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Nickel Price 2025 Year-End Review

Investing 6 Mins Read

After peaking above US$20,000 per metric ton (MT) in May 2024, nickel prices have trended steadily downward.

Behind the numbers is a persistent oversupply driven by Indonesia’s high output, the world’s largest nickel producer.

At the same time, demand from China’s manufacturing and construction sectors, a traditional driver of stainless steel, has been weak as the country’s beleaguered real estate sector continues to find its footing.

Read on to learn what other key factors moved the nickel sector in 2025.

Nickel price in Q4

There wasn’t much change at the start of the quarter; the price was essentially trading in the US$15,000 to US$15,500 range, the same as it had since recovering from the post-liberation day tariff announcement rout in the base metals market in April that sent the price spiraling to a year-to-date low of US$14,150.

Nickel price, December 19, 2024, to December 18, 2025.

Chart via TradingEconomics.

However, cracks began to form at the end of October as it became clearer that the oversupply situation was likely to persist, pushing prices back below the US$15,000 mark by mid-November.

Prices for nickel rebounded in late November, but failed to break the US$15,000 again and slid toward a yearly low, reaching US$14,235 on December 15.

Oversupply continues to weigh on nickel

At the end of the year’s third quarter, the expectation was that nickel prices would carry momentum as the monsoon season arrived in the Philippines; however, despite seasonal declines in output, the market ‘s supply glut persisted, and prices continued to trend lower at the end of the period.

As of September 30, London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses held 231,504 MT of nickel, and by November 28, stockpiles had grown to 254,364 MT, nearly 100,000 MT higher than the start of 2025.

According to a mid-December Shanghai Metals Market article, refined production decreased by 25,800 MT in November. Still, it was outpaced by inventory accumulation, as downstream demand remained soft.

On the demand side, stockpile buildups coincided with the traditional off-season for stainless steel producers, which accounts for 60 percent of total nickel demand, and weak end-use consumption led some producers to initiate output cuts. Additionally, Shanghai Metals Market notes that stainless demand was further impacted by the superior economics of recycled materials. The outlet also states that although production costs in Indonesia are lower than elsewhere, the price of nickel is rapidly approaching producers’ break-even point.

In February, the Indonesian government changed its quota system, increasing nickel ore output to 298.5 million wet metric tons from 271 million wet metric tons in 2024. The move from the top nickel producer was designed to alleviate supply pressures, with increased production limited to major production areas.

This was followed in October by a change to the length of time production quotas were valid, shortening it to one year from three years, and forcing miners to reapply for previously approved quotas for 2026 and 2027.

Changes were made to the application system after companies failed to meet environmental obligations, and companies will now have to submit proof they have the financial means to remediate land after operations are complete.

Adding to the metal’s woes at the end of the year is demand from the electric vehicle (EV) sector slipping as more battery producers pivot away from nickel in their chemistries, as cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate batteries improve efficiency.

For her part, Manthey, explained that everything has aligned for a bear market.

“LME stockpiles are at a four-year high, with Chinese and Indonesian cathode dominating,” she said, adding that growth in battery metals was slower than expected, and that demand for stainless steel was sluggish on the back of global weakness in manufacturing.

How did nickel perform for the rest of the year?

The rest of the year wasn’t much different for nickel.

The oversupply situation carried over from 2024, with Indonesian producers making up roughly 60 percent of the market. Likewise, curtailments continued among western producers as prices were unable to cover costs.

In April, the Indonesian government made a significant change to its royalty rates, hiking them to between 14 and 19 percent, depending on the nickel price. That’s up from the country’s previously imposed 10 percent flat rate, with a 2 percent royalty on nickel mattes destined for battery production.

As the second quarter began, base metal prices sank amid rising expectations of a global recession following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement on April 2.

Markets rebounded after their initial tariff plans were walked back, following a bond market squeeze that pushed 10 year treasury yields up by more than half a percentage point.

Nickel faced further pressures in July as the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law in the US, ending the federal EV tax credit, as well as other tax credits for expanding charging infrastructure. The change came into effect on September 30 and eliminated a US$7,500 rebate on the purchase of new EVs. Before the end of the tax credit, data showed that American EV sales reached a record 1.2 million through the first nine months of 2025, with the share for EVs climbing to 12 percent in Q3 as consumers made purchases ahead of the program’s end.

