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Researchers have documented the first known recovery of naturally formed nanoscale monazite from a living plant, potentially opening up new paths to recover in-demand rare earth materials.

The study, published this month in Environmental Science & Technology, identifies nanoscale monazite crystals inside Blechnum orientale, an evergreen fern known to accumulate rare earths at unusually high concentrations.

The work was carried out by researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with a geoscientist at Virginia Tech in the US.

In the paper, the authors write that the discovery “opens new possibilities for the direct recovery of functional rare earth element (REE) materials,” adding, “To our knowledge, this is the earliest reported occurrence of rare earth elements crystallising into a mineral phase within a hyperaccumulator.”

The method, known as phytomining, relies on certain plants that naturally pull unusual amounts of metals from the ground. In this case, the fern absorbed rare earths so efficiently that tiny mineral crystals formed inside its tissues.

The mineral identified — monazite — is normally created deep underground under intense heat and pressure.

The team’s analysis shows that the fern somehow produced nanoscale versions of it under normal surface conditions, with the highest concentrations found in its leaflets and roots. In this state, the plant appears to lock the metals outside its cells as a way of protecting itself, with the process enabling the mineral to crystallize.

Monazite is prized for uses ranging from lasers to electronics to materials that withstand high heat and radiation, so finding it naturally produced inside a plant could open up a new, lower-impact source of rare earths.

REEs take priority in global supply race

REEs, a group of metals used in permanent magnets, lasers, consumer electronics and advanced defense systems, are receiving renewed international scrutiny as governments race to reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains.

Earlier this month, the US Department of the Interior published its final 2025 list of critical minerals, naming 60 minerals deemed vital to the American economy and exposed to supply risk.

The list emphasizes the importance of rare earths, which the US imports heavily, and highlights neodymium, scandium and dysprosium as metals where supply disruptions would impose the “highest cost” on the US economy.

Washington has moved in parallel to strengthen access to rare earths through domestic production, expanded mapping of US deposits and agreements with partners in Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.

In addition to these efforts, US officials continue to signal confidence that Beijing will adhere to commitments under a rare earths framework outlined last month.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a recent interview that a deal with China will “hopefully” be done by Thanksgiving, while also rejecting a report suggesting that Beijing is planning new restrictions on US companies.

Are plants a viable source of rare earths?

The use of ferns for mineral extraction remains at an early stage, and the researchers emphasize that phytomining is not a replacement for conventional production.

But finding mineralized rare earths in a living organism offers a proof of concept that could broaden how countries approach resource development at a time when REEs remain strategically critical for major economies.

As the US, China and other nations look for secure supply routes, the possibility that plants themselves may contribute to the pipeline adds a new dimension to a field dominated by mining companies.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Silver mining companies are being supported by a silver price bull run in 2025.

After climbing through 2025, silver broke its all-time high set in 1980 this October, reaching a new high of US$54.47 per ounce on October 17.

The factors driving the metal’s rise remain, most notably tightening supply and demand fundamentals driven by higher demand from industrial sectors and its use in photovoltaics.

Additionally, prices have found tailwinds from safe-haven investors who find silver’s lower entry price compared to gold appealing. They have moved toward silver on the back of uncertainty in global financial markets as the US implements tariff policies, as well as escalating tensions in the Middle East and the unresolved conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Below is an overview of the five largest silver-mining stocks by market cap as of November 10, 2025, as per TradingView’s stock screener. Read on to learn more about the activities and operations of these large-cap silver stocks.

1. Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS,NYSE:PAAS)

Market cap: C$20.62 billion
Share price: C$52.51

Pan American Silver is among the world’s largest primary silver producers, with silver assets located throughout the Americas and operations in Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Its largest silver-producing asset is its wholly owned La Colorada mine in Mexico.

On May 11, Pan American entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MAG Silver (TSX:MAG,NYSEAMERICAN:MAG). Under the terms of the US$2.1 billion deal, MAG shareholders will be paid out a mix of cash totaling US$500 million and 0.755 shares in Pan American per MAG share.

On September 4, Pan American announced the deal’s closing, giving it a 44 percent stake in the Juanicipio mine in Central Mexico. The mine is operated by Fresnillo (LSE:FRES), which holds the remaining 56 percent.

According to its Q3 report, released on November 12, the company’s attributable silver production during the period totaled 5.46 million ounces.

The La Colorada mine was the biggest contributor, producing 1.51 million ounces of silver during the quarter. Other significant contributions came from the El Peñon gold-silver mine in Chile with 938,000 ounces of silver, Huaron in Peru at 755,000 ounces, San Vicente in Bolivia at 765,000 ounces and Cerro Moro in Argentina at 559,000 ounces.

