The AOCE and WB have moderate overall forecasts for the metals in 2025 inline with IMF forecasts for a decline in economic growth and inflation, although we see the probability of a stagflationary scenario as still reasonably high.Read More
The past year was a difficult one overall for the metals, with the main standouts to the upside being a geopolitical risk-driven gain in gold, a China-driven rise in iron ore and a surge in uranium on broadening global support for nuclear power (Figure 1). A jump in global interest rates to near two-decade highs saw recession fears persist all year, and while one still did not actually eru...Read More
This year the post-global health crisis boom was brought to an end by a surge in inflation to forty-year highs, a major rise in global interest rates in an attempt to curb the rising prices and surging geopolitical risk after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While precious metals held up reasonably well as markets turned to them as a risk hedge, by Q2/22 the higher interest rates put an end t...Read More
Chile is the world leader in copper production, at 28.5% of the total in 2020, and this looks set to continue, with the country having the largest global reserves, at 23.0% of total. It is also the global leader for molybdenum, which is often found along with copper, and is a major lithium player, holding 51.1% of global reserves. Read More
Newfoundland has become a gold exploration hotspot over the past few years, with the sector seeing some of its strongest activity ever. While the province remains a small contributor to Canadian gold production, it has a substantial mineral industry well supported by the government, focused on iron ore, copper and nickel, and the surge in exploration suggests that gold output from the...Read More
Nevada is the core of the U.S. gold output, accounting for by far the majority, at 75.4% on average for the past year. The state looks set to remain a dominant player in U.S. gold, as it accounts for 49% of total U.S. reserves, with Alaska slightly ahead with 51% of reserves, but just 8.6% of current production. The U.S. accounts for 6.1% of global gold output, making Nevada one of the largest gol...Read More
The Golden Triangle in northwestern British Columbia has historically been a major site of Canadian gold production, beginning as early as the mid 1800s. There was a wave of production in the 1990s which cooled as the gold price declined, but larger scale production resumed in 2017, and the area has seen surging exploration interest over the past year, given that the region has some of the largest...Read More
In this report we outline the Quebec gold mining industry, including its major producers, and a survey of many of the junior miners focused on the province. Quebec accounts for 34% of Canadian gold production (second to Ontario, with 44%) and remains a major focus for both producers and junior miners.Read More
Red Lake has been one of the most prolific gold mining districts in Canada and the world, with exploration having started in the 1920s, and production, which began in the 1930s, continuing to the present day. The district is known for the high grade of its gold, its infrastructure, and strong institutional support, given the long history of mining in the area.Read More
What does desperation look like? This:The weird thing about trees is that someday, like all of us, they die.This tree was on its way out. In fact, the tree was removed in order to protect anyone standing under it from danger. Who usually stands under it? The press. Melania was trying to protect the same press that now attempts to skewer her over landscaping.(Of course, if the tree broke and killed...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) finished lower today, dragged down by Apple's (AAPL) worst session since August. Both the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also finished in the red, despite a solid day from retail stocks. Energy stocks also had a good day, after a pipeline explosion in Libya sent oil prices to a two-and-a-half-year high. Still, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX...Read More
Retail stocks are higher today, as traders celebrate signs of a strong holiday shopping season. Specifically, the latest data from Mastercard SpendingPulse indicates that year-end domestic retail sales surged 4.9% in 2017, marking the biggest year-over-year increase in six years. As such, theSPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is flirting with fresh annual highs, and set for its best quarter since late 2014...Read More
Stocks are mostly lower so far today. Among the names making the biggest moves are retail stock Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M), drugmaker Insys Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:INSY), and semiconductor specialist Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of M, INSY, and MU. Retail Rally Lifts Rebounding Macy's StockMacy's stock is pacing for its highest close since early Ma...Read More
Last week, we highlighted Dow stock Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) as a potential winner from the recently passed tax bill. Today, however, Verizon stock finds itself on a more nefarious list: the worst performing stocks the week of New Year's. Below is a list of stocks that tend to struggle next week, as well as a closer look at VZ.The 25 S&P 500 Index (SPX) stocks below have been the wor...Read More
U.S. stocks are lower at midday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and S&P 500 Index (SPX) all trading below breakeven. Much of the pullback can be accredited to Apple stock, which is down after reports surfaced of lackluster shipments for the iPhone X. On the flip side, retail stocks are higher after the Mastercard SpendingPulse report pointed to the biggest...Read More