Q4 data shows EV sales have declined significantly since the tax credit expired, and interest in EVs has fallen by 20 percent. The fall caused Ford Motor (NASDAQ:F) to pull back on its EV plans and take a US$19.5 billion writedown.

Investor takeaway

Nickel prices continued on a downtrend in 2025, and expectations aren’t much different for the year ahead.

Until the metal see ssustained upward momentum, it’s unlikely that curtailed western operations will be restarted.

For experienced investors, this may offer an opportunity to enter a market closer to the bottom than the top. However, until there is a significant correction in supply and demand fundamentals, the nickel market won’t have much of a tailwind, leading to a riskier market, that may have a lengthy period before returns are realized, if at all.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Armory Mining Engages Castello Q Exploration for Ammo Antimony-Gold Work Program

Investing 5 Mins Read

(TheNewswire)

  

Vancouver, B.C. TheNewswire – December 22, 2025 Armory Mining Corp. (CSE: ARMY) (OTC: RMRYF) (FRA: 2JS) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Armory’) a resource exploration company focused on the discovery and development of minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors, is pleased to announce it has engaged Castello Q Exploration Corp to carry out an initial phase one work program at its 100% owned Ammo Antimony-Gold project, located in Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

Ammo is 3,092-hectare exploration package that completely surrounds and is contiguous to the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine.  West Gore produced both antimony and gold in the years leading up to World War I.  The ground has since changed hands multiple times, and is currently held by Military Metals Corp.

 

West Gore was a significant producer during World War One, with production shipped to England.  Records document nearly 32,000 metric tons of production between 1914-1917, yielding over 7,000 metric tons of antimony concentrate grading 46%.
Total gold recovered up to 1917 was 6,861 ounces. Limited work was conducted in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s by several companies along with the Nova Scotia government*.

 

‘We have established budgets for the phase one exploration program at Ammo and are happy to begin working with Castello Q Exploration,’ said Alex Klenman, CEO. ‘This initial program will provide geologically important data that will contribute significantly to drill targeting. We’re excited that meaningful exploration work is on the horizon and eager to move the project forward in a positive way,’ continued Mr. Klenman.

 


Click Image To View Full Size

 

Figure 1: Map showing Armory’s Ammo Project surrounding the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine

 

The initial work program is expected to consist of data compilation, prospecting and reconnaissance, to identify favorable geology, followed by detailed surface sampling and geophysics to assist in determining priority drill targets. The Company plans to budget up to $656,000 CDN for the initial phase of exploration.  

 

* Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report, Battery Metals Corp, Mark S. King, P. Geo., Michael C. Corey, P. Geo., May 25, 2021

Note: The Company considers historical data at West Gore to be relevant. Readers are cautioned that the Company has not independently verified the information, and notes that the mineralization on this property may not be indicative of the mineralization on the Company’s property.

 

About Armory Mining Corp

Armory Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors. The Company controls an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina. In addition, the Company controls 100% interest in both the Ammo antimony-gold project located in Nova Scotia and the Riley Creek antimony-gold project located in British Columbia.

 

Qualified Person

 

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

 

Contact Information

 

Alex Klenman

CEO & Director

alex@armorymining.com

 

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.   This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the Company’s securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company’s securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘1933 Act’) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the  1933 Act) unless registered under the  1933 Act  and applicable  state  securities  laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

 

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the intended use of funds. The words ‘expects,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘intends,’ ‘plans,’ ‘will,’ ‘may,’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, political and regulatory risks in Canada, operational and exploration risks, market conditions, and the availability of financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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International Lithium Corp. AGM Chairman’s Statement

Investing 8 Mins Read

International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC,OTC:ILHMF) (OTCQB: ILHMF) (FSE: IAH) (the ‘Company’ or ‘ILC’) will hold its 2025 Annual General Meeting today, December 22, at 9.30 a.m. Pacific Time. At that meeting, John Wisbey, Chairman and CEO, will make the following statement:

‘Good morning, and welcome to the 2025 Annual General Meeting of International Lithium Corp. (‘ILC’ or the ‘Company’). I would like to share a few comments on the year-to-date and the outlook ahead before proceeding with formalities.

‘In summary, 2025 has been a successful year for ILC, improved further by a major turnround in the lithium market from June onwards. The Company completed the sale of its Avalonia property in Ireland, and made a major advance in Southern Africa through obtaining an option to acquire an 80% interest in the company owning the important Karibib project in Namibia. It is important to note that ILC has become much more than a lithium company, and the expansion into other critical minerals will be especially notable if ILC exercises its option in Namibia. As well as lithium, the Karibib project contains the largest declared rubidium resource in Africa, and also enough cesium that, when refined, would meet a year of global demand. Rubidium and cesium are both valuable critical metals with multiple commercial uses.