Additionally, its attributable silver production from its 44 percent stake in Juanicipio in Mexico totaled 580,000 ounces in the month of September alone.

Pan American Silver also upgraded its 2025 operating outlook to account for Juanicipio’s additional production, and now expects full-year attributable silver production between 22 million to 22.5 million ounces. The company also lowered its expected silver segment all-in sustaining costs to a range of US$14.50 to US$16.00 per ounce.

2. First Majestic Silver (TSX:AG,NYSE:AG)

Market cap: C$7.83 billion
Share price: C$16.61

First Majestic has three wholly owned silver-producing mines in Mexico: San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila. The first two also produce gold.

The company holds a 70 percent stake in the Los Gatos silver mine in Chihuahua as well. First Majestic acquired the property in January 2025 through a merger with Gatos Silver.

Japan’s Dowa Holdings (TSE:5714) holds the remaining 30 percent interest.

In addition to its producing assets, First Majestic sells bullion from its own minting facility in Nevada, US, named First Mint. It commenced sales in March 2024.

According to its Q3 report, the company achieved record quarterly production of 3.86 million ounces of silver, a 96 percent increase from the 1.97 million million ounces produced in the same period in 2024.

First Majestic’s recently acquired Los Gatos mine was its largest producer, delivering 1.41 million attributable ounces of silver. San Dimas took second place at 1.47 million ounces, while La Encantada and Santa Elena produced 575,193 ounces and 412,669 ounces, respectively.

3. Endeavour Silver (TSX:EDR,NYSE:EXK)

Market cap: C$2.93 billion
Share price: C$11.12

Endeavour Silver is a mining company with two operating silver-gold mines in Mexico — Guanaceví and Bolañitos — plus the commissioning-stage Terronera project and several exploration properties.

On May 1, the company completed the acquisition of Compañia Minera Kolpa and the Huachocolpa Uno mine in Peru for total consideration of US$145 million in a combination of cash and Endeavour shares to Kolpa shareholders.

Endeavour also agreed to pay an additional US$10 million in cash in contingent payments if certain events are met, and will add US$20 million in net debt, which will remain outstanding and repayable by Minera Kolpa.

In its Q3 production report, Endeavour reported silver production of 1.77 million ounces, 102 percent higher than the 874,717 ounces in the third quarter of 2024. A large portion of the increase was owed to the acquisition of Kolpa, which delivered 598,689 ounces of silver through Q3.

The company also provided an update on Terronera, which is nearing commercial production. Between September 1 and September 23, milling rates averaged 1,866 metric tons per day, with average silver recoveries of 82.8 percent. Additionally, the mine delivered 212,043 ounces of silver during the third quarter.

4. Silvercorp Metals (TSX:SVM)

Market cap: C$1.94 billion
Share price: C$9.58

Silvercorp Metals is a production and development company operating two silver mines in China: the Ying Mining District in Henan and the GC mine in Guangdong. It is also working to develop the copper primary El Domo project in Central Ecuador.

In the company’s operations report for its fiscal Q2 2026 ended September 30, it reported total silver production of 1.66 million ounces, a 0.2 percent increase from the same period last year. The majority of its output came from the Ying Mining District, which delivered 1.53 million ounces of silver, with the remaining 130,000 ounces coming from the GC mine.

In addition to mining activities, the company reported 77,507 meters of exploration drilling at Ying and 14,437 meters of tunnelling.

Silvercorp also reported that construction activities at El Domo had advanced during the quarter, with 1.29 million cubic meters of material removed from the site. Although the mine is being developed as a copper mine, it will also produce silver as a by-product metal.

The company’s environmental license for the project was the subject of a court challenge, but on August 5, Silvercorp announced that the Constitutional Court of Ecuador rejected the challenge in a unanimous decision.

5. Vizsla Silver (TSX:VZLA,NYSEAMERICAN:VZLA)

Market cap: C$1.9 billion
Share price: C$5.91

Vizsla Silver is advancing its Panuco silver-gold project in Sinaloa, Mexico, toward production.

It released an updated preliminary economic assessment for the Panuco project on February 20, suggesting a post tax net present value of US$1.14 billion with an internal rate of return of 85.7 percent and a pay back period of less than 1 year.

Measured and indicated silver resources at the site totaled 127.82 million ounces of contained silver from 12.96 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 307 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver. Its inferred resource totals 73.62 million ounces of silver from 10.47 million MT of ore with an average grade of 219 g/t.

