“When we started the company, the big driver behind graphite production was the increase in electric vehicle batteries, but now it's about much more than that; it's also about industrial self-sufficiency,” said James Cross, CEO of E-Power Resources.
James Cross, CEO of E-Power Resources (CSE:EPR), discusses the critical role of junior mining companies in developing a North American graphite supply chain.
With China’s dominance of global production and the expected increase in demand, Cross outlines how the company's Tetepisca graphite project in Québec could play a key role in boosting supply.
With an eye for detail and over a decade of experience covering the mining and metals sector, Charlotte is passionate about bringing investors accurate and insightful information that can help them make informed decisions.
She leads the Investing News Network's video and event coverage, and guides a team of writers reporting on niche investment markets.
Gold trended down this week, dropping to just over US$3,200 per ounce on the first day of May.
While the yellow metal remains historically high after a strong run this year, its price has pulled back from last week's record-setting level of US$3,500, causing concern for some market participants.
However, many experts agree that this week's retreat isn't a reason to worry.
Speaking to the Investing News Network, Gareth Soloway of VerifiedInvesting.com described it as "very normal," saying he remains bullish on gold in the mid to long term.
His technical analysis shows that the US$3,100 to US$3,140 area will be important to watch moving forward — in his view, that's when bullish players should start re-entering the space, boosting the price.
Soloway also outlined gold's future price potential, saying he sees a potential path to US$7,000. Check out the full interview for more of his thoughts on gold, as well as silver and the US economy.
Eyes are shifting to the US Federal Reserve's next meeting, set to run from May 6 to 7. It follows initial numbers showing that real GDP contracted by an annual rate of 0.3 percent in Q1.
That's the first negative reading since 2022, and as the news weighed on the stock market, US President Donald Trump took to social media to suggest the data is an "overhang" from Joe Biden's term.
Trump has pressured Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates sooner than later, but CME Group's FedWatch tool shows the vast majority of market participants expect rates to stay flat.
Trump advisor Elon Musk also has his eye on the Fed. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (April 30), he said the US$2.5 billion renovation of the central bank's headquarters could become a point of inquiry for the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE.
Calling the cost an "eyebrow raiser," Musk questioned where the money is being spent. The price of the project was initially set at US$1.9 billion in 2021, but has increased since then.
"Since at the end of the day, this is all taxpayer money, I think we certainly — we should definitely — look to see if indeed the Federal Reserve is spending $2.5 billion on their interior designer" — Musk
The US and Ukraine signed a much-anticipated minerals deal on Wednesday, ending months of often-tense negotiations between the two countries. If approved by parliament in Ukraine, the agreement will set up a reconstruction investment fund that will be split 50/50 between each party.
According to Ukrainian officials, the deal is more equitable than previous versions.
The fund will be financed only by new licenses for critical materials, oil and gas; aside from that, Ukraine will not have to pay back wartime aid provided by the US.
While Ukraine had pushed for security guarantees from the US, that component ultimately wasn't put in place. However, the US may provide new assistance to Ukraine, such as air defense systems.
A total of 55 minerals are reportedly covered in the arrangement, but more can be added in the future if there is consensus between the US and Ukraine. Although the US will get preferential rights to mineral extraction, Ukraine will have the final say on what is mined and where, and will retain subsoil ownership.
The agreement comes on the back of an increasing global focus on critical minerals, many of which are key for new technology and important industries like defense.
It's worth noting that while Ukraine is home to a wide variety of these commodities, more geological data will be needed to determine commercial viability — for example, there is no up-to-date information on the country's reserves of rare earths, which are important to the US.
Want more YouTube content? Check out our expert market commentary playlist, which features interviews with key figures in the resource space. If there's someone you'd like to see us interview, please send an email to cmcleod@investingnews.com.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
With an eye for detail and over a decade of experience covering the mining and metals sector, Charlotte is passionate about bringing investors accurate and insightful information that can help them make informed decisions.
She leads the Investing News Network's video and event coverage, and guides a team of writers reporting on niche investment markets.
John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, shares his outlook for the gold price.
"To us, gold could continue to rally here. It's going to be volatile — we see all these days of plus US$100, down US$100. So you have to be kind of careful you don't get overly whipsawed around," he said.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Investment Risks and Important Disclosure from Sprott Asset Management
Relative to other sectors, precious metals and natural resources investments have higher headline risk and are more sensitive to changes in economic data, political or regulatory events, and underlying commodity price fluctuations. Risks related to extraction, storage and liquidity should also be considered.
Gold and precious metals are referred to with terms of art like store of value, safe haven and safe asset. These terms should not be construed to guarantee any form of investment safety. While “safe” assets like gold, Treasuries, money market funds and cash generally do not carry a high risk of loss relative to other asset classes, any asset may lose value, which may involve the complete loss of invested principal.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. You cannot invest directly in an index. Investments, commentary, and opinions are unique and may not be reflective of any other Sprott entity or affiliate. Forward-looking language should not be construed as predictive. While third-party sources are believed to be reliable, Sprott makes no guarantee as to their accuracy or timeliness. This information does not constitute an offer or solicitation and may not be relied upon or considered to be the rendering of tax, legal, accounting or professional advice.
With an eye for detail and over a decade of experience covering the mining and metals sector, Charlotte is passionate about bringing investors accurate and insightful information that can help them make informed decisions.
She leads the Investing News Network's video and event coverage, and guides a team of writers reporting on niche investment markets.
John Feneck, portfolio manager and consultant at Feneck Consulting, outlines his updated outlook for gold as the yellow metal continues to reach new highs.
He also discusses seven gold and "special situations" companies that are on his radar.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
With an eye for detail and over a decade of experience covering the mining and metals sector, Charlotte is passionate about bringing investors accurate and insightful information that can help them make informed decisions.
She leads the Investing News Network's video and event coverage, and guides a team of writers reporting on niche investment markets.
Chris Marcus, founder of Arcadia Economics, shares his latest thoughts on the silver market, outlining the white metal’s key price drivers right now.
He also shares his outlook for gold as its historic run continues.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
With an eye for detail and over a decade of experience covering the mining and metals sector, Charlotte is passionate about bringing investors accurate and insightful information that can help them make informed decisions.
She leads the Investing News Network's video and event coverage, and guides a team of writers reporting on niche investment markets.
Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, shares his outlook for the gold, silver, copper and oil sectors as tariff uncertainty continues.
"If you're actively trading these markets, keep your position to a level that reflects the new and higher volatility," he said, urging investors to be mindful amid the current turmoil.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