‘The year for the lithium market has been one of two halves. In H1 2025, the lithium price, and that of related minerals such as spodumene, continued to be very weak, reaching a low in June of circa 10% of the 2023 highs. This, combined with the resultant impact on share prices, was painful for every company in the lithium sector, including ILC. However, in H2 2025, the position has seen a considerable improvement.

‘While much of the commodity market’s focus has been on gold, silver and platinum, the rebound in lithium prices has not been widely reported and has been largely overlooked. Yet in H2 2025, the spodumene price has risen by more than 100%, outperforming all precious metals. Most of that gain has come in Q4 2025. The main benchmark lithium carbonate price Li2CO3 has risen by around 65% from its June 2025 lows. If this trend continues, it will be very positive for the lithium sector.

‘The Company’s flagship Raleigh Lake project in Ontario, Canada is again, at today’s prices for spodumene, an economically viable project even if ILC were to focus solely on lithium. Moreover, it also carries a significant rubidium resource, and one of ILC’s goals in 2026 is to put a formal economic value on that rubidium resource, as we did in the PEA for lithium two years ago.

‘In September 2025, ILC announced that it had acquired an option to buy Lepidico’s 100% interest in Lepidico Mauritius for C$975,000. This brings with it an 80% interest in the Namibian company that owns 100% of the Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium project. As announced at the time, this is a major project that has received substantial investment and, indeed, reached the Definitive Feasibility Study stage under JORC in 2020. If the option is exercised, ILC will have a major stake in the largest declared rubidium resource in Africa and one of the largest in the world. There is also enough cesium at Karibib that, when refined, could meet a year of world demand. We are still waiting for the outcome of an arbitration case that Lepidico is engaged in and will decide whether or not to exercise the option shortly after receiving that result.

Lepidico’s 80% ownership of Karibib resulted from its 2019 acquisition of TSXV-listed Desert Lion Energy in exchange for shares and other securities valued at that time at AUD$ 22.9 million (approximately CAD$20.7 million). Since acquiring the company in 2019, Lepidico invested a further AUD$ 12.1 million (approximately CAD$ 10.9 million) in the Karibib project, excluding central group overheads, with a significant portion directed towards drilling, an environmental study and subsequently a Definitive Feasibility Study and a further Resource Estimate.

This project could become highly important to ILC in 2026, and the Company’s Southern Africa strategy will hopefully also be supplemented by progress on the announced Zimbabwe EPO applications.

‘The Company completed the sale of the Avalonia project in Ireland to a subsidiary of its partner, Ganfeng Lithium, whereby ILC also retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty. The total of C$2.5m generated from this was used to advance the investment in the Namibian project and other ongoing initiatives.

Outlook

‘The good work done in 2025, and the upturn in the lithium market, gives a strong possibility of 2026 being a successful period for ILC. As well as extra work at the flagship Raleigh Lake project in Canada, if ILC exercises its option to buy Lepidico Mauritius, it will, at Karibib in Namibia, have a project that could otherwise have taken several years and tens of millions of dollars to bring a similar greenfield project to the same stage, let alone the time to identify such a project. Karibib would bring ILC not only lithium, but also a world-class resource in rubidium and one of the larger cesium deposits not controlled by a Chinese company.

‘Lithium and spodumene prices are now back up to the level where mine development is economically viable at Canadian prices. If their rise continues, this will be positive for ILC and the lithium industry overall. ILC’s additional focus on rubidium and cesium gives further strings to its bow that could turn ILC into a much larger company.

‘In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our valued shareholders, advisors and other stakeholders a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.’