On June 18, Vizsla reported that it had advanced 125 meters at its Copala test mine and was progressing at a rate of 4 meters per day. Once development reaches the main deposit, Vizsla will take a 10,000 metric ton bulk sample. The portal will also serve as the primary access for underground mining operations once a construction decision is made.

Additionally, in May, the company entered into an agreement to acquire the producing Santa Fe silver-gold mine and property located to the south of Panuco. The property hosts operating mining infrastructure, including a processing plant and an underground mine built in 2018. Between 2020 and 2024, the mine processed 370,366 metric tons of ore, with an average head grade of 203 g/t silver and 2.17 g/t gold.

Under the terms of the agreement, Vizsla will have the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Santa Fe producing concessions for US$4 million in exploration expenditures, along with cash considerations of US$1.5 million and 1.37 million Vizsla shares over five years. It also entered a purchase agreement to buy the Santa Fe exploration concessions for a further US$1.43 million and 2.75 million common shares.

On September 5, Vizsla executed a mandate letter for up to US$220 million toward the development of the Panuco project. While the deal isn’t expected to close until Q1 2026, Vizsla will be able to draw an initial tranche of US$25 million for immediate funding of early development and construction preparation.

FAQs for silver investing

Is silver a good investment?

Silver comes with many of the same advantages as its sister metal gold. Both are considered safe-haven assets, as they can offer a hedge against market downturns, a weakening US dollar and inflation.

Additionally, many investors like being able to physically own an asset, and with its lower price point, buying silver coins and bars is an accessible option for building a precious metals portfolio. Of course, physical silver isn’t the only way to invest in the metal — there are also silver stocks and various silver exchange-traded funds.

It’s up to investors to do their due diligence and decide whether silver is the right match for their portfolio.

Does silver go up when the stock market goes down?

Historically, silver has shown some correlation with stock market moves, although it’s not consistent. When the stock market has seen its worst crashes, silver has moved down, but by a less significant amount than the stock market has, showing that it can act as a safety net to lessen losses in tough circumstances.

However, silver is also known for its volatility. What’s more, because it has industrial applications as well as a currency side, silver is less tied to the stock market than gold is.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, own shares of Vizsla Silver.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

East Star Resources (LSE:EST) and Endeavour Exploration announced they have entered into a binding earn-in and joint venture (JV) agreement to advance gold exploration in Kazakhstan.

Endeavour Exploration, a subsidiary of top gold producer Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV,TSX:EDV,OTCQX:EDVMF), will have the right to earn up to an 80 percent interest in a new JV company via staged investments.

Stage 1 includes a US$5 million payment within two years, equivalent to a 51 percent interest. If an additional US$20 million is given over three years, its interest will increase to 70 percent.

The last 10 percent will be given to Endeavour if it funds and completes a prefeasibility study.

During the initial phase, East Star will act as manager of the JV.

The area of interest for the partnership includes two proven, underexplored mineral belts.

‘This agreement with Endeavour is a transformational milestone for East Star that validates the quality of our exploration programme and provides a clear pathway to unlock the full potential of our gold exploration strategy,” said East Star Resources CEO Alex Walker in a November 13 press release.

While the JV will focus on gold, East Star is also pursuing copper in Kazakhstan.

Its assets include a volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit with a JORC-compliant resource estimate of 20.3 million metric tons at 1.16 percent copper, 1.54 percent zinc and 0.27 percent lead.

An investor webcast is scheduled for Tuesday (November 18) to discuss the terms of the JV.

Both parties will fund the JV company in proportion to their ownership share after the earn-in period.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) said on Monday (November 17) that it has signed a joint development agreement with environmental technology company Calix (NYSE:CALX,ASX:CXL) to develop Calix’s Zero Emissions Steel Technology (Zesty) green iron demonstration plant in Western Australia.

If approved, the plant will be built at a site in Kwinana, south of Perth, that was previously earmarked for Rio Tinto’s BioIron research and development facility and associated pilot plant.

Under the deal with Calix, Rio Tinto will invest more than AU$35 million, pending project milestones. Funding from the mining giant will include both in-kind and financial contributions.

The plant received AU$44.9 million in Australian Renewable Energy Agency support in July.

Rio Tinto’s work will include helping Calix reach a final investment decision through technical support, engineering services and advocacy. Subject to a final investment decision and successful project construction, Rio Tinto will provide up to 10,000 tonnes of various Pilbara iron ores for plant commissioning and the initial testing phase.

The miner will also provide introductions to potential customers for downstream use of the Zesty product.

