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Crude Oil Soars Amid Uncertainty Over U.S.-Iran Talks, Hormuz Strait Closure

On: April 21, 2026

On: April 20, 2026

Lithium prices have staged a sharp rebound, nearly doubling between early December and late January as tightening supply and renewed market optimism fueled a rapid rally. Spot battery-grade lithium carbonate climbed about 95 percent over the period, supported by disruptions at key operations, including delays at CATL’s (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) Jianxiawo lepidolite mine, alongside maintenance outages and stronger competition for long-term contract volumes.Sentiment has also amplified the move.“Lithium prices appear to have moved ahead of the fundamentals, propelled by speculative buying, bullish sentiment and a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk,” wrote Paul Lusty, head of battery raw material research at Fastmarkets, warning that thin liquidity and cautious positioning leave the market highly reactive.“The key takeaway is to brace for more volatility… a single headline, project delay or policy shift can rewrite the outlook overnight,” he added.The Investing News Network breaks down the top-performing Canadian lithium stocks of 2026 for investors below. Data for this list was obtained on April 8, 2026, using TradingView’s stock screener. Only lithium companies with market caps above C$10 million for the TSX and TSXV and above C$5 million for the CSE are included.

1. Stria Lithium (TSXV:SRA)
Year-to-date gain: 708.33 percentMarket cap: C$19.11 millionShare price: C$0.48Stria Lithium is a Canadian exploration company focused on developing domestic lithium resources to support the growing demand for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. The company’s flagship Pontax Central lithium project spans 36 square kilometers in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.Cygnus Metals (TSXV:CYG,ASX:CY5,OTCQB:CYGGF) has an earn-in agreement with Stria to earn up to a 70 percent interest in Pontax Central. Cygnus completed the first stage in July 2023, acquiring a 51 percent interest by investing C$4 million in exploration and issuing over 9 million shares to Stria. In May 2025, Stria and Cygnus agreed to extend the second stage of Cygnus’s earn-in agreement on the Pontax Central lithium project by 24 months. The second stage involves a further C$2 million in exploration spending and C$3 million in a cash payment.Through its joint venture with Cygnus, Stria has outlined a JORC-compliant maiden inferred resource for Pontax Central of 10.1 million metric tons grading 1.04 percent lithium oxide (Li2O).Shares of Stria rode the wave of market positivity higher in January, reaching C$0.84 on January 20.On February 13, Stria announced a C$1 million non-brokered private placement that would see it issue 2.38 million units at a price of C$0.42 per share; it repriced the placement on February 25, raising the unit price to C$0.47 while dropping the issued shares to 2.13 million. Stria closed the C$1 million placement the following day.After rallying in January, Stria shares were again propelled reaching a year-to-date high of C$0.85 on April 1 when lithium prices staged a recovery in late March after dipping earlier in the month.

2. Noram Lithium (TSXV:NRM)
Year-to-date gain: 75 percentMarket cap: C$15.65 millionShare price: C$0.17Noram Lithium is an exploration and development company advancing its flagship Zeus lithium project in Clayton Valley, Nevada, US. In May 2024, Noram released an updated resource estimate for Zeus including 3 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at 957 parts per million (ppm) in the measured and indicated category and 1.4 million metric tons LCE of inferred resources. Noram updated Zeus’ byproduct potential in 2025 following full reviews of assay data from 91 drill holes, announcing mineralization of critical minerals rubidium and cesium in August and potash in October.In late February, Noram again boosted the resource base at Zeus when it added molybdenum to the project’s asset list. In the announcement the company noted the mining byproduct credits the property could garner from the array of critical minerals Zeus hosts, which it plans to incorporate in its upcoming preliminary economic assessment. “Preliminary internal modelling suggests that these by-product credits could materially reduce projected operating costs,” Executive Chairman Sandy MacDougall said. He noted that Zeus may qualify for federal support as a potential domestic source of multiple US-designated critical minerals.Shares of Noram rose to a year-to-date of C$0.175 on April 7, 2026, benefiting from shifting supply and demand trends in the broader lithium market.

3. Lithium Ionic (TSXV:LTH)
Year-to-date gain: 35.24 percentMarket cap: C$276.54 millionShare price: C$1.42Exploration and development company Lithium Ionic is focused on advancing a portfolio of Brazil-based lithium assets. The company’s Itinga and Salinas groups of properties are both located in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, covering a combined 14,000 hectares.In a 2025 year end review released in January, Ionic highlighted the updates it made to the mineral resource estimates at its feasibility-stage Bandeira project and its Baixa Grande project, which are part of the Itinga and Salinas groups respectively. Following the updates last year, the company’s total global measured and indicated resource now stands at 36.76 million metric tons grading 1.31 percent Li2O, while its inferred resource combines for 31.87 million metric tons at 1.19 percent Li2O.The company also laid out its 2026 priorities as it works to transition Bandeira to construction, including advancing permitting, finalizing detailed engineering and project financing, and progressing pre-development activities.In mid-February, Ionic provided an update for the Bandeira project, noting that engineering was 48 percent complete.“Bandeira is now firmly in the execution phase,” Lithium Ionic CEO Blake Hylands wrote. “With a technically robust and optimized Feasibility Study in-hand, our focus has shifted to disciplined delivery.” On March 25, Lithium Ionic secured binding five year, take-or-pay offtake agreements to supply a combined 170,000 metric tons per year of spodumene concentrate to Yahua Industrial Group (SZSE:002497) and Grand Chen Resources, both integrated suppliers to tier-one battery and electric vehicle companies, including BYD (OTCPL:BYDDF,HKEX:1211).The agreements offer Lithium Ionic with downside protection as they have a minimum price of US$1,000 per metric ton using a basis of 6 percent grade spodumene concentrate (SC6); additionally, they have no price ceiling, allowing full exposure to rising lithium prices. The deals also include a combined US$20 million in prepayment facilities.News of the deal paired with upward momentum in the lithium market pushed shares of Lithium Ionic to a year-to-date high of C$1.46 on April 2.

4. Century Lithium (TSXV:LCE)
Year-to-date gain: 29.03 percentMarket cap: C$72.21 millionShare price: C$0.40US-focused Century Lithium is currently advancing its wholly owned Angel Island lithium project in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The project hosts one of the US’ largest known sedimentary lithium deposits, according to the company.Century plans to produce battery grade lithium concentrate onsite with its own patent-pending process. On January 14, Century Lithium announced it brought on lithium and battery industry expert Cormac O’Laoire as a strategic advisor.In late February, Century Lithium released an updated feasibility study for its Angel Island lithium project. The 2026 study reconfigured the mine plan, incorporating additional metallurgical testing, engineering refinements and updated cost estimates. It outlines strong project economics, including an after-tax net present value of US$4.01 billion.The two-phase operation is expected to yield an estimated life-of-mine average of 26,500 metric tons per year of lithium carbonate over a 40 year mine life. Mineral resource and reserve estimates remained unchanged from the company’s 2024 feasibility study, with proven and probable reserves of 1.76 million tonnes LCE at 1,149 ppm.The company officially filed the technical report for the Angel Island feasibility study on March 9. On March 16, Century Lithium completed an upsized C$7 million brokered life private placement, with net proceeds primarily going towards technical and permitting work for Angel Island.Shares of Century Lithium climbed to a year-to-date high of C$0.69 on January 23 and remained elevated in February before pulling back in mid-March.

5. Rock Tech Lithium (TSXV:RCK)
Year-to-date gain: 23.38 percentMarket cap: C$109.56 millionShare price: C$0.95Rock Tech Lithium is an international development firm. The company is developing lithium hydroxide converters in Guben, Germany, and Ontario, Canada, as well as its wholly owned Georgia Lake project in Northern Ontario.. The German facility is recognized as a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, with production targeted for 2028 with annual capacity of 24,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide monohydrate. Company shares rode the early year positivity to a year-to-date high of C$1.20 on January 25, 2026. In early March, Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada penned a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership focused on developing lithium conversion capacity at Rock Tech’s planned facility in Red Rock, Ontario.The Red Rock facility is planned to have annual capacity of 32,000 metric tons of LCE and source feedstock from the Georgia Lake project.Siemens will provide digitalization technology, including digital twin solutions, for the project’s development, construction and operation. On April 7, Rock Tech formed a strategic partnership with the BMI Group, a Canadian industrial infrastructure platform, to develop the Red Rock lithium converter facility. BMI intends to invest C$200 million in the project as part of a broader equity structure.Under the proposed structure, Rock Tech retains control over development, engineering and operations, while BMI serves as lead limited partner and anchor investor. The two companies plan to begin a C$30 million funding program to advance development towards a final investment decision by the year’s end. Investment from Rock Tech will be matched by funding from BMI Group and government programs.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Gold Tumbles As U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Is In Jeopardy Amid Fresh Standoff

On: April 20, 2026

(RTTNews) – Shedding the gains from the previous session, gold prices have slumped on Monday after the U.S. seizure of an Iranian-flagged ship across the Strait of Hormuz renewed crude oil supply disruption concerns.

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Global Energy Markets Rethink Strategy as Strait of Hormuz Reopens

On: April 20, 2026

In a sudden diplomatic turn, Iran announced on Friday (April 17) that it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ending a nearly two month blockade that had crippled energy shipments from the Persian Gulf. The decision followed weeks of heightened military tensions and a brief but disruptive conflict that began in February.Yet even as the trade corridor reopened, skepticism ran deep among European and Asian buyers. US President Trump responded to the announcement by vowing to continue blockading Iranian ports, signaling that Washington does not view the crisis as resolved. The mixed messages left global energy traders in a state of cautious uncertainty, with prices remaining volatile despite the easing of the immediate transit ban.Recently, European energy buyers, including Germany’s state-owned Uniper, have been exploring the potential of purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada’s Pacific coast, weighing the costs of shipping the material through the Panama Canal to bypass the blocked Strait of Hormuz.The shutdown of Qatari facilities following the outbreak of the Iran war in February has triggered a global supply shock, driving March benchmark prices up by over 60 percent in Europe and 90 percent in Asia-Pacific markets.Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that European buyers have engaged in commercial talks with Ksi Lisims LNG, a proposed export terminal in Northwestern BC. The backers are working to finalize offtake contracts ahead of a final investment decision expected this year. Shell (NYSE:SHEL) and TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) have already signed 20 year purchase agreements with the facility.Historically, Canada’s LNG sector has been strictly geared toward Asian markets. Shipping to Europe from the west coast requires navigating the Panama Canal, which increases tolls and transit times. Canada currently lacks east coast export infrastructure beyond Repsol’s terminal in Saint John. However, the Middle East conflict has altered the risk calculus for buyers seeking stable jurisdictions.“Since the war in Iran started, there has been especially strong interest in (Ksi Lisims) offtake from LNG buyers all around the world, including from Europe,” a source familiar with the Ksi Lisims project said.Uniper relied on the US for 96 percent of its LNG imports last year. Ksi Lisims is now being viewed as a potential avenue to diversify that supply.

Capitalizing on the supply gap
While Ksi Lisims will take years to build, Canadian officials and executives are pushing to expedite a backlog of domestic projects to capture market share from the US. The US has opened eight LNG terminals since 2016 and expects four more by 2028.In a recent webcast speech to the Canadian Club of Ottawa, TC Energy (TSX:TRP,NYSE:TRP) CEO François Poirier warned that Canada must move faster.“Geopolitical events have presented Canada with a generational opportunity,” he said. “But to seize it, Canada must improve competitiveness and attract global capital to build big things again.”TC Energy operates the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which supplies LNG Canada in Kitimat, BC. The facility, Canada’s first active LNG export terminal, began shipping to Asia last June. The pipeline will also supply the Cedar LNG project, currently under construction alongside the Woodfibre LNG facility near Squamish. Despite being the world’s fifth largest producer of natural gas, Canada ranked 19th out of 24 LNG-exporting nations last year.“The US continues to lead in the race to meet global LNG demand — a race Canada should be winning with its proximity to Asia and abundant low-cost natural gas supply,” Poirier said.To accelerate development, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has referred several facilities to the federal Major Projects Office. Ksi Lisims was added to the fast-track roster in November, following LNG Canada’s Phase 2 expansion plan in September.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Analyst Favorites: Ternium Ranks As a Top Metals Pick

On: April 20, 2026

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Ternium S A (Symbol: TX) is the #3 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global Mining

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Gold Declines As Dollar Gains On Renewed US-Iran Tensions

On: April 20, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices traded below $4,800 an ounce on Monday as the dollar strengthened, and bond yields surged amid uncertainty surrounding the second round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran.

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Oil Prices Jump On Renewed US-Iran Tensions

On: April 20, 2026

(RTTNews) – Oil prices jumped more than 5 percent on Monday amid uncertainty surrounding the second round of diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran.