On behalf of the Company,

John Wisbey
Chairman and CEO
www.internationallithium.ca

For further information concerning this news release, please contact +1 604-449-6520 or info@internationallithium.ca or ILC@yellowjerseypr.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release or other releases contain certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this or other news releases may include: the timing of completion of any offering and the amount to be raised, the likelihood or otherwise of the Company exercising its option on Lepidico Mauritius, the outcome of arbitration involving Lepidico Namibia, the effect of results of anticipated production rates, the timing and/or anticipated results of drilling on the Karibib or Raleigh Lake or Firesteel or Wolf Ridge projects, the expectation of resource estimates, preliminary economic assessments, feasibility studies, lithium or rubidium or copper recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing various technologies at the company’s projects, the Company’s budgeted expenditures, future plans for expansion in Southern Africa and planned exploration work on its projects, increased value of shareholder investments in the Company, the potential from the Company’s third party earn-out or royalty arrangements, the future demand for lithium, rubidium, cesium and copper, and assumptions about ethical behaviour by our joint venture partners or third party operators of projects or royalty partners. Such forward-looking information is based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled ‘Risks’ and ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ in the interim and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic, legislative, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278761

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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

Stock 3 Mins Read

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

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

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

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

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

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

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

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

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

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

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

Active Bullish Patterns

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

Failed Bearish Patterns

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

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

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

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Tech Weekly: Micron Rises on Latest Results, Trump Media Jumps on TAE Merger

Investing 4 Mins Read

We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    US stocks advanced this week amid key economic data releases, with tech leading gains after Micron Technology’s (NASDAQ:MU) results release and easing artificial intelligence (AI) sector pressures.

    The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) rose 0.02 percent on the week, closing Friday (December 19) at 6,834.5.

    However, tech stock losses earlier in the week kept gains in check. The Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) lost 0.1 percent for the week to close at 23,307.62 on Friday.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU)

    Micron Technology reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2026 on Thursday (December 18), showing strong results driven by surging high-bandwidth memory sales for AI data centers

    Revenue reached US$13.64 billion, up 93 percent from last year and higher than the company’s September revenue projection of US$12.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were US$4.78, beating estimates of US$3.95. The company generated strong free cashflow and declared a US$0.115 per share dividend payable on January 14, 2026.

    Looking ahead, Micron adjusted its profit guidance for the upcoming quarter to US$8.42 per share, higher than Wall Street’s US$4.78 consensus, due to continued AI boom momentum.

    Investors responded to the results by sending Micron shares up 10 percent post-earnings. Momentum carried into Friday’s trading session, spilling over into other tech stocks, which have come under pressure in recent weeks over lofty valuations and funding concerns. The company ended the week 0.58 percent higher.

    2. Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ:DJT)

    Trump Media & Technology Group rose nearly 30 percent before Thursday’s opening bell after the company announced plans to merge with fusion power company TAE Technologies.

    The all-stock deal is reportedly valued at more than US$6 billion. Devin Nunes, chair and chief executive of Trump Media, and Dr. Michl Binderbauer, CEO and director at TAE, are set to serve as co-CEOs.

    TAE is a private company with backing from Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and other companies. The merger is slated to create one of the first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies. “We’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,“ Nunes said.

    Shares of Trump Media closed the week with a gain of 39.53 percent.

    3. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL)

    Oracle shares dropped 5.4 percent on Wednesday (December 17) after a Financial Times report claimed data center investor Blue Owl Capital pulled out of a US$10 billion financing round for one of the AI data centers Oracle is constructing for OpenAI in Michigan. Talks reportedly stalled due to concerns over project delays, tougher debt terms, Oracle’s rising debt load and lease arrangements, per sources cited by the news outlet.

    Oracle disputed the report’s implications, stating that Michigan negotiations are “on schedule” without Blue Owl.

    The company said its project development partner, Related Digital, has chosen “the best equity partner from a competitive group of options, which in this instance was not Blue Owl.” Still, the company finished the week with its share price ahead by 2.18 percent as tech stocks staged an end-of-year comeback.

    Oracle, Micron Technology and Trump Media performance, December 15 to 19, 2025.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

                Tech ETF performance

                Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

                This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) declined by 0.94 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) saw a loss of 0.66 percent.

                The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) also decreased by 0.61 percent.

                Tech news to watch next week

                Markets will be closed mid-week next week, with low trading volumes likely keeping movement calm.

                Watch for year-end selling in tech stocks, a potential rotation into safer sectors and light data like factory orders and home sales reports. Any comments on future interest rates could move markets somehwat, but expect mostly flat trading unless big news like policy changes breaks through.

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

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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                Editor’s Picks: Silver Price Keeps Running, Breaks All-time High Again

                Investing 4 Mins Read

                The silver price was on the rise once again this week — it surged past the US$67 per ounce level on Friday (December 19), hitting a new record before pulling back.

                As for gold, it spent much of the period around the US$4,330 per ounce level, although it rose as high as US$4,360 on Thursday (December 18), approaching its own all-time high.