“The world needs low-emissions steel if it is going to decarbonise, and we continue to look at a range of ways Pilbara iron ores can help to do this as new technologies emerge,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz.

He added that Rio Tinto will keep progressing BioIron with its partners, the University of Nottingham and Metso. However, the company has decided that the current furnace design requires additional development.

“Both projects are part of our work to reduce emissions and support the future of iron ore in Australia and the communities that depend on it,’ Holcz added, referring to Zesty and BioIron.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Walmart announced Friday that longtime CEO Doug McMillon will retire at the end of January — which came as a surprise to some given the company’s success in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

John Furner, Walmart’s U.S. CEO, will assume the role of overall CEO on Feb. 1, the company said. McMillon will continue to serve in an executive and advisory role through January 2027. Furner, 51, began his career at Walmart as an hourly associate.

McMillon, 59, has held the top job since 2014 and is only the fifth person to lead the storied company in its 63-year history.

McMillon has overseen a radical transformation of Walmart’s image in a little over a decade.

In 2014, Walmart had a reputation as a budget retail option and was accused of underpaying its associates. Today, it draws more well-to-do shoppers and has earned credit for adopting innovative personnel policies.

McMillon also built up Walmart’s e-commerce operation into the country’s second-largest, behind only Amazon. Over the course of McMillon’s tenure, the value of Walmart’s shares has increased some 300%.

“Serving as Walmart’s CEO has been a great honor and I’m thankful to our Board and the Walton family for the opportunity,” McMillon said in a statement. “I’ve worked with John for more than 20 years. … He’s uniquely capable of leading the company through this next AI-driven transformation.”

America’s retail landscape continues to rapidly evolve, as consumer spending habits increasingly bifurcate between wealthier households and everyone else.

However, Walmart’s quarterly results have held steady — and the company has been justly rewarded by investors. Just this year, Walmart shares have climbed around 13%. Over the course of McMillon’s tenure, the retailer’s stock price is up some 300%.

On Walmart’s most recent earnings call in August, McMillon indicated the company has been able to withstand the broader pressures facing consumers. Its shoppers’ “behavior has been generally consistent,” he said. “We aren’t seeing dramatic shifts.”

Other retailers have not been so fortunate.

Target’s shares have lost about one-third of their value this year, as the chain works to regain its footing in a more value-conscious environment. In August, longtime CEO Brian Cornell announced plans to step down.

Amazon, meanwhile, has fared slightly better as consumers continue to prioritize the convenience of online shopping. But it recently announced thousands of layoffs affecting corporate employees. Amazon’s share price has climbed about 8% this year.

McMillon has also steered Walmart through a volatile period in U.S. politics, during which elected officials have engaged directly with companies and consumers have proven willing to boycott corporate giants over social issues.

Walmart found itself in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs in May, after it signaled plans to increase some prices in response to his tariffs.

“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”

While subsequent reports indicated that Walmart had indeed increased prices on some items, McMillon said in August that the changes were gradual enough that consumer habits shifted only modestly.

Six months after Trump singled Walmart out over tariffs, he did so again — but for a very different reason.

In recent weeks, the Trump White House has repeatedly touted Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving menu package — which costs less overall than the retailer’s similar menu did last year — as a sign that the president’s economic policies have helped drive down grocery prices for consumers.

But there is a flaw in that rationale. This year’s Walmart Thanksgiving menu contains fewer items than last year’s menu did.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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

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

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

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

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

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

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

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

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

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

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

Active Bullish Patterns

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

Failed Bearish Patterns

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

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

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

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (November 14) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$94,223.98, a 4 percent increase in 24 hours and its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest was US$97,203.84.

Bitcoin price performance, November 14, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin’s drop below US$95,000 on Friday, driven by expiring derivatives, whale selling, and weak institutional and retail demand, has intensified fears of an entrenched bear market.

Analysts predict Q4 could be Bitcoin’s “worst fourth quarter on record.’

On X, analyst @follis_ notes that the Wyckoff Distribution model, a classic five phase pattern typically observed near market tops and often precursor to prolonged selling pressure, could signal a potential end to Bitcoin’s bull run.

The pattern suggests that after a buying climax near US$122,000 and a sequence of tests failing to create new highs, the price entered a markdown phase. Bitcoin could drop to US$86,000 if key support levels fail to hold.

Meanwhile, Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,129.77, a 1.6 percent decrease in the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3,131.31, while its highest was US$3,246.27.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$139.74, down by 1.9 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$138.83, while its highest was US$143.61.
  • XRP was trading for US$2.27, down by 1.5 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.26, while its highest was US$2.33.