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Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Tincorp Metals Pops 128 Percent

On: April 19, 2026

Welcome to the Investing News Network’s weekly look at the best-performing Canadian mining stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE, starting with a round-up of Canadian news impacting the resource sector.On Monday (April 13), professional services firm EY released a report on British Columbia’s mining sector. Spending in BC’s mineral exploration sector set a new record of C$751 million in 2025, up 36 percent from 2024 and surpassing the previous record of C$740 million set in 2022.Leading the way were copper projects, accounting for more than 50 percent of total spending at C$385 million. For the first time ever, capital inflows for copper projects outpaced funding for gold projects, which totaled C$227 million last year.As a whole, funding for copper and critical minerals exploration nearly doubled, up 93 percent over 2024.Companies in the junior sector were at the forefront, increasing spending 47 percent year-over-year with a significant focus on grassroots copper projects and new projects in Northwest BC.EY’s report focused on 187 companies responsible for 301 projects in the province, drawing data from a combination of survey results and 2025 financial statements and press releases.According to EY, BC is positioned to lead critical minerals development as long as it remains committed to collaboration among government, industry and Indigenous stakeholders.In geopolitical news, on Friday (April 17), both the United States and Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to traffic. The news came after Israel and Hezbollah came to terms on a 10 day ceasefire in Lebanon.Iran had been maintaining a blockade through the strait after it agreed to a ceasefire with the US, contingent on Israel halting its campaign in Lebanon. The news caused oil prices to plunge sharply, with both Brent and West Texas Intermediate down more than 10 percent to US$88.97 and US$83.24 per barrel during morning trading on Friday. 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 positive this week.The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 2.43 percent over the week to close Friday (April 17) at 34,346.29, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) rose 4.94 percent to 1,054.91.The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) gained 4.39 percent to 176.05.The gold price gained 1.8 percent to close at US$4,847.86 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EDT, and the silver price fared even better, closing the week up 7.22 percent at US$81.16 on Friday.In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 5.75 percent increase this week to US$6.09.The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was down 4.26 percent to end Friday at 679.11.

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. EDT 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. Tincorp Metals (TSXV:TIN)
Weekly gain: 128 percentMarket cap: C$85.38 millionShare price: C$1.14Explorer Tincorp Metals is focused on its newly acquired gold-copper project in Ecuador. On February 25, Tincorp announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with Silvercorp Metals (TSX:SVM,NYSEAMERICAN:SVM), Tincorp’s largest shareholder, to acquire the Santa Barbara gold-copper project in Southeast Ecuador.Then, on April 9, the company filed a technical report for its updated mineral resource estimate for the project. Santa Barbara hosts an indicated resource of 697,000 ounces of gold and 68.2 million pounds of copper from 29.8 million metric tons of ore with grades of 0.73 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold and 0.1 percent copper.Its inferred resource came in at 3.42 million ounces of gold and 425.87 million pounds of copper from 205.7 million metric tons with grades of 0.52 g/t gold and 0.09 percent copper.The company also owns two tin projects in Bolivia. Its SF Tin project covers a 2 square kilometer area in the Potosí Department of West-Central Bolivia. The site hosts a historical open-pit mine and was previously explored by Rio Tinto in the 1990s.The company’s Porvenir project is an 11.25 square kilometer property in Western Bolivia that hosts historical open-pit and underground mining operations.According to its April 9 release, Tincorp’s next steps include conducting a 10,000 meter drill program at Santa Barbara aimed at confirming previous results, upgrading the MRE and understanding the project’s mineralization controls and metallurgy.

2. Kirkland Lake Discoveries (TSXV:KLDC)
Weekly gain: 114.71 percentMarket cap: C$45.14 millionShare price: C$0.365Kirkland Lake Discoveries is a gold and copper exploration company focused on projects in its district-scale land package located in the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario, Canada.Its holdings span an area of approximately 40,000 hectares in the Abitibi greenstone belt, an area that has been host to past-producing gold and copper mines. It is broadly divided into KL West and KL East, which contain the Goodfish-Kirana and Lucky Strike gold projects, respectively, among others.The company has made several additions to its land package over the past year, the most recent being the Mirado property. Located 20 kilometers south of Kirkland Lake, Mirado hosts a historic resource of 442,000 ounces of gold.Kirkland Lake Discoveries originally announced the acquisition of the property in December 2025, and the deal closed on March 3.On Thursday (April 16), Kirkland released assay results from the first hole of its 2026 drill program at the property, which encountered 103 meters of continuous mineralization. One highlighted intersection from the hole returned grades of 5.66 g/t gold over 18.2 meters, including an interval of 23.03 g/t over 4.3 meters.Company CEO Stefan Sklepowicz said the results were an exceptional start to the program at Mirado, confirming a “robust system with potential for both bulk-tonnage scale and high-grade zones,” with the system open in multiple directions.

3. Carlin Gold (TSXV:CGD)
Weekly gain: 93.55 percentMarket cap: C$11.61 millionShare price: C$0.60Carlin Gold is an exploration company with a trio of projects in Nevada, US, consisting of the Cortez Summit and Willow gold projects and the Ivy copper-gold skarn project.Cortez Summit sits on 142 unpatented claims within the prolific Cortez Trend, and is located 1.4 kilometers northeast of the Nevada Gold Mines Goldrush deposit.The company’s most recent activity has been at the Ivy property, which comprises 161 unpatented claims near Elko.Last November, Carlin reported that a survey detected a 1,500 meter by 200 meter anomaly at Ivy, which was open along strike and at depth below 250 meters.At the time, the company said it was using the data to formalize a drill program to test priority targets at the site.On Tuesday (April 14), Carlin announced it completed a non-brokered private placement raising gross proceeds of C$2.16 million. Carlin said it intends to use the funds for exploration and maintenance of its projects, as well as for general working capital.

4. North American Niobium and Critical Minerals (TSXV:NIOB)
Weekly gain: 68.18 percentMarket cap: C$12.23 millionShare price: C$0.74North American Niobium and Critical Minerals is an exploration company working to advance niobium and rare earths in Québec, Canada.Its properties consist of Seigneurie, a niobium and rare earths project; Blanchette, a rare earths and nickel-copper project; and Bardy, a rare earths project.North American Niobium is focused on advancing its assets to contribute to building a domestic critical mineral supply chain to support defense, industrial and technology sectors in Canada and the US.On April 2, the company reported that it was launching its maiden drill program at Seigneurie one week after receiving final permits. The diamond drill program is designed to test the pegmatite system for niobium and rare earth mineralization potential.Then, on April 9, North American Niobium announced that it had also received diamond drill permits for Bardy and Blanchette, allowing it to conduct exploration programs at all three of its main properties.The most recent news came on Thursday when the company reported it hired an advisory firm to build on its engagement with local Indigenous stakeholders. CEO Murray Nye said the company recognizes the importance of respecting the territory and maintaining dialogue, and it intends to strengthen communication and the engagement process.

5. Pacific Booker Minerals (TSXV:BKM)
Weekly gain: 66.67 percentMarket cap: C$36.32 millionShare price: C$2.25Pacific Booker Minerals is an exploration and development company focused on its Morrison property, located in Central British Columbia, Canada. The site is in the advanced stages of development and hosts copper, gold and molybdenum mineralization. The company has been working on development plans since 2004, and completed a feasibility study in 2009. However, work hasn’t been able to proceed as it needs approval from the nearby Lake Babine Nation.In May 2024, Pacific Booker announced it would be seeking legal recourse after communications between itself and Lake Babine Nation broke down, but has not released an update on its legal troubles since.However, on Tuesday, American Eagle Gold (TSXV:AE,OTCQB:AMEGF) made an unsolicited offer to acquire Pacific Booker Minerals.American Eagle offered shareholders C$1.76 per share, a 31 percent premium over the April 13 closing price, for a total equity value of C$31 million. Notably, Chief Wilf Adam of Lake Babine Nation stated that the Nation supports the acquisition and welcomes the opportunity to reset discussions about Morrison with American Eagle.If the deal receives approval, American Eagle says it would combine the Morrison project with its nearby NAK copper-gold project to create a regional development platform.American Eagle is backed by a strategic investment group that includes Canadian mining giant Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) and Eric Sprott.

On: April 17, 2026

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Precious Metals Price Update: Gold, Silver, PGMs Stage Relief Rally on Iran Peace Deal Hopes

On: April 17, 2026

The potential for peace and lower inflation has sparked a relief rally in the precious metals complex.A fragile ceasefire was declared on April 8; however, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which represents a chokepoint for about 20 percent of global oil flows, remains in place. A US naval blockade of the strait announced on Monday (April 13) initially strengthened the US dollar, placing pressure on precious metals. However, further talk on Tuesday (April 14) about the possibility of returning to the negotiating table weakened the greenback and fueled a recovery for precious metals. US producer price index (PPI) data released on Tuesday also gave prices a much-needed boost.Let’s take a look at how precious metals prices have performed over the past week.

Gold price
The gold price has gained more than 1.85 percent over the last week, but remains down over 14 percent from the all-time high of US$5,589.38 per ounce that it reached on January 28.The price of gold is caught in a strange geopolitical vortex where safe-haven demand has been stymied by a stronger US dollar, higher treasury yields and tempered expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. “Herein lies gold’s greatest challenge: inflation triggered by energy shocks does not always lead to higher gold prices; instead, it may prompt central banks to adopt more restrictive monetary policies, placing pressure on a non-yielding asset such as gold,” Simon Massabni, head of business development at XS.com, said in emailed commentary. Between April 8 and Wednesday (April 15), gold traded in the US$4,700 to US$4,800 range. The yellow metal touched a low of US$4,701.22 in Monday’s morning trading session on the back of increased inflation fears as high oil prices are translating to pain at the pump for consumers.The following day, reports emerged that a second round of peace talks were in the works between US and Iranian leaders, easing immediate fears of further military escalation. At the same time, PPI data for March came in lower than expected at 0.5 percent, mirroring February’s increase. The expectation was a 1.1 percent increase. Producer costs are often passed on to consumers, so PPI is an important inflationary signal to the Fed.Gold rallied to its highest price over the past week on Tuesday, touching US$4,846.26 in the afternoon before closing at the US$4,785 mark. As of 11:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, gold was trading at US$4,792.61.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Gold price chart, April 8 to April 15, 2026.“On one hand, escalating geopolitical risks continue to support demand for safe-haven assets; on the other, tight monetary policy exerts downward pressure on prices,” stated Massabni. “In my analysis, this fragile balance between two opposing forces explains gold’s current sideways movement and suggests that the market has yet to determine its next decisive direction, instead awaiting a strong catalyst to define the path ahead.”What direction could the gold price take in the coming weeks? Here are its potential near-term catalysts:The war in the Middle East will likely continue to weigh on the gold price, especially if the global flow of oil remains disrupted. A stronger de-escalation could turn the tide for the yellow metal, but further volatility over the coming weeks is the most likely scenario.The Fed will hold its next rate decision meeting from April 28 to 29. CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool shows all bets are clearly for another rate hold. Such a decision will also temper any upward momentum in the gold price.An advanced Q1 GDP estimate for the US economy is expected on April 30. Sliding economic growth could prove price positive for gold as it would signal that the Fed may cut rates sooner.For more insight into what’s moving the gold market, check out the Investing News Network’s recent interview: Marc Faber: Gold, Oil and War — My Outlook and Strategy Now.In other gold market news, Swiss bank UBP is sticking to its US$6,000 gold forecast for 2026, citing stagflation risks, geopolitical uncertainty and strong central bank demand.In gold-mining news, Eldorado Gold (TSX:ELD,NYSE:EGO) completed its acquisition of Foran Mining on Tuesday. The all-stock transaction is valued at C$3.8 billion, and establishes the company as a major new gold-copper producer with significant assets in Canada and Greece.

Silver price
The silver price has gained more than 7 percent over the course of the last week, but is down nearly 35 percent from its all-time high of US$121.62 per ounce, which it set on January 29. Silver traded in the US$73 to US$80 range between April 8 and this Wednesday. As a smaller market, silver often displays more volatility than gold, and tends to react to market influences with wider price swings. The white metal traded as low as US$73.67 in the morning session on April 10 as the first round of peace talks between the US and Iran ended up being not so peaceful.The promise of a second round of peace talks helped silver rally as high as US$80.43 in the Wednesday trading session. As of 11:00 a.m. PST that day, the price of silver had slipped back to US$79.07.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Silver price chart, April 8 to April 15, 2026.Silver’s price action is likely to stay choppy in the coming weeks. As a precious metal, silver shares many of gold’s price drivers. However, its role as a major industrial commodity gives it distinct, more volatile influences. The main sources of new demand growth for the metal are in solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence data centers. In addition, silver remains in a structurally tight market with a projected sixth consecutive annual supply deficit.Near-term catalysts for silver in the coming weeks center on updates from companies in the above-mentioned sectors. Major end users such as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) will likely have quarterly deliveries and earnings out in the remaining weeks of April.Watch for quarterly production reports or guidance revisions from major silver miners such as Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTCPL:FNLPF) and Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS,NYSE:PAAS). Any production shortfalls, disruptions or slower ramp ups could further tighten supply and influence the price.In silver-mining news, Endeavour Silver (TSX:EDR,NYSE:EXK) reported Q1 production of 1,875,375 silver ounces, “slightly below plan, and 56 (percent) higher than 1,205,793 oz produced in Q1 2025.” The company is a mid-tier silver producer with three operating mines in Mexico and Peru, and a number of exploration projects across Mexico, Chile and the US.