                Investors were eyeing November US consumer price index (CPI) data, which came out on Thursday. It was up 2.7 percent year-on-year, while core CPI was measured at 2.6 percent.

                Those figures were quite a bit lower than analysts’ estimates, and data collection issues caused by the US government shutdown have left market participants questioning the results.

                Notably, Bureau of Labor Statistics officials had to make ‘certain methodological assumptions’ because the October CPI report was canceled entirely. The bureau also started November data collection later than usual, driving concerns about a rebound in numbers for December.

                US jobs data for both October and November came out this week as well, showing that the unemployment rate for last month rose to 4.6 percent, the highest since 2021.

                While 64,000 jobs were added in November, 105,000 were lost in October, and revisions took 33,000 jobs away from the months of August and September.

                Outside US economic data, it’s worth noting that for silver there’s still a lot of focus on behind-the-scenes actions that could be impacting the price.

                Here’s what Substack newsletter writer John Rubino had to say about that:

                ‘A lot of the discontinuities that we’re seeing in the silver market right now are due to the fact that the big exchanges like Comex may not have enough silver to satisfy the demands of futures contract holders.

                ‘In other words, there are a lot more people out there with long futures contracts that could come in and demand silver than there is silver to satisfy that demand. And the number of people who are standing for delivery on futures contracts is rising, and the amount of silver in these exchanges is shrinking.’

                Bullet briefing — Platinum beats gold, copper hits new record

                Platinum price on the move

                I’d be remiss if I didn’t also take a moment to mention platinum.

                While gold and silver have been making headlines, platinum’s 2025 rise has been quiet, but significant — it’s up over 100 percent year-to-date and nearly hit US$1,980 per ounce this week.

                Platinum is somewhat similar to silver in that they both have precious and industrial sides, and they’ve both seen persistent deficits in recent years.

                Platinum’s deficit has definitely helped it rise this year, but looking forward to next year the World Platinum Investment Council is expecting a balanced market. When I saw that, I wondered if that would mean lower prices in 2026. But that may not necessarily be the case.

                Edward Sterck said there are a couple of nuances in the council’s outlook — for example, it’s anticipating profit taking from exchange-traded funds, but if that doesn’t happen, then the platinum deficit may persist. He also noted that balance in 2026 wouldn’t erase years of deficits:

                ‘A balanced market doesn’t solve for the fact we’ve had three years of deficits. It doesn’t in any way, I suppose, rebuild aboveground stocks. And it’s the shortage of aboveground stocks that seems to be one of the major catalysts behind this price action and behind the market tightness.’

                Copper price hits new high

                It’s not only precious metals that have been hitting new highs this year.

                The price of copper has been climbing as well, hitting a new all-time high of close to US$12,000 per metric ton last week on the London Metal Exchange.

                It’s pulled back slightly since then, but market watchers agree the copper outlook remains strong as rising demand meets constrained supply. In fact, I’ve been asking experts what they think the top-performing asset of next year will be, and copper has been a popular pick.

                Lobo Tiggre of IndependentSpeculator.com chose the base metal as his highest-confidence trade of 2025, and he said he’s sticking with it next year.

                Here’s what he had to say about copper:

                ‘Top pick for 2026 is copper. Similar reasons to 2025 —the copper price has been kicked around, up and down by what I think of as sort of extraneous issues. But the fundamentals mean the demand scenario just looks phenomenal, and the supply has been really constrained.’

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

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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                Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion company

                Business 2 Mins Read

                Trump Media & Technology will merge with a fusion power company in an all-stock deal that the companies said Thursday is valued at more than $6 billion.

                Devin Nunes, the Republican congressman who resigned in 2021 to become the CEO of Trump Media, will be co-CEO of the new company with TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer.

                Shares of Trump Media & Technology, the parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform, have tumbled 70% this year but jumped 20% before the opening bell Thursday.

                TAE is a private company and the merger with Trump Media would create one of the first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies.

                “We’re taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America’s global energy dominance for generations,” Nunes said in a prepared statement.

                TAE focuses on nuclear fusion, a technology that combines two light atomic nuclei to form a single heavier one. It releases enormous amount of energy, a process that occurs on the sun and other stars, according to the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency.

                TAE and Trump Media shareholders will each own approximately 50% of the combined company.

                The companies say the transaction values each TAE common stock at $53.89 per share.

                At closing, Trump Media & Technology Group will be the holding company for Truth Social and TAE, along with its subsidiaries TAE Power Solutions and TAE Life Sciences.

