEX division, is priced per pound.

    Both markets provide valuable information for copper market followers and copper stock investors. Here’s a short overview of both LME copper and COMEX copper, and why it’s key for investors to know what they are.

    What is LME copper?

    LME copper refers to copper traded in London on the London Metal Exchange, on which options and futures contracts for industrial metals are traded. The term LME copper may refer to spot LME copper prices or prices for futures contracts on the London exchange.

    LME copper futures contracts may be set at up to three months with daily expiration dates, or between three and six months with weekly expiration dates. There are also longer contracts of up to 123 months.

    The exchange also publishes daily reference prices for LME copper and other metals that are used by market participants. Overall, the exchange is predominantly used to either hedge or take on price risk.

    LME copper contract prices are quoted in US dollars and are sold in lots of 25 metric tons. They can be settled via physical delivery between a network of LME-approved warehouses around the world. For this reason, LME copper may also refer to inventories of copper cathode in LME warehouses.

    In addition to acting as a futures trading exchange and providing reference prices, the LME acts as a physical market of last resort for producers and consumers of a number of metals, including copper.

    In other words, those in the copper industry may sell LME copper during oversupplied markets and draw on LME copper inventories in the event of a copper shortage.

    Some market watchers look to rising and falling inventory levels on the LME as an indicator of global supply and demand conditions. However, it’s important to note that physical delivery is the exception, rather than the norm.

    What is COMEX copper?

    COMEX copper is copper traded on the CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) Commodity Exchange, abbreviated as the COMEX. The term COMEX copper can refer to both spot copper prices on the COMEX and copper contracts traded on the exchange.

    Headquartered in New York, US, with offices all over the world, the COMEX is a commodities futures and options exchange similar to the LME. Both the NYMEX and the COMEX, which merged in 1994, are owned by CME Group.

    As mentioned above, copper contracts are priced per pound on the COMEX. Listed contracts are available during the current calendar month, the next 23 calendar months and any March, May, July, September or December within a 60 month period of the current month.

    Contracts are also block-trade eligible if the amounts are above minimum thresholds. These types of trades are privately negotiated and executed apart from the public market. They are only open to eligible contract participants as defined by the Commodity Exchange Act.

    Copper cathode must meet specific chemical and physical requirements in order to trade on the COMEX. COMEX copper futures are settled via physical delivery upon expiration, but COMEX E-Mini copper futures are cash settled.

    As with the LME, many banks, trading firms and commercial hedgers use COMEX copper for risk management purposes, and CME Group prides the COMEX on being a “global benchmark for copper prices” used by respected indexes such as the Bloomberg Commodity Index.

    The importance of commodities exchanges

    The LME and the COMEX are far from the only commodities exchanges on which copper is traded. The Shanghai Metal Exchange is another notable example, and with China being the largest consumer of refined copper at around 54 percent of global consumption, it is becoming increasingly important.

    Still, prices for LME copper and COMEX copper contracts, as well as information on inventory levels, can be a valuable piece of the puzzle for those making investment decisions in the copper space. For example, those investing in copper stocks may want to look at whether a company’s mining project is likely to be economic at current and/or forecasted copper prices.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    The outlook for the graphite market is promising due to its usage in the battery industry and energy storage applications, as well as steel-making.

    With China dominating the natural graphite market, synthetic graphite is poised to capitalize on rising demand for graphite in the technologies.

    Understanding what synthetic graphite is and how it differs from natural graphite is important for investors, as each industry typically needs a specific type of graphite. Here’s a look at the synthetic graphite market and what it has to offer.

    In this article

      What is synthetic graphite?

      Synthetic graphite is an industrial material that is artificially made from hydrocarbon precursors. It is able to withstand high temperatures and corrosion.

      Those points make it a great option for highly specialized industries that need predictable results from carbon materials, such as metal fabrication, solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and grid-scale energy storage systems.

      What are the uses of synthetic graphite?

      Synthetic graphite uses cover a variety of applications, including energy storage applications and steel manufacturing, and its particular uses are dependent on its form.

      Synthetic graphite typically comes in two forms: electrodes and graphite blocks. The form of synthetic graphite directly determines which industries it will be used in.

      • Electrodes: Synthetic graphite electrodes are primarily created using petroleum coke as a precursor and are almost exclusively found in electric-arc furnaces — these furnaces are used for melting steel and iron, and producing ferroalloys.
      • Graphite blocks: Synthetic graphite blocks, or isotropic graphite, are primarily used for energy storage in the solar industry. These blocks are made using the same petroleum coke process as electrodes, but differ slightly in the structure of the coke used.
      • Secondary synthetic graphite: Secondary synthetic graphite is a by-product material of synthetic graphite production, and it is typically yielded as a powder. This by-product is considered a low-cost graphite material and some forms of it can compete with natural graphite in applications like brake linings and lubricants.
      • Primary synthetic graphite: Primary synthetic graphite is typically manufactured in powder form and used for high-end lithium-ion batteries. However, it is more expensive to produce and can cost the same amount as manufacturing an electrode. Unlike its secondary counterpart, primary synthetic graphite is not a by-product material.

      How is high-performance battery-grade synthetic graphite made?