Platinum price
The platinum price is up more than 3.77 percent over the past week, but remains well off its January all-time high near US$2,924 per ounce. The metal has shown strong momentum recently, especially compared to its precious metals peers. Some analysts view it as undervalued with the potential for a catch-up trade to gold.However, platinum remains more volatile than gold due to its primary use as an industrial metal in the fabrication of catalytic converters. Platinum is also in the midst of a persistent structural deficit, with the World Platinum Investment Council forecasting an approximately 240,000 ounce shortfall for 2026. The lowest price point this week for platinum was a close of US$2,055.10 on April 10. Platinum rallied with its sister metals to as high as US$2,150.20 in morning trade on Wednesday, but by 11:00 a.m. PST that day had retreated back slightly to US$2,120.89.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Platinum price chart, April 8 to April 15, 2026.As for potential near-term catalysts for platinum, investors should look out for quarterly updates, sales and operational reports coming out of the following sectors:Automotive, especially from major markets such as China, Europe and the US. With EVs displacing internal combustion engines, platinum is seeing less demand; however, positive data from the hybrid or gas-powered vehicle sectors, or delayed EV adoption could help mitigate those losses.Hydrogen fuel cell and PEM electrolyzer technology companies, which represent an emerging market for platinum. Here’s a link to the nine biggest hydrogen stocks.Platinum miners, especially in South Africa, which accounts for 70 to 80 percent of global mine supply. Major platinum producers include Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY), Impala Platinum Holdings (OTCQX:IMPUF,JSE:IMP) and Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE:SBSW).

Palladium price
The palladium price stayed relatively flat over the last seven days, falling 0.14 percent. In recent weeks, palladium has posted a strong recovery from last year’s lows; even so, the precious metal remains well below its 2022 peak of around US$3,440 per ounce. Palladium’s price dynamics so far this year are reflective of shifting auto sector dynamics and safe-haven investment interest. This past week, palladium dipped as low as US$1,537 near the close on April 10. Palladium’s highest price over the period was US$1,607 in morning trade on Wednesday, before pulling back to US$1,572.77 by 11:00 a.m. PST.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Palladium price chart, April 7 to April 15, 2026.As a small market with the majority of demand stemming from the auto sector, supply-side concerns can have an outsized influence on palladium’s price trajectory. Like its sister metal platinum, much of palladium’s mine supply is concentrated in South Africa and Russia, making the metal highly sensitive to geopolitical and logistical challenges in these two regions. For that reason, its near-term price catalysts are the same as platinum. In other palladium market news, Russia’s Nornickel, the world’s largest producer of the metal, announced this week that it is developing a palladium-based catalyst for lithium-sulfur batteries for EVs. If successful, Nornickel is hoping it will open up a new market segment for palladium representing 1.5 million ounces of annual demand.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, 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.

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Top 5 US Lithium Stocks of 2026

On: April 17, 2026

Lithium stocks continued their upward trajectory in 2026 as lithium prices recovered. Spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices climbed from about US$13,400 per metric ton in early December to more than US$26,000 by late January, a roughly 95 percent increase.Despite the sharp rebound, any meaningful supply response is expected to lag, as project timelines and operational constraints limit near-term growth.The rally has been amplified by speculative activity and thin spot liquidity, leaving prices highly sensitive to policy changes, supply disruptions and geopolitical developments. It also follows a broader recovery, with lithium prices rising more than 125 percent over the past year after a steep correction from 2022 highs.At the same time, lithium is increasingly being treated as a strategic commodity. Government policies, from US critical minerals initiatives to international supply agreements, are reshaping investment and supply chains, while disruptions in key regions such as Zimbabwe and China underscore the growing role of geopolitics in the market.”Policy actions are creating a market environment in which reliable lithium supply is actively prioritized, improving confidence and capital availability for lithium producers,” wrote Jacob White, director of ETF product management at Sprott (TSX:SII,NYSE:SII).”We believe that further developments between critical minerals-producing countries and developed countries, not just the US, may ultimately be beneficial for lithium producers, providing a supportive financing path from resource to production.”Lithium-ion battery demand is also broadening beyond electric vehicles. Rapid growth in battery energy storage, driven by expanding data infrastructure and electrification trends, is emerging as a second major pillar of lithium consumption, adding further complexity to the market outlook.Against this backdrop, the Investing News Network has created an overview of the top-performing US lithium stocks on the NYSE and NASDAQ by year-to-date gains. This list was created on April 13, 2026, using TradingView’s stock screener, and all data was current at that time. Only lithium companies with market caps above C$50 million were considered.

1. Lithium Argentina (NYSE:LAR)
Year-to-date gain: 42.86 percentMarket cap: US$1.33 billionShare price: US$8.10Lithium Argentina produces lithium carbonate from its 44.8 percent owned Cauchari-Olaroz brine operations in Argentina, developed with Ganfeng Lithium (HKEX:1772,OTCPL:GNENF). The company was spun out from Lithium Americas in October 2023 and changed its name from Lithium Americas (Argentina) in January 2025.Lithium Argentina reported on January 6 that its Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine facility produced about 34,100 metric tons of lithium carbonate in 2025, and production for the final quarter of 2025 set a new record of approximately 9,700 metric tons.The news coincided with a jump in share prices, which rallied to a year-to-date high of US$8.58 on January 23, coinciding with broader positivity in the lithium market. After pulling back in February, they climbed back up to US$8.36 on February 24. In a March 11 announcement, Lithium Argentina updated the mineral resource estimate for the Cauchari-Olaroz brine operation, supporting plans for a Stage 2 expansion. Stage 2 is expected to add 45,000 metric tons per year of LCE capacity, building on the current 40,000 metric ton operation.The MRE update increases measured and indicated resources by 42 percent to 28.1 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), while inferred resources rise to 9.6 million metric tons. The estimate incorporates new drilling that expanded the resource footprint to the south, as well as sampling data from production wells and a basin-wide hydrological model.Later in the month, Lithium Argentina released its full 2025 results, confirming its previously announced 2025 lithium production numbers, which were up 34 percent year-over-year and at the high end of guidance.Average realized prices were approximately US$9,049 per metric ton of lithium carbonate sold in Q4, with cash operating costs of US$5,618 per metric ton sold. As for Q1 2026, the company expects realized prices to rise to around US$17,000 per metric ton amid improving market conditions. It set full year guidance at 35,000 to 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate.

2. Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)
Year-to-date gain: 28.98 percentMarket cap: US$21.85 billionShare price: US$185.43North Carolina-based Albemarle is divided into two primary business units, one of which — the Albemarle Energy Storage unit — is focused wholly on the lithium-ion battery and energy transition markets. It includes the firm’s lithium carbonate, hydroxide and metal production.Albemarle has a broad portfolio of lithium mines and facilities, with extraction in Chile, Australia and the US. Looking first at Chile, Albemarle produces lithium carbonate at its La Negra lithium conversion plants, which process brine from the Salar de Atacama, the country’s largest salt flat. Albemarle is aiming to implement direct lithium extraction technology at the salt flat to reduce water usage.Albemarle’s Australian lithium operations include the Wodgina hard-rock lithium mine in Western Australia, which is owned and operated by the 50/50 MARBL joint venture with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTCPL:MALRF). Albemarle wholly owns the on-site Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility. The company’s other Australian joint venture is the Greenbushes hard-rock lithium mine, in which it holds a 49 percent interest.In late October, Albemarle signed an agreement to sell a 51 percent stake in its refining catalyst business, Ketjen, leaving it with 49 percent ownership. This was part of a broader portfolio reshaping that also includes the sale of Ketjen’s 50 percent stake in the Eurecat joint venture to partner Axens, which it went on to close in January for US$123 million cash.According to its Q4 2025 results released on February 11, Albemarle’s sales rose 16 percent to US$1.4 billion, thanks to a 12 percent sales volume jump led by energy storage and Ketjen. Its energy storage segment sales reached US$759.1 million in Q4, up 23.1 percent year over year.Full-year 2025 cash from operations hit US$1.3 billion, with free cash flow at US$692 million after capital expenditures dropped 65 percent. In early February, Albemarle idled the remaining operating lithium hydroxide train at Kemerton, placing it into care and maintenance. The company had previously idled Train 2 and paused expansion plans for Train 3 and 4 at Kemerton in 2024, amid the market downturn.”Unfortunately, recent lithium price improvements alone are not enough to offset the challenges facing Western hard-rock lithium conversion operations,” Albemarle Chairman and CEO Kent Masters said. “This decision improves our financial flexibility and preserves optionality.”Shares of Albemarle rose to a year-to-date high of US$199.56 on February 25 alongside a peak in the lithium price. The next day, the company announced a quarterly common stock dividend of US$0.405 per share payable on April 1.In early March, Albemarle completed the sale of a controlling stake in its Ketjen refining catalyst business to KPS Capital Partners, keeping a 49 percent interest. Combined with the Eurecat joint venture sale in January 2026, the deals brought in roughly US$670 million in pre-tax proceeds, which Albemarle plans to use for debt reduction and general corporate purposes.Shortly after, Albemarle successfully completed the dewatering of the open pit at the Kings Mountain Mine lithium project in North Carolina, US, allowing it to progress technical studies.

3. Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ:SGML)
Year-to-date gain: 28.24 percentMarket cap: US$1.94 billionShare price: US$17.39Sigma Lithium is a Brazil-focused lithium producer supplying chemical-grade lithium concentrate to the global battery market. The company operates the Grota do Cirilo project in Minas Gerais, one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium operations.Sigma’s mine and greentech industrial lithium plant currently have the capacity to produce about 270,000 metric tons per year of lithium oxide concentrate, equivalent to roughly 38,000 to 40,000 metric tons of LCE. The company is building a second processing plant that is expected to lift total capacity to approximately 520,000 metric tons of concentrate annually.In September 2025, Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine in Brazil faced regulatory scrutiny after prosecutors requested a pause over water-management concerns in its environmental impact assessment. The company denied any issues but voluntarily paused mining to upgrade equipment and improve efficiency. Operations phased down in September and shut completely in October, causing a sharp drop in output. While mining was paused, Sigma began processing its existing tailings inventory. In a January 2026 update, Sigma announced the sale of 100,000 metric tons of high-purity lithium fines stored at the Port of Vitoria (Brazil) at Shanghai Metals Market prices, generating approximately US$11 million in net revenue. An additional 850,000 metric tons remained available for sale at its plant.Later in the month, Sigma sold an additional 100,000 metric tons of high-purity lithium fines.Following completion of the mine restructuring in Q4 2025, in February, Sigma resumed mining activity at Mine 1.In the same month, Brazil’s mining regulator, the National Mining Agency (ANM), issued an official technical statement attesting to the safety of Sigma Lithium’s waste piles following an administrative inquiry opened by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment in December. As noted in the press release, the regulator said it found no legal basis to order precautionary measures such as closing the company’s operations or waste piles. By mid-February Sigma penned another agreement to sell 150,000 metric tons of low-grade lithium fines with 1 percent lithium oxide content at US$140 per metric ton. The deal also includes an option for the buyer to purchase an additional 350,000 metric tons at market prices.As the first quarter of 2026 closed, Sigma Lithium resumed sales of high-grade lithium oxide, reporting it achieved industrial production cadence, and shared sales projections and milestones.At the start of April, the company signed an US$100 million collateralized bank guarantee with a major Brazilian bank.Shares of Sigma Lithium rose to a year-to-date high of US$17.42 on April 13.

4. Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM)
Year-to-date gain: 25.01 percentMarket cap: US$21.98 billionShare price: US$87.63SQM is a major global lithium producer, with operations centered in Chile’s Salar de Atacama. The company extracts lithium from brine and produces lithium carbonate and hydroxide for use in batteries.SQM is expanding production and holds interests in projects in Australia and China, including a 50/50 joint venture for the Mt Holland lithium operation in Western Australia. In July 2025, the company produced its first battery-grade lithium hydroxide production at its Kwinana refinery in the state.In late April 2025, Chile’s competition watchdog approved the partnership agreement between SQM and state-owned copper giant Codelco aimed at boosting output at the Atacama salt flat. The deal, first announced in 2024, reached another milestone when it secured approval for an additional lithium quota from Chile’s nuclear energy regulator CChEN.SQM finalized the CODELCO merger in January of this year.SQM started 2026 issuing and selling US$600 million in subordinated capital notes due in 2056. The notes carry an initial annual interest rate of 5.625 percent, with a rate reset scheduled for April 22, 2031.Also early in the year, SQM signed a definitive collaboration and exploration agreement with Ivanhoe Electric (NYSE American:IE,TSX:IE) to search for copper on about 2,000 square kilometers of SQM’s mining property in Northern Chile. The initial three-year exploration program includes a US$9 million investment from SQM and will use Ivanhoe Electric’s Typhoon geophysical surveying system. If successful, the partnership could form a 50/50 joint venture.In late February, SQM released its full year 2025 earnings, highlighting net income of US$588.1 million compared with a loss of US$404.4 million in 2024. Annual revenue rose 1 percent to US$4.58 billion, while gross profit edged up to US$1.35 billion.In Q4, the company saw record sales volumes in its lithium businesses.Shares of SQM reached a year-to-date high of US$87.63 on April 13, as a rally in lithium prices benefited the broader market.