Fear and Greed Index snapshot

Bitcoin’s bearish trajectory has pushed market sentiment into extreme fear. As of today, CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index continues to trend in extreme fear territory with the indicator sitting at 22, marking the lowest levels of investor confidence since March and signaling that traders are highly cautious about entering the market.

CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index, Bitcoin price and Bitcoin volume.

Chart via CoinMarketCap.

Derivatives data

Bitcoin and Ether futures markets saw a wave of long-side liquidations in the hours leading up to the end of the trading day, signaling trader capitulation amid continued price weakness. Roughly US$65.24 million in Bitcoin positions were liquidated over a four hour window, with the bulk coming from longs. Ether followed a similar pattern, registering US$22.13 million in liquidations, again concentrated among leveraged long positions.

The liquidations coincided with a clear contraction in open interest, suggesting that traders not only endured forced unwinds but also reduced overall exposure. Bitcoin open interest slipped 2.3 percent to US$66.05 billion, while Ether open interest saw a sharper 3.8 percent decline to US$36.31 billion.

Funding rates stayed positive — 0.007 for Bitcoin and 0.012 for Ether — indicating that the futures market remained slightly tilted toward bullish positioning despite the shakeout.

However, Bitcoin’s relative strength index sat at a notably low 27.33, entering the oversold zone and hinting that derivatives pressure may have pushed the market toward a possible short-term exhaustion point.

Taken together, the metrics point to forced deleveraging rather than a broad directional shift, though sustained weakness in open interest could temper near-term volatility once liquidation volumes normalize.

Today’s crypto news to know

Saylor denies reports of Bitcoin selloff

Strategy’s (NASDAQ:MSTR) Michael Saylor took to X on Friday to debunk reports that the company has reduced its Bitcoin holdings by roughly 47,000 BTC.

“I think the volatility comes with the territory,” he reiterated in a CNBC interview that day. “If you’re going to be a Bitcoin investor, you need a four-year time horizon and you need to be prepared to handle the volatility in this market.”

An earlier post from @Crypto Crib claims that the company had offloaded over 30,000 BTC; however, community-supplied context clarifies that 22,704 BTC were moved on October 31, and that these transfers were internal custody movements, not open-market sales.

Tether expanding commodity lending

In an interview with Bloomberg, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company is ‘expanding its presence in commodity lending,’ noting that the focus going forward will include traditional commodity trades like agriculture and oil managed under its new Trade Finance unit, which provides short-term credit for global supply chains.

The company has lent roughly US$1.5 billion in credit to commodities traders so far.

Alibaba builds tokenized payment system

Alibaba Grou Holding (NYSE:BABA) is developing a stablecoin-like system to streamline cross-border payments for its US$35 billion e-commerce network, aiming for a year-end launch.

The tokenized platform will initially support US dollars and euros, and will include further plans to expand to additional currencies using JPMorgan’s tokenization technology.

Under the system, artificial intelligence-driven smart contracts will automate settlements, dispute resolution, and conditional fund releases to reduce friction in B2B transactions. The system will operate alongside Alibaba’s Agentic Pay rail to enhance speed and transparency.

While not a formal stablecoin, the solution acts as a fiat-backed digital token for settlement purposes.

UAE tightens crypto access

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has enacted a new central bank law that broadens licensing requirements for financial services, effectively criminalizing unlicensed crypto activity. Article 170 imposes penalties, including fines up to AED 500 million (US$136 million) and imprisonment, for offering financial products without authorization.

Self-custody tools, such as Bitcoin wallets, blockchain explorers, and market-data services, now fall under the licensing net, creating compliance challenges for providers inside and outside the UAE.

Article 61 further restricts promotion, marketing, or publication of unlicensed financial activities, affecting even online communications. Companies have a one year window to comply, subject to central bank discretion.

Uniswap introduces continuous clearing auctions

Uniswap introduced continuous clearing auctions on Thursday (November 13), a new protocol aiming to facilitate token offerings through its infrastructure. The company said that the protocol will help teams ‘bootstrap liquidity on Uniswap v4 and find the market price for new and low-liquidity tokens,’ adding that several additional tools currently under development will eventually be added to help projects launch and deepen token liquidity on the platform.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Gerardo Del Real, co-owner of Digest Publishing, breaks down his portfolio, saying he’s currently bullish on copper, gold, silver and uranium, as well as critical metals.

‘I think this is the golden age of exploration and development in the critical metals space and the precious metals space. So take advantage of the market, folks,’ Del Real said.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Nick Hodge, publisher at Digest Publishing, is most bullish on copper and uranium in 2026, but also believes gold and silver prices have further to go despite recent gains.