      Battery-grade synthetic graphite is made from heat-treating at very high temperatures a blend of lower purity carbon-based raw materials with coal tar pitch, petroleum coke or oil. This creates a uniform carbon structure suited for high performance, long-lasting electric vehicle batteries.

      Is synthetic graphite better than natural graphite?

      As for how synthetic graphite compares to natural graphite, synthetic graphite is purer than natural graphite in terms of carbon content and tends to behave more predictably. This makes synthetic graphite a better option than natural for use in high-performance applications that require higher efficiency and reliability such as lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

      On the flip side, as the process is energy intensive, synthetic graphite production can be significantly more expensive than that of natural graphite, and the environmental impact of synthetic graphite is worse as well.

      ‘Synthetic graphite anode production can be over four times more carbon intensive than natural graphite anode production, due to its use of energy and fossil fuels as a feedstock,’ according to Benchmark.

      These higher economic and environmental costs for producing synthetic graphite has led graphite end users to substitute natural graphite for synthetic graphite in battery anodes.

      How big is the synthetic graphite market?

      The global synthetic graphite market size is expected to come in at US$3.41 billion in 2025, according to Mordor Intelligence, and is projected to growing at a CAGR of 6.83 percent to reach more than US$4.74 billion by 2030.

      In terms of overall graphite demand, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence expects to see a supply deficit from growth in the battery sector moving forward.

      As a whole, it appears graphite’s future is bright. However, synthetic graphite will still face somewhat of an uphill battle. For one, improvements in natural graphite purity are helping it enter the nuclear technology and high-end battery markets, which have typically been owned by synthetic graphite.

      Price will certainly continue to be a determining factor in the competition between natural and synthetic graphite. Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence shows that processing synthetic graphite is three times as energy intensive as processing natural graphite, which translates into higher costs for the artificial material.

      Going forward, higher synthetic graphite prices are expected, as are higher natural graphite prices, as demand rises and electric vehicle battery manufacturers vie for the limited supply outside of China.

      Synthetic graphite stocks

      The global synthetic graphite market is “partially consolidated” and dominated by a handful of major companies, according to a report by Mordor Intelligence. The top five players in this space are:

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

        This post appeared first on investingnews.com

        Quantum computing (QC) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising to revolutionize industries ranging from cryptography to drug discovery. As this field evolves, investors are increasingly eyeing quantum computing stocks as potential high-reward opportunities. However, it’s essential to approach this nascent sector with a balanced perspective, recognizing both its vast potential and inherent risks.

        The Allure of Quantum Computing Investments

        Quantum computers operate on principles fundamentally different from classical computers, utilizing quantum bits or “qubits” that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This capability allows them to solve complex problems more efficiently than traditional computers. The potential applications are vast, including:

        • Cryptography: Developing unbreakable encryption methods.
        • Pharmaceuticals: Accelerating drug discovery through advanced molecular modeling.
        • Materials Science: Designing new materials with unique properties.

        Given these prospects, the QC market is projected to grow significantly. Global Quantum Intelligence forecasts a market size ranging from $15 billion to $20 billion between 2025 and 2030, with substantial investments anticipated in cybersecurity to counteract future quantum threats to encryption. 

        Current Market Players

        Several companies have emerged as key players in the QC sector:

        • IonQ: Specializes in trapped-ion quantum computing technology.
        • Rigetti Computing: Focuses on superconducting qubit technology.
        • D-Wave Quantum: Known for its quantum annealing computers.

        These companies have garnered attention from investors, leading to significant stock volatility. For instance, IonQ and Rigetti Computing experienced substantial gains in late 2024, driven by heightened interest in quantum technologies. 

        Challenges and Risks

        Despite the excitement, QC remains in its early stages, and several challenges persist:

        • Technological Maturity: Practical, large-scale quantum computers are still under development. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has suggested that meaningful commercialization of quantum technology could take 15 or more years.  
        • Market Volatility: Quantum computing stocks have exhibited significant volatility. For example, companies like IonQ and Rigetti Computing have seen their stock prices fluctuate dramatically, reflecting the market’s uncertainty about the sector’s future.  
        • Investment Risk: The nascent nature of the industry means that investing in quantum computing stocks carries higher risk compared to more established sectors. Equity dilution and the lack of immediate revenue streams are concerns for investors.  

        Investment Considerations

        For those considering investments in QC:

        1. Long-Term Horizon: Recognize that quantum computing is a long-term play. Meaningful returns may take years, if not decades, to materialize.
        2. Diversification: Given the uncertainties, it’s prudent to diversify investments across multiple sectors and companies to mitigate risk.
        3. Stay Informed: Continuously monitor advancements in quantum technologies and company developments to make informed decisions.
        4. Risk Assessment: Evaluate your risk tolerance carefully. Quantum computing investments are speculative and may not be suitable for all investors.

        Conclusion

        QC holds transformative potential, and investing in this frontier technology can be enticing. However, it’s crucial to approach such investments with caution, acknowledging the current limitations and uncertainties. A well-informed and measured strategy will be essential for those looking to navigate the complexities of the quantum computing investment landscape.

        The post Quantum Computing Investments: Opportunities & Risks appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.