On: April 15, 2026

Those interested in the lithium sector and investing in lithium stocks are often curious about which countries are the top producers of the battery metal, but they may not stop to consider the top lithium reserves by country. Major lithium-producing countries are, of course, home to a large number of lithium companies. Many of the world’s top lithium producers also hold significant reserves, and their reserves can give an idea of how much room those countries have to grow. At the same time, nations with high reserves may become more significant lithium players in the future.Lithium is a key raw material in the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles and the energy storage sector, together with battery metals such as cobalt and nickel. Global lithium production and reserves have increased significantly in the last decade as companies worked to meet battery demand. While oversupply led to decreased prices and production cuts at some mines, the lithium market is seeing a turn-around in 2026.”Lithium prices appear to have moved ahead of the fundamentals, propelled by speculative buying, bullish sentiment and a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk. Yet we may also be finally witnessing demand catch up with the supply surge of recent years,” Fastmarkets’ Paul Lusty wrote in a January 2026 update. On that note, here’s an overview of lithium reserves by country, with a focus on the five countries that host the world’s largest lithium deposits. Lithium reserves data is based on the US Geological Survey’s latest Mineral Commodity Summary and refers to contained lithium content in economic reserves.Total worldwide lithium reserves stand at 37 million metric tons as of 2025, a significant increase over the 30 million metric tons reported in 2024 due to upward revisions to many countries’ reserves. These gains were also seen in global lithium resources, which are detailed following the reserves list.

Top lithium reserves by country

1. Chile
Lithium reserves: 9.2 million metric tons Chile holds the largest lithium reserves in the world at 9.2 million metric tons, about 25 percent of the global lithium reserve base, with much of that located in its Salar de Atacama. Chile is a member of the famous Lithium Triangle alongside Argentina and Bolivia. Chile was the second biggest producer of lithium in 2025 at 56,000 metric tons. Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) (NYSE:SQM) and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) are the key lithium producers in Chile, operating in the Salar de Atacama. According to the Baker Institute, Chile’s strict legal framework surrounding mining concessions has hamstrung the lithium powerhouse from gaining a bigger share of the global lithium market comparable with this mineral largess.In late April 2023, Gabriel Boric, then president of Chile, announced plans to partially nationalize the country’s lithium industry in a bid to bolster the economy and protect the environment.Chile’s state-owned mining company Codelco has negotiated for much larger stakes in both SQM and Albemarle’s lithium assets in the country, and will have controlling interests in all operations in that salar going forward.In early 2025, Chile received seven bids for lithium operation contracts (CEOLs) across six salt flats. In the time since, the country has awarded CEOLs to multiple partnerships of Chilean national miners with public companies such as Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) for the Salares Altoandinos and Maricunga projects, CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL) for the Laguna Verde project and Lithium Chile (TSXV:LITH,OTCPL:LTMCF) for the Coipasa project.

2. Australia
Lithium reserves: 8.4 million metric tons Australia’s lithium reserves stand at 8.4 million metric tons, the majority of which are found in Western Australia. Unlike those found in Chile and Argentina, Australia’s lithium reserves are in the form of hard-rock spodumene deposits. Although it is second to Chile in reserves, Australia was the largest lithium-producing country in the world in 2025 at 92,000 metric tons, with many operational lithium mines in the country. Its most significant is the Greenbushes lithium mine, which is operated by Talison Lithium, a joint venture comprised of lithium producers Tianqi Lithium (OTCPK:TQLCF,SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696), Australian miner IGO (ASX:IGO,OTCPL:IPGDF) and Albemarle. Greenbushes has been producing lithium since 1985.While Western Australia dominates lithium exploration, new research highlights untapped potential in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Published in “Earth System Science Data,” the 2023 study — led by University of Sydney researchers with Geoscience Australia — maps regions with high lithium density, signaling broader opportunities for the growing battery metal market. “We’ve developed the first map of lithium in Australian soils which identifies areas with elevated concentrations,” senior author Professor Budiman Minasny said. “The map agrees with existing mines and highlights areas that can be potential future lithium sources.”

3. China
Lithium reserves: 4.6 million metric tons China holds lithium reserves of 4.6 million metric tons. The country has a mix of deposit types; lithium brines make up the majority of its reserves, but it has spodumene and lepidolite hard-rock reserves as well. In 2025, China produced 62,000 metric tons of the mineral, an over 20,000 metric ton increase from the previous year. According to the USGS, the country hosts nine hard-rock and six brine operations that contributed significant production, as well as other small operations.The Asian nation is also the world’s top importer of lithium, with Australia as its largest supplier. China’s lithium usage is high due to its electronics manufacturing and electric vehicle industries. It also produces the majority of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and hosts most of the world’s lithium-processing facilities.In early 2025, Chinese media reported that the country has significantly bolstered its lithium ore reserves, claiming national deposits now account for 16.5 percent of global resources, up from 6 percent.The surge is attributed in part to the discovery of a 2,800 kilometer lithium belt in the western regions, with proven reserves exceeding 6.5 million tons of lithium ore and potential resources surpassing 30 million tons. Additionally, advancements in extracting lithium from salt lakes and mica have further expanded China’s reserves.

4. Argentina
Lithium reserves: 4.4 million metric tons Argentina, part of the Lithium Triangle, ranks fourth in terms of global lithium reserves at 4.4 million metric tons. The country is also the fifth largest lithium producer in the world, producing 23,000 MT of the metal in 2025. Argentina hosts nine lithium operations and 83 lithium mining projects, Fastmarkets reported in March 2026. The country’s most significant operations include Cauchari-Olaroz in Jujuy, which is a joint venture between Lithium Argentina (TSX:LAR) and Ganfeng Lithium (HKEX:1772,OTCPL:GNENF), and Fénix in Catamarca, owned by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO).In 2025, Argentina’s Milei administration introduced the Incentive Regime for Large Investments, or RIGI, which offers legal protections and stability measures to incentivize large investments in the nation. Mining projects that meet its requirements are eligible for the program.Mining major Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) is currently advancing an expansion of lithium extraction at its operations on Argentina’s Rincon salar that was approved under the RIGI framework in March 2025. It will increase capacity from 3,000 to 60,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate, with production is expected to begin in 2028 followed by a three-year ramp up period to full capacity.Argosy Minerals (ASX:AGY,OTCPL:ARYMF) is another lithium company expanding its operations, aiming to increase its annual lithium carbonate production at the Rincon salar from 2,000 to 12,000 metric tons. The expansion was greenlit in 2024.

4. United States
Lithium reserves: 4.4 million metric tonsThe United States hosts 4.4 million metric tons of lithium reserves, a number that increased significantly from the 1.8 million metric tons reported in 2024.While US lithium production numbers are withheld by the USGS, the country produces lithium from just one mine, Albemarle’s Silver Peak in Nevada. It produced 1,000 metric tons of lithium in 2025.Silver Peak has been in operation since the 1960s, and includes lithium brine operations, a lithium carbonate processing plant and an anhydrous lithium hydroxide plant. In February 2026, Albemarle completed federal permitting for an expansion of operations under the FAST-41 project dashboard.The Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada is currently under construction and expected to enter commercial production in 2028, with Phase 1 lithium carbonate production of 40,000 metric tons per year. Thacker Pass hosts a probable reserve of 4.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent from 269.5 million metric tons at a grade of 3,180 parts per million. The project is a 62/38 joint venture between Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) and General Motors (NYSE:GM).

Other lithium reserves by country
While Chile, Australia, Argentina and China are home to the world’s highest lithium reserves, other countries also hold significant amounts of the metal. Here’s a quick look at these other nations:Canada — 1,600,000 metric tonsBrazil — 540,000 metric tons Zimbabwe — 500,000 metric tons Mali — 370,000 metric tonsPortugal — 60,000 metric tons As the lithium industry continues to grow, production has followed, and many of these countries with high reserves are becoming significant producers as well.

Top lithium resources by country
The list of the top 10 countries by measured and indicated lithium resources differs significantly from those with the top reserves. This category is broader as it also includes unproven and uneconomic lithium deposits.According to the USGS report, “Owing to continuing exploration, measured and indicated lithium resources have increased substantially worldwide and total about 150 million metric tons.”The top 10 countries by lithium resources are:United States — 30 million metric tonsArgentina — 28 million metric tonsBolivia — 23 million metric tonsChile — 13 million metric tonsAustralia — 10 million metric tonsChina — 10 million metric tonsGermany — 8.9 million metric tonsCanada — 8.1 million metric tonsDemocratic Republic of Congo — 3 million metric tonsMexico — 1.7 million metric tons

FAQs for lithium reserves

Where in the world are the best lithium reserves?
Chile has the largest lithium reserves, and the three countries that make up the Lithium Triangle — Argentina, Bolivia and Chile — together account for a large portion of the world’s lithium reserves.

What are the biggest lithium reserves in Europe?
Portugal has the biggest lithium reserves in Europe at 60,000 metric tons. The Southern European country is also Europe’s top lithium miner, producing 380 metric tons of lithium in 2025.In terms of lithium resources, Germany takes the lead with 8.9 million metric tons.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.Editorial Disclosure: CleanTech Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.

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Gold Inches Lower Amid Upcoming U.S.-Iran Talks As U.S. Blockade On Iranian Ports Continues

On: April 15, 2026

(RTTNews) – Partly offsetting yesterday’s gains, gold prices have edged lower on Wednesday as investors react with cautious optimism to an upcoming second round of U.S.-Iran talks since the U.S.-ordered blockade on Iranian ports holds.

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Crude Oil Inches Higher As U.S. Blockade OF Iran’s Ports Outweighs U.S.-Iran Talks Optimism

On: April 15, 2026

(RTTNews) – Crude oil has edged higher on Wednesday as traders weighed the prospects of success in the upcoming second round of U.S-Iran talks against the ongoing U.S. blockade on all Iranian ports across the Strait of Hormuz, which is keeping the supply concerns alive.

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See How Alcoa Ranks Among Analysts’ Top Metals Picks

On: April 15, 2026

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Alcoa Corporation (Symbol: AA) is the #33 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global

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U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Unexpectedly Edge Lower

On: April 15, 2026

(RTTNews) – The Energy Information Administration released a report on Wednesday showing crude oil inventories in the U.S. unexpectedly decreased in the week ended April 10th.

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Oil Prices Inch Higher After A Two-day Slump

On: April 15, 2026

(RTTNews) – Oil prices traded higher on Wednesday after falling sharply in the previous session following a warning from the International Energy Agency that high oil prices could lead to a fall in global demand.

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Gold Edges Lower As Dollar Stabilizes Ahead Of Possible US-Iran Peace Talks

On: April 15, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices slipped from a one-month high on Wednesday as the dollar regained some ground ahead of possible new peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan.

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Crude Oil Slumps As Trump Indicates Resumption Of U.S.-Iran Peace Talks

On: April 14, 2026

(RTTNews) – Reversing the gains from yesterday, crude oil went for a freefall on Tuesday as demand-related concerns cooled after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a second round of talks with Iran could happen in the coming days. In addition, the International Energy Agency’s

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Gold Surges As Trump Confirms The Likelihood Of More U.S-Iran Talks

On: April 14, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices have soared on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump admitted that the U.S. and Iran could meet again in Pakistan for peace talks in the next few days.

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See How Harmony Gold Mining Ranks Among Analysts’ Top Metals Picks

On: April 14, 2026

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (Symbol: HMY) is the #28 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Cha

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Gold Edges Higher As Dollar, Yields Dip On US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes

On: April 14, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices rose toward $4,800 an ounce on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar faltered and U.S. Treasury yields dipped on renewed optimism for a negotiated end to the U.S.-Iran war.

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Oil Prices Edge Lower On Hopes Of Potential US-Iran Peace Deal

On: April 14, 2026

(RTTNews) – Oil prices traded lower on Tuesday amid renewed hopes of U.S.-Iran talks, with reports suggesting that there could be a second round of talks to end the West Asia conflict.

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Crude Oil Soars As Trump’s Moves Renew Concerns Of A Wider Gulf War

On: April 13, 2026

(RTTNews) – Rebounding from Friday’s plunge, crude oil has surged on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on ships transiting to and from Iran via the Strait of Hormuz.

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Gold Edges Lower As Rate Cut Expectations Recede Amid Renewed War Threats

On: April 13, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices have inched lower on Monday following fading expectations of rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve in the near-term as the U.S. and Iran lock horns over controlling the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks failed.

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Analyst Favorites: SSR Mining Ranks As a Top Metals Pick

On: April 13, 2026

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that SSR Mining Inc (Symbol: SSRM) is the #19 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global M

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Oil Prices Climb On Hormuz Tensions After Failed Talks

On: April 13, 2026

(RTTNews) – Oil prices rallied on Monday after weekend negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending six weeks of war concluded without an agreement.

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Gold Dips As Dollar, Yields Surge After Failed Peace Talks

On: April 13, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices fell toward $4,700 an ounce on Monday as the dollar strengthened, global bond yields surged and oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel, following the breakdown of U.S.-Iran peace talks over the weekend in Islamabad.

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Infographic: Era of the Glut Ends as Lithium Careens Toward 2026 Deficit

On: April 12, 2026

The global lithium market is undergoing a massive structural reversal.Following a multi-year period of severe oversupply that crushed spot prices, the critical battery metal is now aggressively tightening, with major financial institutions projecting a steep supply deficit by 2026.”The question is no longer if the lithium market will face a supply shortage, but rather how aggressively the supply chain will struggle to meet compounding demand,” Mining Visuals noted in a recent report.