‘We are in the middle of a precious metals bull market,’ he said. ‘Silver hasn’t had its day yet, so I think that’s a pretty good indicator that we’ve still got some time to go.’

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH ) (OTCQX: SYHBF ) (Frankfurt: SC1P ) (‘Skyharbour’, ‘SYH’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive repurchase agreement (the ‘Strategic Agreement’) with Denison Mines Corp. (‘Denison’ or ‘DML’) whereby Denison will acquire an initial project interest in Skyharbour’s Russell Lake Uranium Project (‘Russell’ or the ‘Project’) and the parties have agreed to enter into four separate joint venture agreements at closing on various claims making up Russell (the ‘Transaction’). The Project is strategically located in the central portion of the Eastern Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, with access to regional infrastructure, including an all-weather road and powerline.

Russell Lake Project Location Map:
http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/2025-11-14%20SKY-RussellLake-Updated.jpg

Highlights:

  • Strategic Agreement represents combined total project consideration of up to CAD $61.5 million consisting of cash or share payments to Skyharbour totalling up to $21.5 million (including $18.0 million before year end) plus expenditures totalling up to $40.0 million for Denison to acquire between a 20% and 70% ownership interest over seven years in the claims making up Russell, with Skyharbour owning the remaining interests.
  • Denison (TSX: DML; NYSE American: DNN), a leading uranium mining company with a market capitalization of over $3 billion, is developing the Wheeler River Project (‘Wheeler River’), which shares a 55 kilometre border with Russell. Denison is an existing, large corporate shareholder of Skyharbour and now joins the Company as a strategic, active, funding partner at Russell.
  • The Project will be divided into four different joint ventures, including Russell Lake (‘RL’), Getty East, Wheeler North, and the Wheeler River Inlier Claims, of which Skyharbour will retain initial ownership interests of 80%, 70%, 51%, and 30%, respectively. Denison can then earn up to a 70% interest in the Wheeler North and Getty East properties through option agreements.
  • The technical teams of Denison and Skyharbour will work cooperatively to advance and unlock value across the joint ventures, employing top-tier exploration and development expertise in the region.
  • Denison has committed to a minimum of $4 million in exploration expenditures over the first two years at Wheeler North and Getty East combined, as well as agreeing to fund to maintain its pro-rata 20% participation interest in the RL claims through 2029 up until such time that total exploration expenditures on the property reach $10 million.
  • Skyharbour to remain operator with an 80% ownership interest at the RL claims comprising over 53,192 hectares of the original 73,314 hectare Russell Lake Project. The Company will also act as operator during the first earn-in at Getty East with Denison sole funding the exploration in order to fulfill the earn-in option criteria.
  • Skyharbour to benefit with a substantial financial commitment from Denison before year end to help fund its uranium exploration and corporate activities through 2026. The Company will also generate revenue from its operator fee at the McGowan Lake exploration camp at the Project.
  • Skyharbour will continue to directly advance its high-grade Moore Uranium project as well as the RL claims at Russell, while partner companies fund exploration at some of the Company’s other projects.

Jordan Trimble, President and CEO of Skyharbour, stated: ‘This is a transformative transaction for Skyharbour and our shareholders as it represents a major stamp of approval for Russell with up to $61.5 million in combined project consideration coming in. We are very pleased to expand upon our long-standing relationship with Denison and to partner with their team to advance one of the more prospective exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin proximal to existing and developing mines. Denison’s success in exploring, permitting, and developing the neighboring world-class Wheeler River Project will provide considerable insight and experience as we jointly pursue success at Russell. Further, this transaction delivers on our belief that Russell should be treated as multiple different projects due to the abundance of targets and sheer scale of the land package in one of the most prolific uranium exploration corridors in the world. The structure and terms of the Strategic Agreement allow Skyharbour to continue exploring as operator at the majority of the claims at Russell, while participating in the future success that Denison seeks as operator at the Wheeler North and Wheeler River Inlier claims. Furthermore, we will receive a significant amount of cash and Denison shares to help fund our exploration efforts and corporate activities through 2026.’

David Cates, President and CEO of Denison, further commented: ‘As Denison nears receipt of final regulatory approvals for the Phoenix In-Situ Recovery mine proposed for our flagship Wheeler River property, we are also making measured investments in our project pipeline – including our next development assets and high-potential exploration properties. Given its proximity to Wheeler River, Denison has had an interest in adding Russell to our property portfolio for much of my nearly two decades with the Company. This transaction achieves that objective by providing Denison with the opportunity to lead and participate in exploration efforts across four newly created joint ventures, which are designed to drive collaboration between Denison and Skyharbour’s technical teams. We are excited to build on our long-standing relationship with Skyharbour and accelerate the evaluation of this exceptional package of highly prospective ground.’