                This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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

                Stock 3 Mins Read

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

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

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

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

                New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

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

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

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

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

                Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

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

                Active Bullish Patterns

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

                Failed Bearish Patterns

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

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

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

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                Investing

                Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Pacific Empire Metals Gains 200 Percent on Drill Results

                Investing 11 Mins Read

                Statistics Canada released November’s consumer price index (CPI) data on Monday (December 15). The data showed all-items inflation rose 2.2 percent compared to November 2024 and 0.1 percent on a monthly basis compared to October.

                One contributor to the rise was a 4.7 percent year-over-year increase in grocery prices, higher than the 3.4 percent annual increase in October and the biggest since the 4.7 percent increase in December 2023.

                On the other hand, gasoline prices decreased 7.8 percent year-over-year and natural gas decreased by 16.5 percent, although both drops were slightly lower than their respective 9.4 percent and 17 percent declines recorded in October.

                StatsCan also released October’s monthly mineral production survey on Friday (December 19). The data reported that mineral production increased across a wide range of metals month-on-month, with iron concentrate the only one seeing a slight decline.

                Gold production increased to 18,470 kilograms compared to 16,978 kilograms in September. Meanwhile, copper production rose to 41.34 million kilograms from 36.23 million kilograms, and silver production jumped to 31,522 kilograms from 28,384 kilograms.

                Shipments, however, decreased broadly in October. Gold shipments fell to 15,563 kilograms from 19,025 kilograms, and silver shipments sank to 31,502 kilograms from 33,296. Copper shipments fell more considerably to 36.22 million kilograms from 44.04 million kilograms.

                Also this week, the Canadian Government approved the merger between mining giants Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) and Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY) on Monday.

                The move clears a major regulatory hurdle for the C$70 billion deal. Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said that as part of the approval process, the companies agreed to spend C$4.5 billion in Canada over five years and employ 4,000 Canadian workers.

                Once the deal is finalized, the combined company will be called Anglo-Teck and will be headquartered in Vancouver, making it the largest company in British Columbia’s history.

                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) was little changed, gaining just 0.14 percent over the week to close Friday at 31,755.77, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fared a little better, rising 1.04 percent to 977.98.

                On the other hand, the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) fell 8.37 percent to close at 168.68 after rising significantly last week.

                The gold price continued an upward trend following last week’s rate cut from the US Federal Reserve. It gained 1.36 percent on the week to reach US$4,338.24 per ounce on Friday at 4 p.m. EST.

                Meanwhile, the silver price continued to set new records with another substantial weekly gain of 5.75 percent, reaching a new high of US$67.45 per ounce in morning trading on Friday before slipping to end the day at US$67.18.

                In base metals, the COMEX copper price ended the week up 0.73 percent at US$5.50 per pound.

                The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) fell 1.47 percent to end Friday at 542.19.

                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. EST 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. Pacific Empire Minerals (TSXV:PEMC)

                Weekly gain: 200 percent
                Market cap: C$30.36 million
                Share price: C$0.15

                Pacific Empire is a gold and copper exploration company focused on its flagship Trident property in central British Columbia, Canada.

                Trident consists of a land package covering 6,618 hectares within the Quesnel Terrane and has a history of exploration dating back to its discovery in 1969. The property hosts porphyry mineralization of copper, gold, and silver, with historic drill results at the site including one 102 meter interval grading 0.59 percent copper and 0.24 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold.

                Shares in the company gained significantly this week after it released assay results from the upper portion of the first hole of its 2025 winter diamond drill program.

                Results from the hole started at a depth of 9 meters and hosted continuous copper-gold mineralization to a depth of 192 meters.

                The broad 183 meter interval returned average grades of 0.77 percent copper, 0.51 g/t gold and 3.4 g/t silver over 183 meters. Within that were intervals of 71 meters grading 1.06 percent copper, 0.83 g/t gold and 4.6 g/t silver, and 14.8 meters grading 1.23 percent copper, 0.75 g/t gold and 5.5 g/t silver.

                Pacific Empire said the result was the most substantial copper-gold mineralization recorded at Trident to date and that it advances the geological understanding and exploration model for what could be significant porphyry system.

                Assays for the lower portion of the first hole and the remaining five holes drilled as part of the campaign are pending.

                2. US Copper (TSXV:USCU)

                Weekly gain: 72.22 percent
                Market cap: C$17.75 million
                Share price: C$0.155

                US Copper is an exploration company working to advance its Moonlight-Superior project in Northeast California, United States.