Earlier we dug into two Dow stocks that could outperform next week, based on historical returns. While not as well known, another stock to buy New Year's week could be natural gas concern ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE). That's because OKE shares have finished the week higher 90% of the time over the past 10 years, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White -- the best of any S&P 500...Read More
It's hard to believe that we have less than a week left in 2017, yet here we are. While the past year has been a bit rocky politically, it's been a banner year for the U.S. stock market. What's more, below we've listed 25 stocks that could start 2018 with a bang, if past is prologue, including two blue chips: Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and Boeing Inc (NYSE:BA). Let's take a closer look at G...Read More
Apple (AAPL) stock is falling today amid reports of disappointing iPhone X demand. This in turn is putting pressure onstocks of companies that work with the tech giant, including semiconductor concerns Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) and Broadcom(NASDAQ:AVGO). Below we'll take a closer look at shares of CRUS and AVGO amid this pullback.CRUS Stock Slides AgainStarting with Cirrus Logic, the securi...Read More
Dow component Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in focus this morning, after reports surfaced of lower-than-expected iPhone X shipments in the company's fiscal first quarter. This report has pushed Apple suppliers such as Finisar (FNSR) and Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) lower, and has AAPL trading down 3% at $169.80 in early action.Apple stock has been ramping higher lately, punctuated by a record high of...Read More
Drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE:TEVA) has had a rocky year, culminating in drastic cuts to its workforce and suspended dividend payments. Today, the stock is generating buzz amid reports that Israel's biggest pharmacy chain, Super-Pharm, isin talks to buy a Teva plant. Below, wetake a closer look at TEVA stock.Super-Pharm will reportedlypay between $17 - $23 million for the Ashd...Read More
Infrastructure stocks were expected to be a key beneficiary of the Trump administration's business-friendly agenda, and -- though the exchange-traded fund (ETF) features a broad international mix of companies, rather than a U.S.-focused lineup -- the price action in the iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) reflected this post-election optimism. From its pre-election close at $40.14, IGF went on...Read More
Stocks are set to pull back today, with Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures trading below fair value following the long Christmas weekend. Though this has historically been a bullish time for stocks, weakness from the tech sector could pressure U.S. markets today, mainly due to an expected pullback in Apple (AAPL) stock. Specifically, a Taiwan newspaper has reported the tech giant will cut...Read More
"It will be interesting to see if the area around the SPY's Fed-day closing level continues to mark resistance on the heels of last week's rate hike, as the 'wild card' factor of pending tax reform legislation didn't impact the stock market action around prior rate hikes in the current tightening cycle. Traders should keep this region on their radar in the days ahead... "When and if signed into la...Read More
In response to the tax bill which will lead to a lot more money in her pocket, Abigail Disney, heiress to the Walt Disney Company fortune, said she would be donating that tax break to a worthy cause of her choosing.No, wait. That's not it at all. She got in front of a camera and made a video complaining that other wealthy people and corporations won't be forced to keep handing over quite as much o...Read More
In response to the tax bill which will lead to a lot more money in her pocket, Abigail Disney, heiress to the Walt Disney Company fortune, said she would be donating that tax break to a worthy cause of her choosing.No, wait. That's not it at all. She got in front of a camera and made a video complaining that other wealthy people and corporations won't be forced to keep handing over quite as much o...Read More
The following is a reprint of the market commentary from the January 2018 edition of The Option Advisor, published on December 22. For more information, or to subscribe to The Option Advisor -- featuring 10 new option trades each month -- visit our online store. With a new calendar year nearly upon us, Schaeffer's Quantitative Analyst Chris Prybal recently compiled detailed seasonality stats on...Read More
Freedom is found the ability to determine the course of your life. So how can you be truly free when each day's activities are dictated to you?The short answer, you can't. Asking for time off to spend your precious life as you see fit is not freedom in any sense. So how do you escape and take back your financial freedom?We've discussed the gig economy and the freedom found in becoming a freelancer...Read More
Freedom is found the ability to determine the course of your life. So how can you be truly free when each day's activities are dictated to you?The short answer, you can't. Asking for time off to spend your precious life as you see fit is not freedom in any sense. So how do you escape and take back your financial freedom?We've discussed the gig economy and the freedom found in becoming a freelancer...Read More
Stocks faded into the close ahead of the long holiday weekend, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) both managed a fifth straight weekly win. While trading volume was much lighter than normal, there was plenty to digest on Wall Street today. Most notably, President Trump signed the new tax bill into law, as well as a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shu...Read More