A surplus contraction
Infographic via MiningVisuals.Bar graph showing lithium market surplus data from 2023-2026.Between 2022 and 2024, the lithium market was defined by a massive wave of excess supply. A surge of new production, primarily from operations in Australia and China, flooded the market just as short-term demand growth temporarily cooled.The resulting imbalance was severe. According to Fastmarkets, the market surplus peaked at approximately 175,000 tons of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) in 2023. This excess inventory crushed spot prices, which plummeted by more than 80 percent from their late-2022 highs, bottoming out at just $8,259 per ton in China by June 2025.However, the same price collapse triggered a fierce market correction. As prices fell below the cost of production, major Chinese operations curtailed capacity, Australian spodumene miners halted output, and global exploration budgets were heavily slashed. Consequently, the surplus is shrinking rapidly. S&P Global Commodity Insights forecasts the surplus will narrow to 141,000 tons LCE in 2025, driven by a 13.5 percent year-over-year increase in consumption.The definitive pivot arrives in 2026, where consensus firmly points to a structural deficit.

EV resiliency and policy risks
While supply was aggressively reigned in throughout 2025, the underlying demand drivers accelerated.Global EV sales rose 22 percent in 2025, maintaining their position as the primary demand driver, consuming roughly 70 percent of total lithium output. However, energy storage systems (ESS) are rapidly emerging as the swing factor capable of tightening global balances independently. Battery energy storage demand grew an explosive 51 percent in 2025, lifting storage to about a fifth of total global battery demand.This growth is driven by grid reliability upgrades and the massive power requirements of expanding AI infrastructure. In the US, the energy storage industry installed a record 57.6 GWh of new capacity in 2025—four times what the industry installed just three years ago. China dwarfed that figure, with 65 GWh of grid-scale battery energy storage entering operation in December 2025 alone.On the policymaking side, meanwhile, governments in recent years have increasingly treated critical minerals less as inputs and more as strategic assets.In the US, a Section 232 action focused on critical minerals concluded that reliance on imports poses a threat to national security, opening the door to price floors, tariffs, and negotiated import frameworks. Furthermore, the US launched “Project Vault” in February 2026, a US$12 billion public-private initiative designed to procure and store critical minerals, including a strategic lithium reserve.Simultaneously, supply unreliability is injecting a heavy risk premium into the market. Zimbabwe, which produces roughly 10 percent of global mined lithium, abruptly suspended exports of raw lithium earlier this year to force domestic processing. In China, regulatory issues have delayed the restart of CATL’s (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) massive Jianxiawo lepidolite mine, removing a key source of supply from the market.

Pricing in the pivot
Markets are forward-looking, and the shift from glut to deficit is already being aggressively priced in.Between early December 2025 and late January 2026, spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices rose from approximately US$13,433 per metric ton to US$26,278, a 95 percent increase. Spodumene prices have followed suit, climbing above US$2,000 per metric ton for the first time since late 2023.While the rebound in prices has improved project economics, a meaningful supply response is expected to lag significantly. During the prolonged market downturn, feasibility studies for new projects dropped from dozens annually to fewer than 10 in 2025.With demand compounding across multiple sectors and new supply constrained by lengthy development timelines and geopolitical maneuvering, the era of cheap, abundant lithium appears to be decisively over.

MiningVisuals is your go-to source for mining insights and visuals — transforming complex data into clear graphics that highlight the essential minerals building our future.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Jindalee Inks US$571 Million SPAC Deal to List Lithium Assets on Nasdaq

On: April 12, 2026

Australia’s Jindalee Lithium (ASX:JLL,OTCQX:JNDAF) is spinning out its US asset portfolio into a newly formed company that will list on the Nasdaq via a US$571 million blank-check merger.The new entity, called US Elemental, will merge with Constellation Acquisition (OTCID:CSTAF), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by affiliates of Antarctica Capital, a New York-based investment firm with over US$10 billion in assets under management.At the core of the transaction is the McDermitt lithium project in Oregon, widely considered one of the largest undeveloped lithium deposits in the US. US Elemental will also have the Clayton North project in Nevada. The assets are currently held by HiTech Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jindalee.“Establishing US Elemental as a US-listed company represents an important milestone in unlocking the value of our U.S. lithium assets,” Ian Rodger, CEO of Jindalee and incoming CEO of US Elemental, said in a statement.“We believe the McDermitt project is one of the largest lithium resources in the United States, and this Transaction is expected to position the Company to access the capital and strategic partnerships needed to advance development.”McDermitt boasts a resource of approximately 21.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. According to a recently completed prefeasibility study, the asset is projected to support a 63 year mine life. During its first decade of operation, the site is planned to produce roughly 47,500 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually. The McDermitt project economics outline an estimated US$3.2 billion net present value (at an 8 percent discount rate), as well as a 17.9 percent post-tax internal rate of return.Despite spinning out the assets into a US-listed vehicle, Jindalee intends to retain tight control. The Australian parent company will roll 100 percent of its equity interest into the new entity, expecting to hold approximately 80 percent or more of US Elemental post-close, subject to customary adjustments and SPAC shareholder redemptions.To fund the next phase of technical studies and permitting, the transaction contemplates a concurrent capital raise of US$20 million to US$30 million. This includes a US$4 million private investment in public equity anchored by affiliates of Antarctica Capital, alongside potential third-party investors. Post-transaction, US Elemental is projected to hold roughly US$15 million in cash, net of deal expenses.For Constellation and its sponsor, the merger capitalizes on the push to secure battery metals supply. “We believe US Elemental offers investors exposure to a significant US lithium resource at an important time for the industry,” Chandra Patel, chair and CEO of Constellation and managing partner at Antarctica Capital, stated. “Demand for battery materials continues to grow and there is increasing emphasis on developing domestic sources of supply. The McDermitt Project, combined with the team’s experience and the scale of the resource, creates a strong platform for long-term growth,” the executive added. The deal is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, as well as a minimum cash condition of US$14 million.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.Editorial Disclosure: Jindalee Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.

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Marc Faber: Gold, Oil and War — My Outlook and Strategy Now

On: April 11, 2026

Dr. Marc Faber, editor and publisher of the Gloom, Boom & Doom Report, discusses the impact of the Iran war on global liquidity, asset price trends, interest rates and gold. He also weighs in on the future of the US economy and the BRICS nations. 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.

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Top 5 Australian Mining Stocks This Week: Resolution Soars on US Antimony Permitting Support

On: April 11, 2026

Welcome to the Investing News Network’s weekly round-up of the top-performing mining stocks listed on the ASX, starting with news in Australia’s resource sector.This week’s list highlights companies across a range of critical minerals and energy commodities. Resolution Minerals (ASX:RML,OTCQB:RLMLF) emerged as the top gainer after it received FAST-41 status for its Antimony Ridge project from the US government, while oil and gas company Xstate Resources (ASX:XST) advanced flow testing amidst rising global oil prices.Read on to discover this week’s top gaining Australian mining stocks on the ASX and what drove their share prices.

Market and commodities price round-up
The S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) opened at 8,262.4 on Tuesday (April 7) and closed at 8,973.20 on Thursday (April 9), reflecting a 2.98 percent increase over the period.Gold and silver prices rose in US dollars and slightly dipped in Australian dollars this week. The yellow metal decreased 1.02 percent from US$4,672.80 on Monday to US$4,720.37 by Thursday’s close of Australian markets. Meanwhile, it decreased a 0.98 percent in Australian dollars, moving from AU$6,768.54 to AU$6,702.08.Silver jumped 1.38 percent in US dollars from US$73.05 on Monday to US$74.06 on Thursday. In Australian dollars, the metal lowered just 0.53 percent from AU$105.71 to AU$105.15.

Top ASX mining stocks this week
How did ASX mining stocks perform against this backdrop?Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Australian mining stocks below as the Investing News Network breaks down their operations and why these companies are up this week.Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:10 p.m. AEDT on Thursday using TradingView’s stock screener and reflects price movements between the first trading day of the week and Thursday. Only companies trading on the ASX with market capitalisations greater than AU$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

1. Resolution Minerals (ASX:RML)
Weekly gain: 54.35 percentMarket cap: AU$161.5 millionShare price: AU$0.071
Resolution Minerals is an antimony-focused explorer based in South Australia.The company is currently focused on the Horse Heaven gold-antimony-tungsten project in Idaho, US, aiming to provide an end-to-end solution for domestic critical minerals supply to the US defence industry.Horse Heaven holds the Antimony Ridge prospect, at which rock chip samples have returned grades up to 50 percent antimony, 1,420 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 3.1 g/t gold. On Wednesday (April 8), the company announced that Antimony Ridge secured FAST-41 status from the US Trump administration. The designation helps projects to accelerate permitting timelines through enhanced inter-agency coordination, transparent milestone tracking and dedicated federal oversight.CEO for US Operations Craig Lindsay called the selection a significant step forward for Antimony Ridge that reinforces its strategic importance.“This designation provides a clear and more efficient pathway through permitting, allowing us to progress bulk sampling and drilling activities with greater confidence and transparency,” he said.Moving forward, Resolution said it will now work closely with its primary permitting authority, the US Forest Service, to advance the Antimony Ridge Plan of Operations through the FAST-41 process.After closing at AU$0.046 last week, shares of Resolution Minerals spiked to a weekly high of AU$0.077 Wednesday following the news.

2. OD6 Metals (ASX:OD6)
Weekly gain: 45 percentMarket cap: AU$32.57 millionShare price: AU$0.145OD6 Metals is focused on exploring and developing critical minerals projects in Australia and the US, with headquarters in Subiaco.The company’s Australian portfolio includes the advanced-stage Splinter Rock clay-hosted rare earths project in Western Australia’s Esperance–Goldfields region. Splinter Rock holds a JORC mineral resource estimate of 682 million tonnes grading 1,338 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO). OD6 is currently advancing metallurgical testwork and engaging with potential offtake partners, with plans to begin production in five years. OD6 also owns the Gulf Creek copper-zinc project in New South Wales, a high-grade VMS style deposit that was mined for copper between 1896 and 1912. At the beginning of March, the company entered an exclusive option agreement to wholly acquire the Quinn fluorspar project, comprising a district scale cluster of fluorspar deposits and prospects in Nevada, US. It is currently performing a due diligence program at the site.On Tuesday, OD6 shared first assay results from rock chip sampling at Quinn’s Mammoth prospect, which it said “confirm a large-scale, high-grade fluorspar system.” The samples returned grades up to 53.2 percent calcium fluoride.Following the assay results, OD6 reported results from initial channel samples on Thursday, highlighting 12 metres at 40.8 percent calcium fluoride in a breccia replacement zone.Next steps of the company include the collection of new samples from surface showings to confirm the accuracy of historic reports, followed by mapping and geochemistry programs.Shares of OD6 Metals closed last week’s trading session at AU$0.100 and climbed to a weekly peak ofAU$0.145 Thursday.

3. Cauldron Energy (ASX:CXU)
Weekly gain: 34.88 percentMarket cap: AU$107.96 millionShare price: AU$0.058Headquartered in Subiaco, Cauldron Energy is an exploration and development company focused on exploring for critical minerals, particularly uranium. Its portfolio includes its flagship Yanrey uranium project in Western Australia. Yanrey’s Bennet Well deposit has a JORC total uranium resource of 38.9 million tonnes at 360 parts per million uranium oxide equivalent.Cauldron’s share price has been on an upward trend since March 31. At the time, the company offered several potential explanations to the ASX, including market commentary surrounding quarterly exchange-traded funds (ETF) rebalancing and increasing uranium exposure, as well as positive uranium sentiment due to oil market volatility.On Tuesday, Cauldron Energy announced that it has been included in the BetaShares Global Uranium ETF (ASX:URNM), which provides exposure to a portfolio of global uranium companies across the nuclear fuel cycle.“As global capital continues to flow into nuclear energy and uranium equities, inclusion in a leading ETF such as URNM enhances our visibility to a broader investor base and supports our ongoing growth strategy,” CEO Jonathan Fisher said. According to the company, the uranium ETF inclusion could also provide broader access to institutional capital and overall improved exposure to the nuclear energy industry. Shares of Cauldron closed last week at AU$0.042, then climbed through the week to a close of AU$0.058 on Thursday.

4. Xstate Resources (ASX:XST)
Weekly gain: 31.82 percentMarket cap: AU$10.72 millionShare price: AU$0.029Xstate Resources is an oil and gas explorer focused on its flagship tenement in Queensland, the Diona project. Diona is located approximately 12 kilometres west of the Waggamba gas field and 11 kilometres east of the Taylor gas and oil field. Xstate completed its acquisition of a 51 percent working interest in the tenement in September, following an acquisition agreement with Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR,OTCPL:ELXPF) announced in April 2025.According to a March 5 project update, the company’s plans for the Diona-1 gas discovery are moving forward towards testing. It has finished the program and design for stimulation and testing at the Diona-1 well. After it is stimulated, Xstate will perform flow testing over two weeks, with results reportedly expected in mid-April.“The well has performed as expected to date and we are very confident that this well will be put onto production in the not too distant future,” Managing Director Andrew Bald said in the release. No further updates were shared by the company since it released its annual report at the end of March. After closing at AU$0.023 last week, shares of Xstate climbed to AU$0.028 by Thursday.