Reorganization of the Russell Lake Project:
https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/Russell-Map-New.jpg

Upon closing of the Strategic Agreement, Denison will earn an initial project interest in each of the four new Russell exploration projects including a 49% interest in the Wheeler North claims, a 20% interest in the RL claims, a 30% interest in the Getty East claims, and a 70% interest in the Wheeler River Inlier claims.

  1. Wheeler North (51% SYH, 49% DML ; subject to additional earn-in options ) : The yellow claims in the map above represent 16,409 hectares over eight claims. The claims host some of the exploration targets located proximal to Wheeler River, including the Grayling and Fork Zones. Upon closing of the Transaction, Denison will have the option to increase its interest in Wheeler North to a 70% interest in these claims and Denison will become the operator of Wheeler North as described in more detail below.
  2. Russell Lake or RL (80% SYH, 20% DML) : The pink claims in the map above represent 53,192 hectares over 16 claims. These claims are located north and west of Skyharbour’s Moore Project and host numerous exploration target areas including Christie Lake, NE Russell, Blue Steel, Taylor Bay, South Russell, and Kowalchuk Lake. In order to maintain its initial interest in RL, Denison has agreed to fund its pro rata share of up to a maximum of C$10.0 million in total project expenditures. Upon the closing of the Transaction, Skyharbour will remain operator of RL.
  3. Wheeler River Inliers (30% SYH, 70% DML) . The blue claims in the map above represent 608 hectares over two claims. These are inlier claims within Denison’s Wheeler River project hosting the West Russell and C-Block exploration target areas. DML will become operator of the Wheeler River Inliers.
  4. Getty East (70% SYH, 30% DML ; subject to additional earn-in options ) . The green claim in the map above representing 3,105 hectares is host to the Little Man Lake exploration prospect. The claim borders Cameco’s Cree Zimmer property which holds its Key Lake operations to the south.  Upon the closing of the Transaction, Skyharbour will remain operator of Getty East; however, Denison will have the option to become the operator and acquire up to a 70% interest in this joint venture as described in more detail below.

Transaction Details:

The consideration payment will consist of a $2 million cash payment immediately upon execution of the Strategic Agreement (the ‘Upfront Payment’), and deferred consideration of $16 million (the ‘Deferred Consideration’) payable on or before December 31 st , 2025.

The Deferred Consideration shall be payable in two tranches, each of which may be paid in cash or shares of Denison at Denison’s election, including $8 million on or before the fifth business day prior to December 21 st , 2025, and another $8 million within 10 days of December 21 st , 2025. Closing of the transaction (‘Closing’) is expected to occur on or before December 21 st , 2025.

The current exploration camp at McGowan Lake on the Project will continue to be operated by Skyharbour and an administrative fee will be payable by Denison to Skyharbour. The claims comprising Russell are subject to various existing underlying royalties to other parties.

The Transaction is subject to customary approvals, including Skyharbour obtaining TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Transaction will be considered a Reviewable Transaction under TSX Venture Exchange policies as David Cates is a director of both Denison and Skyharbour.

Denison Earn-In Options:

The Earn-In Option Agreements grant Denison an option to earn additional interests in Wheeler North and Getty East.

Wheeler North Earn-In Option :

Under the terms of the Wheeler North Earn-In Option Agreement, Denison may acquire up to a 70% interest in Wheeler North. The option agreement contains two (2) phases, as summarized below:

Phase 1: To earn an additional 11% interest in Wheeler North (increasing Denison’s ownership to 60%), Denison must:

  • Incur $10.0 million in exploration expenditures at Wheeler North within 48 months of Closing, of which $2.5 million in exploration expenditures must be completed within 24 months of Closing, and
  • Make a cash payment in the amount of $1.5 million to Skyharbour within 48 months of Closing.

Phase 2: To earn an additional 10% interest (increasing Denison’s ownership to 70%) in Wheeler North, Denison must complete the requirements of Phase 1, plus the following:

  • Incur an additional $15.0 million in exploration expenditures at Wheeler North within 7 years of Closing, and
  • Make a further cash payment in the amount of $2.0 million to Skyharbour within 7 years of Closing.