                The project covers approximately 13 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the Lights Creek Copper District, near the Nevada border.

                A preliminary economic assessment released on January 6 demonstrated a post-tax net present value of US$1.08 billion with an internal rate of return of 23 percent and a payback period of 5.3 years, assuming a copper price of US$4.15 per pound.

                The included mineral resource estimate shows a total indicated resource of 2.5 billion pounds of copper, 21.7 million ounces of silver and 140,042 ounces of gold from 402.83 million metric tons of ore with a grade of 0.31 percent copper, 1.85 parts per million (ppm) silver and 0.012 ppm gold. The majority is hosted at its Moonlight and Superior deposits.

                US Copper has not released news since October 14 when it announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$750,000.

                3. Euromax Resources (TSXV:EOX)

                Weekly gain: 66.67 percent
                Market cap: C$18.87 million
                Share price: C$0.025

                Euromax Resources is a development and exploration company working to advance its Ilovica-Shtuka copper project in the southeast of North Macedonia, Europe.

                The advanced stage project is composed of two concession agreements that cover 17.1 square kilometers and hosts mineralized deposits of copper and gold.

                The most recent feasibility study for the Ilovica-Shtuka project, released in 2016, demonstrated a sulphide mineral resource with measured and indicated quantities of 2.6 million ounces of gold and 1.2 billion pounds of copper, with additional oxide quantities of 280,000 ounces of gold.

                Shares in Euromax gained this week after it announced on Monday its intention to issue 122.1 million common shares through a non-brokered private placement, generating proceeds of C$3.97 million.

                4. Lode Gold Resources (TSXV:LOD)

                Weekly gain: 54.67 percent
                Market cap: C$10.61 million
                Share price: C$0.325

                Lode Gold Resources is an exploration company with projects located in Canada and the United States, including its Fremont gold project in California, US, which hosts a past-producing high-grade gold mine.

                The mine sits on 3,351 acres in Mariposa County, which has been mined since the start of the California gold rush in the 1840s.

                On March 5, Lode Gold released a technical report for the property, which included an updated mineral resource estimate demonstrating an indicated resource of 120,000 ounces with an average grade of 4.13 g/t gold from 910,000 metric tons of ore, with an additional inferred resource of 1.9 million ounces with a grade of 3.96 g/t from 8.53 million metric tons of ore.

                The most recent news from the project came on December 9, when Lode announced that it had entered into a letter of intent with an unnamed mining company to begin work advancing the Freemont project toward production.

                As part of the deal, the parties agreed to a 45 day standstill period during which Lode will work to raise capital and repay outstanding debts.

                Additionally, Lode announced on December 12 that it was appointing David Swetlow as Lode’s new CFO. He has previously worked as CFO for Lode’s subsidiary, Gold Orogen, which was created to spin off its Yukon and New Brunswick properties.

                The spin-off was announced in July 2024 as part of Lode’s restructuring bid and would include its Golden Culvert, Win, and McIntyre Brook properties.

                5. Canadian Chrome (CSE:CACR)

                Weekly gain: 50 percent
                Market cap: C$24.71 million
                Share price: C$0.015

                Formerly KWG Resources, Canadian Chrome is a chromite and base metals exploration company focused on moving forward at its Ring of Fire assets in Northern Ontario, Canada. It does business as the Canadian Chrome Company.

                The firm’s properties consist of the Fancamp and Big Daddy claims, along with the Mcfaulds Lake, Koper Lake and Fishtrap Lake projects. All are located within a 40 kilometer radius, and according to the company are home to feeder magma chambers containing chromite, nickel and copper deposits.

                Canadian Chrome is currently working with local First Nations to improve transportation to the region by developing road and rail links. The company announced on November 7 that it had signed a memorandum of agreement with AtkinsRéalis Canada in its capacity as a contractor representing the Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations.

                The agreement will allow AtkinsRéalis temporary access rights over some mineral exploration claims in support of work permits for an environmental assessment for the design, construction and operation of a multi-use, all-season road between the proposed Marten Falls community access road and the proposed Webequie supply road.

                Once completed, the link will provide improved access to communities and mining companies in the region.

                On September 11, Canadian Chrome signed an additional agreement with AtkinsRéalis that will provide the firm access rights to parts of the claims for 13 borehole locations for geotechnical investigations and aggregate source testing.