5. Pivotal Metals (ASX:PVT)
Weekly gain: 30.77 percentMarket cap: AU$19.66 millionShare price: AU$0.017Pivotal Metals is an explorer and developer with copper, nickel and platinum-group metals (PGM) projects in Québec, Canada.The company’s all-Canadian portfolio includes its flagship Horden Lake project and a set of assets in the Belleterre-Angliers greenstone belt: Midrim, Lorraine and Laforce. Horden Lake is the most advanced among all of its projects, dominated by high-grade copper and also containing nickel and platinum-group metals.As of March 31, Pivotal has commenced Phase 2 metallurgical testwork at Horden Lake, with the goal of optimising nickel, precious metals and PGM processing.“With strong copper recoveries already demonstrated, this phase of testwork is designed to further enhance the value of Horden Lake by improving recovery of the full suite of metals that contribute important by-product revenue streams,” Managing Director Ivan Fairhall said.“The program represents an important step in de-risking the project and positioning it for future development and potential strategic engagement.”In the release, Pivotal also noted that drilling at its Belleterre project is underway, with assays expected to be released in Q2.Shares of Pivotal Metals closed at AU$0.013 last week before rising this week to AU$0.017 by Thursday.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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G Mining Ventures Strikes Deal to Acquire G2 Goldfields

On: April 11, 2026

G Mining Ventures (TSX:GMIN,OTCQX:GMINF) announced plans to acquire G2 Goldfields (TSXV:GTWO,OTCQX:GUYGF) in an estimated US$2.13 billion all-stock transaction, moving to consolidate two adjacent projects in Guyana to create one of the largest and lowest-cost gold-mining hubs in the Americas.The definitive agreement will merge G Mining’s fully permitted Oko West project with G2’s Oko-Ghanie project. G2 shareholders will receive 0.212 G Mining common shares for each G2 share held. Upon completion, G Mining shareholders will own 80.1 percent of the combined entity, with G2 shareholders holding the remaining 19.9 percent.”Combining GMIN’s Oko West Project and G2’s Oko-Ghanie Project delivers on our stated vision to build and operate a large, long-life, Tier-1 asset in Guyana,” said G Mining CEO Louis-Pierre Gignac in a Thursday (April 9) press release. “Once built, this mine has the potential to rank among the highest producing gold mines globally.”By combining the adjacent properties, G Mining expects to unlock over US$710 million in capital and operating cost savings. Consolidating the two projects will also eliminate the need to construct a distinct mill and tailings facility for Oko-Ghanie, saving approximately US$603.5 million in capital expenditures. Additionally, shared infrastructure and integrated mine sequencing are forecast to generate roughly US$195.3 million in operating cost reductions over the mine’s life.The transaction also simplifies the regulatory pathway for G2’s asset. G Mining notes that integrating Oko-Ghanie with the fully permitted Oko West project is expected to streamline execution, as it will only require a reduced-scope environmental and social impact assessment as an addendum to the existing Oko West permit.The targeted timeline for first gold production at Oko West in the second half of 2027 remains unchanged.As part of the transaction, G2’s remaining exploratory assets outside the immediate Oko footprint will be spun out into a newly created entity, referred to as “G3 SpinCo.” G2 shareholders will retain 100 percent ownership of G3, which will be capitalized with US$31.95 million in cash. Furthermore, G3 will receive a contingent value right that could pay out up to US$200 million depending on future resource growth at the acquired properties.The deal follows G Mining’s rapid expansion and strong financial footing. Last month, the company reported a massive 221 percent year-on-year increase in its proven and probable mineral reserves, reaching 6.52 million ounces of gold, largely driven by the completion of the Oko West feasibility study.The Guyana expansion will be self-funded by G Mining’s robust balance sheet, which boasts US$288 million in cash and an undrawn US$350 million credit facility. This liquidity is anchored by strong cash flows from the company’s Tocantinzinho mine in Brazil, which achieved its first full year of commercial production in 2025, yielding 171,871 ounces of gold at strong margins.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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KGL Secures US$300 Million Streaming Deal with Wheaton for Jervois Project

On: April 11, 2026

KGL Resources (ASX:KGL,OTCPL:KGLLF) has entered into a US$300 million precious metals purchase agreement with royalty and streaming company Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM). The move will help fund the development of KGL’s Jervois copper project in the Northern Territory.The agreement, announced on April 2, includes US$275 million in upfront consideration and a US$25 million contingent cost overrun facility. Of the upfront portion, US$32 million will be available prior to construction, with the remaining US$243 million to be delivered in four tranches linked to construction milestones.Jervois has a resource of 28.95 million tonnes at 1.76 percent copper, 24.8 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.23 g/t gold (509,800 tonnes of copper, 23.13 million ounces of silver and 213,130 ounces of gold). The asset is fully permitted for development.The streaming deal applies to silver and gold by-products only. KGL said the structure avoids traditional fixed repayment obligations and project finance-style covenants, reducing risk during construction and ramp-up.“This is an exciting and significant milestone for KGL which supports the next phases of advancing the Jervois project towards production,” said Sam Strohmayr, the company’s CEO. “The near-term availability of the Early Deposit ensures we can maintain our development schedule, and we are now on the cusp of breaking ground on Australia’s next major copper mine.”The early deposit will be available upon satisfaction of customary conditions, keeping KGL on schedule.In addition to the streaming agreement, Wheaton has committed to participate in a future equity raise of up to AU$35 million, subject to certain conditions.KGL is continuing to refine project parameters, including finalizing process plant construction scope, updating the production schedule and incorporating commodity price changes.These updates are expected to result in increases to both capital costs and revenue forecasts compared to a 2025 feasibility study update, with a further update anticipated by May of this year.Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Infographic: Miners Retreat to Gold, Slash Early Stage Exploration to Record Lows

On: April 11, 2026

The global mining industry has decisively pivoted toward safe havens, funneling half of its entire exploration budget into gold while abandoning early stage grassroots discoveries at a record pace.According to the newly released World Exploration Trends 2026 report from S&P Global Market Intelligence, total nonferrous exploration budgets dipped 0.6 percent year-on-year to US$12.4 billion in 2025.

Infographic via MiningVisuals.A graph shows 2025 global exploration budgets for various commodities.Yet the relatively flat top-line figure masks a severe capital rotation taking place. Miners are overwhelmingly prioritizing sure bets, with mine site exploration, which includes drilling at or immediately adjacent to existing, proven deposits, surging to a record high, accounting for 45 percent of all exploration dollars spent globally.Conversely, generative grassroots exploration, the inherently risky search for entirely new deposits in untested geographical areas, collapsed to an all-time low of just 21 percent.The industry’s flight to safety is heavily anchored by precious metals. Gold exploration budgets surged 11 percent as the yellow metal thrived, nearly breaking US$5,600 per ounce in early 2026 amid escalating geopolitical tensions and relentless central bank accumulation. The metal captured a massive 50 percent of the total global budget, representing US$6.2 billion in deployed capital. This singular surge in gold spending single-handedly offset steep funding cuts across the broader commodities complex.The most dramatic casualties of this capital rotation were battery metals. Following a period of intense hype and elevated spending, lithium and nickel experienced sharp declines in exploration allocations. Lithium captured just US$595 million, or 5 percent of the global budget, while nickel accounted for a mere 3 percent at US$332 million. The pullback primarily stems from weak short-term market conditions and a brutal financing environment for the junior mining companies that traditionally spearhead critical mineral discoveries.Copper, meanwhile, held its ground as a structural necessity. The industrial metal commanded a strong second place, capturing 26 percent of the global exploration budget at US$3.3 billion. Capital allocation for copper continues to edge higher, supported by long-term demand expectations tied to global electrification, grid expansion and renewable energy infrastructure.Despite the cautious deployment of capital in the field, liquidity is still entering the sector. Funds raised by junior and intermediate companies more than doubled year-on-year to US$21.43 billion. However, this capital remained highly selective, directed heavily toward advancing existing project development rather than funding greenfield exploration.This evaporation of risk appetite presents a structural dilemma for the global economy. Because bringing a new mineral discovery into commercial production routinely takes more than a decade, the lack of investment in grassroots exploration suggest an incoming pipeline crunch.

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Dr. Jonathan Newman: Gold, Fiat and the Fed — An Austrian Economist’s View

On: April 10, 2026

Dr. Jonathan Newman, fellow at the Mises Institute, discusses Austrian economics, emphasizing its focus on individual actions and subjective ends. He also explains its historical roots in Carl Menger’s principles and the methodology of praxeology. In addition, Newman critiques the US Federal Reserve and outlines how it could be ended. 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.

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Lithium Market Update: Q1 2026 in Review

On: April 10, 2026

Lithium prices have rebounded sharply, with spot battery-grade lithium carbonate rising from about US$13,433 per metric ton in early December to US$26,278 by late January, a 95 percent increase. The rally reflects growing supply-side pressure, including delays at key operations such as CATL’s (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) Jianxiawo lepidolite mine in China, ongoing maintenance at other facilities and increased competition for material tied to long-term contracts, according to information from Fastmarkets.Market sentiment has also played a role, with speculative activity amplifying gains. However, underlying conditions remain uncertain. Thin spot liquidity and cautious positioning from both buyers and sellers point to a market vulnerable to sudden swings, where policy shifts or operational disruptions can quickly move prices.Spodumene prices have followed suit, climbing above US$2,000 per metric ton for the first time since late 2023. The move marks a significant shift for Australian producers, many of which scaled back or halted lithium operations when prices fell below US$900. Sustained strength at current levels could trigger a wave of restarts, improving margins and incentivizing supply. However, the pace of this response will be critical — while additional output from Australia and potentially Africa could ease near-term tightness, lead times may delay meaningful relief.”Lithium prices appear to have moved ahead of the fundamentals, propelled by speculative buying, bullish sentiment and a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk. Yet we may also be finally witnessing demand catch up with the supply surge of recent years,” wrote Fastmarkets’ Paul Lusty in a January update. “The key takeaway is to brace for more volatility — this is a market where a single headline, project delay or policy shift can rewrite the outlook overnight.”

Strong demand meets tightening supply
Lithium demand was robust in early 2026 due to electric vehicle (EV) and battery energy storage system gains.Global EV sales rose 22 percent in 2025, noted Adam Webb, head of battery materials at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, during a March summit in Toronto. He added that “despite what you may hear in some of the mainstream media,” EV sector gains were particularly strong in China, Europe and emerging markets.Looking ahead, lithium-ion battery demand is forecast to rise at a 14 percent compound annual growth rate over the next decade, with lithium demand itself increasing by roughly 12 percent a year. “To all intents and purposes, lithium is basically driven by battery demand only,” Webb said.

Lithium price rally signals structural shift
After a prolonged downturn, lithium prices rebounded sharply in late 2025 as market conditions tightened. Lithium carbonate prices in Asia rose more than 90 percent from lows seen in October, while spodumene concentrate surged even further, reflecting upstream constraints.“Prices increase because markets switch into deficit,” Webb said, pointing to a combination of factors behind the rally. These include stronger-than-expected “first-use” demand from cathode and battery makers, supply disruptions in key producing regions and policy-driven demand pull-forward linked to changes in China’s VAT rebate on battery exports.A key dynamic is the divergence between chemicals and raw materials. While the broader lithium market may still show a modest surplus on paper, a structural deficit in spodumene, driven by converter overcapacity, has tightened upstream supply and strengthened pricing power for miners.The rebound in prices has improved project economics, but a meaningful supply response is expected to lag.During the prolonged market downturn, lithium project development activity fell sharply, with feasibility studies dropping from dozens annually to fewer than 10 in 2025.During a SC Insights webinar held on March 31, founder Andy Leyland described October 2023 to October 2025 market dynamics as “unsustainable,” noting that prices fell well below levels needed to support new developments. While current pricing has re-incentivized projects, many now require updated studies and fresh financing. “It’s not even a decision that can be made today,” Leyland told listeners, pointing to delays of at least 12 months for many developments. Rising capital costs are adding further constraints, weakening returns even for lithium-focused projects with relatively low operating costs. On the exploration side, budgets have decreased over the last two years in correlation to the depressed market.

Infographic via Mining Visuals.A graph shows 2025 global exploration budgets for various commodities.As noted in the Mining Visuals infographic above, in 2025 global exploration expenditure for lithium ranked fourth at US$595 million, but was significantly lower than the top-ranked commodities, gold and copper.

Regional dynamics and strategic competition
In the near term, higher prices are more likely to unlock marginal supply rather than large-scale, low-cost projects. Leyland said the market is increasingly incentivizing “fourth quartile” production — typically lower-grade material that can be brought online more quickly, but depends on sustained higher prices.This includes supply from regions such as Africa, where growth is often accompanied by political, logistical and quality risks. As a result, while these sources can respond faster, they may also introduce greater volatility into the market.Looking ahead, global supply growth remains uneven. South America continues to anchor long-term expansion, supported by improving policy environments in countries such as Argentina and Chile. Australia is expected to deliver only modest near-term growth as previously shelved projects are reassessed.China, the dominant consumer, faces constraints when it comes to domestic supply, and is increasingly focused on securing resources overseas. Leyland noted that Chinese players are prioritizing long-term supply security, in contrast to western markets that remain more focused on prices. In Europe, early progress has been led by integrated projects combining extraction and processing. “You saw Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL,OTCPL:VULNF) move forward … you saw [Sibanye-Stillwater’s (NYSE:SBSW)] Keliber move forward,” Leyland said, adding that 2026 will be critical for refining projects, many of which face “make-or-break” conditions. Companies are also shifting toward tolling models to reduce capital intensity.

youtu.be

– YouTubeHoward Klein, co-founder and partner at RK Equity, discusses the Trump administration’s plans for Project Vault, as well as the broader lithium market.