Getty East Earn-In Option Agreement:

Under the terms of the Getty East Option Agreement, Denison may acquire up to a 70% interest in Getty East. The option agreement contains two (2) phases, as summarized below:

Phase 1: To earn an additional 19% interest in Getty East (increasing Denison’s ownership to 49%), Denison must incur $5.0 million in exploration expenditures at Getty East within 48 months of Closing, of which $1.5 million must be completed within the first 24 months of Closing.

Phase 2: To earn an additional 21% interest in Getty East (increasing Denison’s ownership to 70%), Denison must complete the requirements of Phase 1, plus incur an additional $10 million in exploration expenditures within 7 years of Closing. Upon completion of the Phase 2 earn-in option criteria, Denison will have the option to become the operator in this joint venture.

Russell Lake Uranium Project Overview:

The Russell Lake Project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totalling 73,314 hectares strategically located between Cameco’s Key Lake and McArthur River Projects, and adjoining Denison’s Wheeler River Project to the west and Skyharbour’s Moore Uranium Project to the east. The northern extension of Highway 914 between Key Lake and McArthur River runs through the western extent of the property and greatly enhances accessibility, while a high-voltage powerline is situated alongside this road.

Skyharbour’s New 80% Owned RL Project:

The claims making up the RL Project constitute over seventy percent of the original Russell project area and will continue to be explored by Skyharbour as the operator and 80% owner. Denison will acquire a 20% interest and has agreed to fund to maintain its pro-rata participation interest in the RL claims through December 31 st , 2029, or until such time that total expenditures on the properties have reached $10 million.

The RL claims have numerous highly prospective targets that Skyharbour will continue to advance. The Christie Lake target area contains basement-hosted uranium mineralization with historical drilling returning 0.17% U 3 O 8 over 0.4 metres at 436.4 metres depth in hole CL-10-03, hosted within a strongly hematized breccia. A prospective clay altered basement fault system runs throughout this area.

The Blue Steel target area comprises graphitic metasediments that were last drilled in 2008. The full extent of the graphitic corridor remains unknown and completely untested. Historical geophysics indicate potential faulting along this corridor, highlighting it as a priority area for follow-up work using modern geophysical methods to refine drill targets.

The Kowalchuk area, situated within the southern Russell claims, is another prospective area on the RL claims, with multiple inferred structural trends passing through it. This area has seen only limited modern geophysical coverage to date.

In addition to the aforementioned target areas, there are many kilometres of untested EM conductors on the RL claims underlain by rocks of low magnetic intensity, suggestive of the presence of prospective graphitic meta-pelitic basement lithologies typical of Athabasca-style uranium systems. With limited modern exploration conducted over the past 12 years, the RL claims remain underexplored and highly prospective for both expanding known mineralized zones and making new discoveries.

Advisors and Counsel:

Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Skyharbour in connection with the Transaction, and AFG Law LLP and DuMoulin Black LLP are acting as legal counsel to Skyharbour.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Serdar Donmez, P.Geo., VP of Exploration for Skyharbour as well as a Qualified Person.

About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with interest in thirty-seven projects covering over 616,000 hectares (over 1.5 million acres) of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project, which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization in several zones at the Maverick Corridor. Adjacent to the Moore Project is the Russell Lake Uranium Project, which hosts widespread uranium mineralization in drill intercepts over a large property area with exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drilling programs.

Skyharbour also has joint ventures with industry leaders Denison Mines, Orano Canada Inc., Azincourt Energy, and Thunderbird Resources at the Russell, Preston, East Preston, and Hook Lake Projects, respectively. The Company also has several active earn-in option partners, including CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. at the Mann Lake Uranium Project; TSX-V listed North Shore Uranium at the Falcon Project; UraEx Resources at the South Dufferin and Bolt Projects; Hatchet Uranium at the Highway Project; CSE-listed Mustang Energy at the 914W Project; and TSX-V listed Terra Clean Energy at the South Falcon East Project.

In aggregate, Skyharbour has now signed earn-in option agreements with partners that total to potentially over $76 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures and over $42 million in cash and share payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies complete their entire earn-ins at the respective projects.

Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:
http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY-SaskProject-Locator-2025-11-14-Updated.jpg

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH) visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com .

Skyharbour Resources Ltd.

‘Jordan Trimble’

Jordan Trimble
President and CEO

For further information contact myself or:
Nicholas Coltura
Investor Relations Manager
Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
Telephone: 604-558-5847
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: info@skyharbourltd.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements, including receipt of TSXV approval to the Transaction and the closing of the Transaction. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, exploration and development successes, regulatory approvals including TSXV approval, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedarplus.ca for further information.

 

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