                The most recent news from the company came on December 11, when it set the terms of a C$25 million non-brokered private placement originally proposed on August 26. Changes to the original terms were made following the inclusion of chromium as a critical mineral in the Canadian federal budget announced on November 4, which allows investments in chromium projects to qualify for additional tax credits.

                The new terms state that, with every 10 flow-through shares subscribed, five flow-through share purchase warrants will be issued, each entitling the holder to purchase one additional flow-through share for C$2.50 at any time within one year.

                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.

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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                Crypto Market Update: CLARITY Act Set for January Senate Markup, Selig Confirmed as CFTC Chair

                Investing 4 Mins Read

                Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (December 19) as of 9:00 pm 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$88,004.97, up by 3.6 percent over 24 hours.

                Bitcoin price performance, December 19, 2025.

                Chart via TradingView

                Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,991.30, up by 7.2 percent over the last 24 hours.

                Altcoin price update

                • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.91, up by 5.7 percent over 24 hours.
                • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$126.85, up by 7.6 percent over 24 hours.

                Today’s crypto news to know

                MetaPlanet’s US expansion and OTC trading debut

                American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of BTC treasury company Metaplanet (TSE:3350,OTCQX:MPJPY) began trading today on the US OTC market under the ticker symbol MPJPY, replacing the previously unsponsored MTPLF ticker, according to an announcement from the company.

                This step builds on earlier US expansions. The company, which is based in Tokyo, established a wholly-owned subsidiary called Metaplanet Treasury in Miami, Florida, in May 2025 to handle BTC accumulation and treasury operations with up to US$250 million in capital.

                The launch is intended to enhance US investor participation in MetaPlanet’s BTC strategy.

                Poland’s parliament approves MiCO-aligned crypto bill over veto

                Poland’s lower house of parliament, called the Sejm, approved a crypto-asset market bill today, overriding President Karol Nawrocki’s prior veto. It now heads to the Senate for review, where it potentially faces another veto.

                President Nawrocki vetoed the bill earlier in December, citing threats to civil liberties like easy website blocks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government resubmitted the bill, unchanged. It passed with 241 votes.

                The bill aligns Poland with the EU’s MiCA regulation by designating the Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) to oversee crypto exchanges, impose sanctions, and introduce criminal liability for offenses.

                US Senate confirms Mike Selig as CFTC Chair

                The US Senate has confirmed Mike Selig as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), bringing permanent leadership back to an agency that has operated for months in near-limbo.

                Selig’s confirmation passed 53–43 as part of a broader package of federal appointments. The CFTC had been functioning with a single commissioner, Acting Chair Caroline Pham, after multiple resignations hollowed out the five-member panel.

                While Pham kept the agency operational, the lack of a Senate-confirmed chair constrained long-term planning, staffing, and coordination with other regulators.

                That gap was especially acute as lawmakers debated expanding the CFTC’s role in overseeing spot crypto markets.

                CLARITY Act heads for Senate markup in January

                The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is set to enter Senate markup in January, according to White House crypto and AI adviser David Sacks, putting the bill on a formal path toward passage.

                ‘We had a great call today with Chairmen @SenatorTimScott and @JohnBoozman who confirmed that a markup for Clarity is coming in January. Thanks to their leadership, as well as @RepFrenchHill and @CongressmanGT in the House, we are closer than ever to passing the landmark crypto market structure legislation that President Trump has called for,’ Sacks posted on X. ‘We look forward to finishing the job in January!’

                Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott and Agriculture Chair John Boozman have agreed on the timeline. The bill, which cleared the House earlier this year, aims to settle long-running jurisdiction disputes by spelling out when a token is a security versus a commodity.

                Lawmakers are expected to focus amendments on asset classification tests, investor protection standards, and how quickly platforms must register under the new regime.

                Another key issue will be how the SEC and CFTC coordinate oversight during the transition period.

                If the schedule holds, Congress could finalize a reconciled version later during the year.

                Bybit re-enters UK Market via FCA-approved promotion route

                Crypto exchange Bybit has resumed operations in the UK after a two-year absence triggered by tighter rules on crypto marketing and promotions.

                The platform has restarted spot trading with 100 pairs, using a compliance structure designed to meet the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) financial promotion standards.

                Rather than holding its own UK authorization, Bybit is operating under an arrangement with London-based exchange Archax, which is licensed to approve crypto promotions for unauthorised firms.

                This route has previously been used by other major exchanges seeking access to British users.

                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.

                This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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