3. India
Usable iron ore: 310 million metric tonsIron content: 190 million metric tonsIndia’s iron production for 2025 totaled 310 million metric tons of usable iron ore. India’s largest iron ore miner, NMDC (NSE:NMDC), operates the Bailadila mining complexes in Chhattisgarh state and the Donimalai and Kumaraswamy mines in Karnataka state. NMDC hit a production milestone in 2021 of 40 million metric tons per year, the first such company to do so in the country. NMDC is targeting an annual production rate of 100 million metric tons by 2030.

4. China
Usable iron ore: 290 million metric tonsIron content: 180 million metric tonsChina’s iron production amounted to 290 million metric tons of usable iron ore in 2025. The Asian nation is the world’s largest consumer of iron ore, despite being the fourth largest iron-producing country. China’s top producing iron ore mine is the Dataigou iron mine in Laioning province, with production of 9.07 million metric tons in 2023. The underground mine is owned by Glory Harvest Group Holdings.With China being the world’s largest producer of stainless steel, its domestic supply is not enough to meet demand. The country imported 1.26 billion MT of iron ore in 2025.

5. Iran
Usable iron ore: 93 million metric tonsIron content: 61 million metric tonsIran surpassed 93 million metric tons in iron production in the form of usable iron ore in 2025. The country’s iron output has been on the rise in recent years — now in fifth place, it was the sixth highest iron producer in 2024, the eighth highest in 2022 and the 10th in 2021. One of Iran’s most important iron ore mines is Gol-e-Gohar in Kerman province, which is also the country’s top producer. During the March 2024 to January 2025 period, the country’s major mining companies’ combined iron pellet production reportedly increased by 7 percent year-over-year.The country’s iron mines are supplying its steel industry, which produced 32 million MT of steel in 2025. In its 20 year roadmap released in 2005, the Iranian government had set an annual steel production target of 55 million MT by 2025. To better meet the requirements of domestic steel producers, Iran began levying a 25 percent duty on iron ore exports in September 2019. The exact rate has changed multiple times since, and in February 2024 the country cut duties on these products significantly.

6. Russia
Usable iron ore: 86 million metric tonsIron content: 50 million metric tonsRussia’s iron ore production came in at 86 million metric tons in 2025, making it the sixth largest iron-producing country in the world. The region of Belgorod Oblast is home to two of the country’s biggest iron ore producing mines: Metalloinvest’s Lebedinsky GOK and Novolipetsk Steel’s Stoilensky GOK. According to GlobalData, the mines produced an estimated 22.05 million MT and 19.56 million MT of iron ore in 2023 respectively.Russia’s iron ore exports have fallen dramatically in recent years following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to serious economic sanctions on the country, including the European Union restricting imports of Russian iron ore. Its iron ore exports were valued at just US$1 billion in 2024 compared to US$3.84 billion in 2021 as its previous trade partners fell away, leaving China as the destination for the vast majority of its iron.

7. Canada
Usable iron ore: 69 million metric tonsIron content: 41 million metric tonsCanada’s iron production totaled 69 million metric tons of usable iron ore in 2025. In June 2024, the Canadian government updated the nation’s Critical Minerals List to include high-purity iron due to its role in green steel-making and decarbonization. Champion Iron (TSX:CIA) is one company producing iron ore in Canada. It owns and operates the Bloom Lake complex in Fermont, Québec. Bloom Lake’s annual capacity is currently 15 million metric tons of 66.2 percent iron ore concentrate. Champion is investing in upgrading half of its Bloom Lake mine capacity to a direct reduction quality pellet feed iron ore with up to 69 percent iron.

8. South Africa
Usable iron ore: 66 million metric tons Iron content: 42 million metric tons South Africa’s iron production was 66 million metric tons of usable iron ore in 2025. The country’s output has declined significantly in the past few years, down from 73.1 million MT four years earlier. South Africa’s mining industry is grappling with transport and logistics issues, most notably due to railway maintenance challenges.Kumba Iron Ore is Africa’s largest iron ore producer. The company has three main iron ore production assets in the country, including its flagship mine, Sishen, which accounts for a large majority of Kumba’s total iron ore output. Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTC Pink:AAUKF) owns a 69.7 percent share of the company.

9. Ukraine
Usable iron ore: 52 million metric tonsIron content: 32 million metric tonsUkraine’s iron production for 2025 was 52 million metric tons of usable iron ore. The metal represents a key segment of the country’s economy, and Metinvest and ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) are the leading producers of iron ore in the nation. Despite the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine’s iron ore mining industry has proved as resilient as the people, even though there have been temporary shutdowns. While 2025 was a difficult year, with iron ore exports decreasing by 8 percent to 30.99 million MT, this beat GMK Center’s May 2025 prediction that “Ukraine’s iron ore exports will decline by about 20% y/y to 27 million tons (in 2025) from 33.6 million tons in 2024.”

10. United States
Usable iron ore: 38 million metric tonsIron content: 24 million metric tonsThe United States’ iron production came in at 38 million metric tons of usable iron ore in 2025, landing the nation just inside this top 10 iron countries list. The majority of the US’ iron is produced in Minnesota and Michigan. The US’ iron ore production decreased in 2025 from 45.1 million MT the year before as multiple mines in Minnesota were idled, according to the USGS. Mesabi Metallics is currently constructing its direct-reduction grade iron ore mine and pellet plant in Nashwauk, Minnesota, which is on track to begin production in Q3 2026.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Carley Garner: Gold, Silver, Oil — My Price Calls and Strategies

On: April 9, 2026

Carley Garner, commodity broker and strategist at DeCarley Trading, shares her outlook for gold and silver, saying that the precious metals may be heading into bear market territory. She also discusses strategies for oil, grains and the Japanese yen. 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.

This post was originally published here

Agriculture Market Update: Q1 2026 in Review

On: April 9, 2026

Phosphate and potash prices have been relatively stable through the end of 2025 and into the first two months of 2026.However, a burgeoning war between the United States and Iran, along with strict export restrictions from China, the world’s top phosphate exporter, threatens to push phosphate prices higher in the rest of the year.Meanwhile, although potash markets haven’t been as directly affected by geopolitics, the events are still affecting prices. Read on to learn more about phosphate and potash during the first quarter of 2026, and what experts are keeping an eye on.

What happened to phosphate and potash prices in Q1?
According to data from the World Bank, the first months of the year saw diammonium phosphate (DAP) prices falling slightly to US$619.20 per metric ton in January, then increasing to US$626.60 in February.Although their March data has not been released at the time of writing this article, Trading Economics shows the price for DAP rising to US$692.50 per metric ton on March 27. Meanwhile, prices of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) have climbed even higher, reaching US$770 per metric ton in the US and US$990 in Europe.On the potash side, the World Bank data shows prices starting the year in January at US$358.30 per metric ton, then climbed to US$366.00 in February. However, fertilizer prices have also surged in March, trading at US$488 per metric ton, their highest level since February 2023.

What factors impacted phosphate in Q1?
The big story of the quarter was the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran, which began on February 28.The military action plunged the region into chaos and led Iran to force the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route into and out of the region. While oil and gas, and their rising prices, garnered most of the headlines, it also crippled shipments of phosphate from Saudi Arabia, the world’s third-largest supplier. In an email to the Investing News Network, Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX, explained how it’s impacting the market.“The loss of Saudi Arabia’s phosphate exports as well as ammonia exports from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran are having big impacts on global markets. Saudi Arabia is the third largest exporter of DAP/MAP, and they remain “stuck” behind the Strait. With so much NH3 and sulfur also stuck behind the Strait, that is having an adverse/bullish impact as both are the biggest variable rate inputs for phosphate production,” he saidThis exacerbated an already tight supply-and-demand situation following China’s imposition of export restrictions several years ago, the world’s top phosphate supplier. The restrictions were put in place to prioritize domestic demand, but caused significant difficulties for foreign importers, who had to compete for a limited supply, ultimately pushing prices higher. The hope coming into the year was that China would ease some export restrictions; however, they’ve gone the other direction.“To start the year, the government said it would not allow urea or DAP/MAP exports until August. They have taken it a step further and have banned any type of fertilizer from being exported. They have increased their restrictions,” Linville said. India was a key demand driver last year as it sought to increase stockpiles that had become depleted over the previous years. By October, the country was continuing to build stockpiles, as farmers began seeking alternatives due to difficulties in procuring phosphate for their fields. Despite the clampdown on Chinese exports and the supply disruption due to the war in the Middle East, the Indian Government said it’s well-positioned, with adequate stockpiles. S&P Global reported on March 9 that the it increased fertilizer stockpiles by more than a third over the past year, including the addition of 2.51 million metric tons of phosphates. The government also stated that it was “benefiting from a lean consumption phase and aggressive advance stocking strategy.”Consumers elsewhere may not be so fortunate, and may have to deal with a surge in prices as much of the northern hemisphere enters the spring growing season, but it’s unclear how it will affect farmers. “Some believe the higher price is causing farmers to run away from heavy input crops like corn. Others are saying that demand will be there, but it is waiting until the absolute last minute to buy. So far, we have not seen signs of a major demand cut, but there is still time for that to happen,” Linville said. He added that while some farmers were able to lock in the orders before the war broke out, others who weren’t so lucky will likely wait until the last minute. These delays have affected retailers, who are waiting for orders before committing to higher phosphate prices should demand not materialize. “The entire system has been dragging behind, and with spring nearly here, just-in-time demand is about to meet very expensive just-in-time logistics,” Linville said.

What factors impacted potash in Q1?
Potash has been steady, with the market being well-balanced.“Steady is the key trend,” Linville explained.”Global values continue to remain very stagnant and for the most part well priced vs. current grain values. Hard to see the market breaking hard to the higher or lower range near term without some new major global event happening.”While tariffs have been a concern since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, they’ve already been priced in.While there has been concern after the US Supreme Court overturned the “Liberation Day” tariffs that new tariffs could be imposed, so far, they haven’t affected Canadian potash.The majority of potash exports to the United States are covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which Trump signed into law during his first term. Potash flowing south from Canada represents 90 percent of US imports.

Potash and phosphate price forecast for 2026
The war is already affecting phosphate prices, and a protracted engagement will likely provide significant tailwinds.However, the downstream effects, higher food prices and greater inflation that come from that could see a reduction in rate cuts from central banks, or even an increase later in the year. Economically, the situation could get worse before it gets better. In an interview with CBS on March 31, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon suggested that the war with Iran could be the event that pushes the economy into a recession. It’s already led to higher prices for some key inflationary inputs like gasoline, which surged to over US$4 per gallon in recent days, the highest average since 2022. While it may take time for fertilizer price increases to reach grocery store shelves, they will also help drive inflation.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, 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.

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Crude Oil Surges As Iran Restricts Ship Movement Through Strait Of Hormuz

On: April 9, 2026

(RTTNews) – Crude oil has soared on Thursday as Iran allows only restricted naval traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, renewing supply disruption concerns. Further, Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon kept Middle East tensions alive.

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Gold Inches Higher As Focus Turns To Strait Of Hormuz Amid Lebanon Attacks

On: April 8, 2026

On: April 6, 2026

Nickel prices began the year on a strong note, surging to an 18-month high of US$18,785 per metric ton on January 14.Prices have been suppressed over the past years as nickel prices have been plagued by a structural oversupply situation. High supply has also been met by soft demand as recoveries in construction markets in Europe and Asia haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic and China’s real estate collapse.The situation has led some operators to place facilities on care and maintenance until the price sees a sustained rebound. Additionally, at the start of the year, the Indonesian government introduced significant cuts to its quota system, but it remains unclear if they will provide tailwinds for the nickel price.In Canada, nickel is listed as a top priority in the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy. The country is the world’s fourth largest producer of nickel, with much of its production coming from mines in Ontario’s Sudbury Basin.Against that backdrop, how did Canadian nickel stocks perform in 2025? Below are the top nickel stocks in Canada on the TSX, TSXV and CSE by share price performance so far this year.All year-to-date and share price data was obtained on March 30, 2026, using TradingView’s stock screener. Canadian nickel stocks with market caps above C$10 million at that time were considered.

