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

Although earnings season has largely concluded, a few key companies are still making their way to the stage -- with one in particular being tech and software powerhouse Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE). ADBE is expected to report fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the close this Thursday, Dec. 14, and options traders are pricing in a bigger-than-usual post-event move for the stock.At la...Read More

The Dow is pushing higher once again, touching another record high. Among the names making big moves are Dow stock Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), photonic products producer Lumentum Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:LITE), and biotech Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ICPT). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of CAT, LITE, and ICPT.CAT Stock Notches Record HighCaterpillar stock is up 3.6% at $148.5...Read More

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to announce a rate hike when it concludes its policy-setting meeting this afternoon, which would mark its fifth since 2015, and its third this year. While these two names are some of the best stocks to own after the Fed raises interest rates, oil issues Newfield Exploration Co. (NYSE:NFX) and Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) are two of the w...Read More

Some say the rabid rise of bitcoin -- and the newly available bitcoin futures -- has dulled demand for gold. However, gold isn't alone in its recent struggles, with the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) down nearly 8% in the past month, and large speculators abandoning silver at a record-high pace. Below, we'll take a look at the huge silver liquidations -- and what traders might expect for SLV after tod...Read More

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kicked off its highly anticipated December meeting yesterday, and the central bank is widely expected to announce a rate hike later this afternoon. Yesterday, we discussed some blue-chip stocks to avoid. Today, we decided to take a look at some of the beststocks to buy when the Fed hikes interest rates, with McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and 3M Co (...Read More

U.S. stocks are higher at midday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) soaring to fresh record highs. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) isn't far behind, with tech stocks in rally mode. Traders are cheering reports that the House and Senate reached a tentative deal on tax reform, and continue to digest Alabama Democrat Doug Jones'Senate seat win. Wall Street is also anti...Read More

Options volume has exploded on Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR), with more than 45,000 contracts traded. This is 15 times what's typically seen at this point in the day, and a new 12-month high. At last check, FNSR stock was up 29.2% to trade at $24.93 on news Apple (AAPL) has invested $390 million into the fiber optics name -- which makes chips for the iPhone X, including those for facial recogn...Read More

When the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announces its latest policy ruling this Wednesday afternoon, Wall Street is pricing in a roughly 100% chance of a rate hike (per CME Group's FedWatch Tool). And likewise, bank stock bulls appear to have priced in plenty of enthusiasm over this widely anticipated tightening move, judging by recent option activity on the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund...Read More

Bank stocks have rallied in recent weeks, as traders expect tax reform and rate hikes from the Fed to boost the sector. With the central bank ready to announce its next policy decision this afternoon, brokerage firm KBW this morning revised its outlook on a number of financial names, including Dow components JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS). Below we'll take a...Read More

With the holidays right around the corner and retail sales due out tomorrow morning, retail stocks are ready to take center stage once again. This morning, retailers TJX Companies Inc (NYSE:TJX) and Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) are recipients of distinctly different analyst attention this morning. Below, we will take a closer look at these brokerage notes, and see how the shares of TJX and RL are...Read More

Athletic apparel stock Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) is moving higher this morning, after Susquehanna upped its price target to $57 from $50. The brokerage firm also backed its lukewarm "neutral" rating on NKE shares, which is the majority opinion among analysts following the blue chip. Currently, the sports giant carries 15 "holds," compared to 11 "buy" or better ratings and just one "sell."Separately, U.K...Read More

Shares of Western Digital Corp (NASDAQ:WDC) are up 4% in electronic trading, after the chipmaker last night said it is dropping domestic arbitration claims against Toshiba over the sale of the latter's chip business to a group led by Bain Capital. Toshiba is abandoning its lawsuit against Western Digital, ending a months-long dispute between the two tech names -- which could have WDC stock recoupi...Read More

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are trading above fair value this morning, as investors await this afternoon's Fed decision. With the central bank expected to raise interest rates, outgoing Fed Chair Janet Yellen will hold a press conference after the announcement, and is expected to touch on the economy and tax reform. Also in focus is the Senate election results out of Alabama, where...Read More

The real story of online deception isn’t about the Russians. Sure, the Russians certainly have their own programs to disrupt and steer online discourse. But how quickly the public has forgotten about the U.S. government’s own internet troll program.Edward Snowden leaked documents used by the “Five Eyes” alliance of governments. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,...Read More

The real story of online deception isn’t about the Russians. Sure, the Russians certainly have their own programs to disrupt and steer online discourse. But how quickly the public has forgotten about the U.S. government’s own internet troll program.Edward Snowden leaked documents used by the “Five Eyes” alliance of governments. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,...Read More

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) finished with a triple-digit gain -- notching its third straight record close -- as Boeing (BA) rallied on news of a dividend hike and Goldman Sachs (GS) surged with its fellow bank stocks. Specifically, financial shares spiked after inflation data strengthened the case for the Fed to raise rates tomorrow, and as Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn suggested a...Read More

The annual rebalancing of the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) was recently announced. These changes will take place prior to the market open next Monday, Dec. 18th. The NDX is made up of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. The first table below shows the stocks being added to the index and the second table shows the stocks being removed. I also show the number of analysts following th...Read More

Call options are outpacing put options on Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today by a more than 3-to-1 margin. In fact, the single-day put/call volume ratio of 0.28 is pacing in the 5th annual percentile. And while the video game stock is trading down 0.6% at $107.31 following a bearish brokerage note, one options trader appears to be betting on a bounce to record highs next year.Specifically, the...Read More

U.S. stocks are rallying once again, with the Dow and S&P 500 Index (SPX) hitting a record highs. Among the names making big moves are biotech Proteostasis Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PTI), oil-and-gas issue Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS), and IT stock Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc (NASDAQ:HMNY). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of PTI, OAS, and HMNY. PTI Stock is Today's Top Nasdaq P...Read More

Shares of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) are popping today, after PepsiCo (PEP) pre-ordered 100 of the automaker's electric semi trucks -- the largest made public so far -- while Consumer Edge said the truck may generate $2-$3.5 billion in annual revenue, according to Bloomberg. And, as speculation swirls around a cryptic Elon Musk tweet, TSLA options volume is accelerated. With TSLA stock up 2.1% at $33...Read More