1. Homeland Nickel (TSXV:SHL)
Year-to-date gain: 344.44 percentMarket cap: C$94.96 millionShare price: C$0.40Homeland Nickel has a portfolio of nickel projects in Oregon, US: Red Flat, Cleopatra, Eight Dollar Mountain and Shamrock. In addition, the company holds investments in mining companies with nickel projects, including Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX,OTCPL:BNTRF), Canada Nickel Company and Noble Mineral Exploration (TSXV:NOB,OTCQB:NLPXF).Shares of Homeland surged in early January after an announcement on January 13 that Canada Nickel’s Crawford project near Timmins, Ontario, has been selected for the province’s “One Project, One Process” review framework, which will allow for an accelerated timetable for permitting and development of the asset.Canada Nickel is Homeland’s top investment, holding 742,095 shares valued at C$1.08 million.The announcement came alongside a surge in the nickel price from a low of US$14,255 per metric ton in mid-December to as high as US$18,785 on January 14.Additionally, in November 2025, the company reported that it had partnered with the newly formed Patriot Nickel and would be optioning up to an 80 percent ownership of Cleopatra and Eight Dollar Mountain to Patriot in exchange for a 20 percent share Patriot as well as Patriot meeting certain milestones.In an update on March 17, Homeland reported that Jeffrey Strobel had been appointed as CEO of Patriot. In the announcement, Homeland also said that it had entered into agreements to acquire two new properties, Woodcock Mountain and Rough and Ready, both in Oregon. Rough and Ready covers 640 acres and has historic assays of up to 2.0 percent nickel, with outlined laterite deposits.Shares in Homeland reached a year-to-date high of C$0.70 on January 21.

2. NiCan (TSXV:NICN)
Year-to-date gain: 150 percentMarket cap: C$12.90 millionShare price: C$0.10NiCan is a nickel exploration company working to advance a pair of projects in Canada.It’s primary focus since the start of the year has been on its Pipy property near Thompson, Manitoba. The project consists of two project areas, Pipy North and Pipy South. On March 5, the company announced it had acquired 13 additional claims adjacent to the Pipy South area, bringing the total land package of both sites to 57 square kilometers. Exploration at the site dates back to the 1970s, and a 14-kilometer horizon has been identified, which remains largely untested. On February 17, the company confirmed high-grade nickel bearing sulphides at the site during its phase 1 reconnaissance drill program. One highlighted assay returned 1.54 percent nickel over 1.45 meters at a depth of 60 meters. The company said the program achieved its primary objective of confirming nickel mineralization at the property and will use the results to plan a follow-up program to test the horizon over a five-kilometer strike. In addition to the nickel results, NiCan followed up on February 18, stating that it had also discovered near surface gold. Highlights from the program demonstrated grades of 1 gram per metric ton (g/t) gold and 12.2 g/t silver over 19.45 meters. Shares in NiCan reached a year-to-date high of C$0.125 on March 11.

3. Tartisan Nickel (CSE:TN)
Year-to-date gain: 39.58Market cap: C$31.36 millionShare price: C$0.23Tartisan Nickel is an exploration company advancing a pair of nickel projects in Ontario, Canada.It’s primary focus is at its Kenbridge asset in the province’s northwest. The property consists of 93 patented mining claims and 142 single-cell mining claims covering a total of 4,108.42 hectares. A 2022 preliminary economic assessment demonstrated a financial case for the project’s development, with an after-tax net present value of US$109.1 million, an internal rate of return of 20 percent, and a payback period of 3.5 years at a nickel price of US$10 per pound. The included mineral resource estimate showed contained measured and indicated nickel values of 74 million pounds, grading 0.97 percent from 3.45 million metric tons of ore, with an additional inferred amount of 32.7 million pounds grading 1.47 percent from 1.01 million metric tons.Tartisan has made several exploration announcements from the project since the start of the year, the most recent coming on March 12 when it released results from its phase 1 drill program. The company said it had completed 3,191 meters of drilling across four holes. A highlight from the fourth hole intersected 0.71 percent nickel over 24.6 meters, including an interval of 1.73 percent nickel over 2 meters. The company said the results provide it with greater confidence in upgrading the project’s resource and potential. Additionally, the company owns the Turtle Pond project also in northwestern Ontario. On March 11, Tartisan announced it had acquired four additional claims at the site, bringing its total land holdings to 3,454 hectares. The property has been explored since the 1960s, but has seen minimal recent work. The company said it is developing a surface exploration program and may include a drill program sometime in 2026 or 2027. Shares in Tartisan reached a year-to-date high of C$0.415 on January 26.

4. Class 1 Nickel and Technologies (CSE:NICO)
Year-to-date gain: 39.13Market cap: C$27.59 millionShare price: C$0.16Class 1 Nickel and Technologies is an exploration and development company working to advance its Alexo-Dundonald nickel sulfide project, located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada.The project is composed of 106 mining claims, 29 patents and 14 leases covering 3,730 hectares. The site hosts four deposits: the Dundonald North and South deposits, and the past-producing Alexo and Alexo south mines.In March 2025, the company released an updated mineral resource estimate for the Dundonald North deposit at Alexo-Dundonald. The deposit hosts an inferred resource of 42 million pounds of nickel, 2.6 million pounds of copper and 1.2 million pounds of cobalt from 2.5 million metric tons of ore with average grades of 0.75 percent nickel, 0.05 percent copper and 0.02 percent cobalt. The company also owns the River Valley project in Ontario and covers an area of 2,916 hectares and hosts mineralization of platinum group metals, copper and nickel.A prospecting program completed in 2025 returned grab samples with highlighted grades of 0.96 percent copper, 0.17 percent nickel, 0.47 grams per metric ton (g/t) palladium, platinum and gold, along with 3.28 g/t silver.Class 1 shares have posted gains in 2026, but the company has yet to issue a news release.Shares in Class 1 reached a year-to-date high of C$0.25 on January 13.

5. Nickel 28 (TSXV:NKL)
Year-to-date gain: 39.02Market cap: C$90.33 millionShare price: C$1.14Nickel 28 is a development and production company that owns an 8.56 percent stake in the Ramu nickel-cobalt operation in Papua New Guinea. The remaining interest in the project is held by the Metallurgical Corporation of China. Nickel 28 acquired its stake in the operation in 2019 when it took over Highlands Pacific. Nickel 28’s stake will increase to 11.3 percent once Highlands repays the construction and development loans it incurred. Once complete, Nickel 28’s attributable production is expected to be 3,800 metric tons of nickel and 800,000 pounds of cobalt per year. On February 23, the company released its operational results for the final quarter and full year of 2025. It indicated that full-year production from Ramu totaled 33,007 metric tons of contained nickel, an increase from the 28,669 metric tons produced in 2024. It also set guidance for 2026 at 33,100 metric tons of nickel.The company also said that while the site will undergo a full renovation of two sulphuric acid plants in 2026, additional tanks have been constructed to avert a shutdown of operations. Shares in Nickel 28 reached a year-to-date high of C$1.19 on February 11.

FAQs for nickel investing

How to invest in nickel?
There are a variety of ways to invest in nickel, but stocks and exchange-traded products are the most common. Nickel-focused companies can be found globally on various exchanges, and through the use of a broker or a service such as an app, investors can purchase companies and products that match their investing outlook.Before buying a nickel stock, potential investors should take time to research the companies they’re considering; they should also decide how many shares will be purchased, and what price they are willing to pay. With many options on the market, it’s critical to complete due diligence before making any investment decisions.Nickel stocks like those mentioned above could be a good option for investors interested in the space. Experienced investors can also look at nickel futures.

What is nickel used for?
Nickel has a variety of applications, including stainless steel, coins and lithium-ion batteries. Its main use is an alloy material for products such as stainless steel, and it is also used for plating metals to reduce corrosion. As for coins, its uses include the 5 cent coin, named the nickel, in the US and Canada; the US nickel is made up of 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper, while Canada’s nickel has nickel plating that makes up 2 percent of its composition. Nickel is also used in certain lithium-ion battery compositions, bringing demand from sectors like electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Where is nickel mined?
The world’s top nickel-producing countries are primarily in Asia: Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia make up the top three. Rounding out the top five are Canada and China. Indonesia’s production stands far ahead of the rest of the pack, with 2024 output of 2.2 million metric tons compared to the Philippines’ 330,000 metric tons and Canada’s 190,000 metric tons. Significant nickel miners include Norilsk Nickel (MCX:GMKN), Nickel Asia, BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF).

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post was originally published here

Precious Metals Price Update: Gold, Silver, PGMs Slide, Rally, Slide on Trump’s War Rhetoric

On: April 4, 2026

Precious metals experienced another wild week of price action, including a notable rally.The US-Iran war and US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric remain the driving forces behind price action for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The precious metals continue to move inversely to oil prices and the US dollar. However, their positive fundamentals have not been lost in the fog of war. Investors may be buying the dips and taking profits on the upside, but the reality of a strong long-term precious metals outlook remains firmly in place. Surprisingly, while all of them posted gains, this week palladium was the best-performing of the asset class. Let’s take a look at what’s got the precious metals moving over the past week.

Gold price
The gold price has gained more than 6.4 percent over the past week, but remains down more than 16 percent from the record of US$5,589.38 per ounce that it reached on January 28.The price of gold experienced a “V-shaped” recovery this week as the market shifted from a liquidation-driven selloff to a rally fueled by geopolitical de-escalation. However, the four day rally quickly reversed on Thursday (April 2) following Trump’s televised address on Wednesday (April 1) night in which he vowed to strike Iran “extremely hard” over the coming weeks. Any expectations of a quick de-escalation evaporated overnight and gold reversed course. “(T)ensions in the Middle East play a dual role in influencing gold. On one hand, continued military escalation supports safe-haven demand and pushes prices higher. On the other hand, any signs of de-escalation or limited political agreements could trigger downward corrections,” Simon Massabni, head of business development at XS.com, explained in market commentary shared with the Investing News Network (INN). “This suggests that gold may experience short-term upward waves driven by media sentiment, but any sustained move above current resistance levels would likely require concrete developments confirming ongoing geopolitical risks,” he added. “I believe investors need to closely monitor news flow and avoid relying solely on isolated statements, as these may be temporary and primarily fuel speculative trading without altering the broader market trend.”On March 26, gold reached an intraday high of US$4,477.55 in morning trade before losing nearly US$100 to close at US$4,378.18. In response to a stronger dollar, traders sold their gold positions to cover margin calls.However, gold gained ground the next day, with the price overtaking the US$4,500 level to hit a high of US$4,551.49 in morning session; it later closed at US$4,493.79. Commerzbank (ETR:CBK,OTCPL:CRZBF) has upped its 2026 gold forecast from US$4,900 to US$5,000 and is projecting a price of US$5,200 for next year. On Monday (March 30), gold started the week strong with a fresh rally, posting a high of US$4,578.51 in early morning trade. Although it sank to a low of US$4,493.32 midday, it managed a close above the key US$4,500 level at US$4,511.24. Declining US treasury yields made non-yielding gold more attractive, prompting institutional dip buying. Gold gained serious ground the following day, surging to a high of US$4,685.58 in midday trade before closing just a bit below at US$4,667.48. The momentum was driven by rumors of a shifting stance from the White House on the timeline for exiting the war in Iran, easing the longer-term inflation outlook brought about by elevated oil prices.By Wednesday, Trump’s Tuesday (March 31) night declaration that the war would end in two to three weeks lit a fire in the gold market, with the price rising to US$4,792.85 in morning trade before closing at US$4,758.76.However, the mercurial Trump lived up to his reputation, and on Wednesday night had reverted back to a more aggressive stance on Iran despite reiterating that the war would soon come to an end.Gold reacted by dropping as low as US$4,583.02 in the early morning trade on Thursday. By 10:00 a.m. PST on Thursday, gold was back up to US$4,659.50.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Gold price chart, March 26 to April 2, 2026.Here are the primary drivers for gold this past week:Trump’s pivot toward a quicker exit from the Iran war eased the pressure of higher-for-longer oil prices, and in turn higher interest rates. However, his reversal in tone the next day led the market back in the other direction. The region-wide conflict in the Middle East has blocked transport through the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global oil markets.Both the dollar and 10 year treasury yields have declined slightly, easing the opportunity cost for holding non-yielding assets like gold and supporting the metal’s four day rally.Analysts initially grew more confident in the potential for the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in the second half of this year and into next year, contributing to upside in the gold price. But that confidence faded once again on Thursday with Trump’s reversal.For more insight into what’s moving the gold market, check out INN’s recent interviews:David Nicholas: Gold, Silver — Use This Entry Point as Prices SlideSteve Barton: Gold, Silver, Uranium, Oil — Price Targets, Key LevelsIn other gold market news, the World Gold Council released its Central Bank Gold Statistics Report for February, showing that central banks bought a net 19 metric tons of gold in February. Poland was the biggest buyer at 20 metric tons, while Uzbekistan marked its fifth consecutive month of net buying with the purchase of 8 metric tons of the metal.

Silver price
The silver price has gained nearly 6.5 percent over the past week, but is down more than 40 percent from its all-time high of US$121.62 per ounce, which it set on January 29. The precious metal has found solid support from the same factors moving its sister gold, as well as from tighter supply in the face of strong industrial demand.Silver hit an intraday high of US$69.68 the morning of March 26, then went on to slide as low as US$66.88 later in the session. The white metal managed to close the day at US$67.97. Like gold, silver lost ground as traders sold positions in the paper market to cover margin calls. The white metal rebounded on March 27 to a high of US$70.35 before sliding to close at US$68.88 as the market stabilized.On Monday, silver made further gains, reaching an intraday high of US$71.72 in early morning trade before settling to close at US$70.12 as retreating US treasury yields increased the appeal of non-yielding assets.The following day, silver rallied as the dollar softened on the potential for a near-term ceasefire in the Iran war. The metal hit a high of US$75.35 in the afternoon session before ending the day at US$75.12.Wednesday saw silver climb to a high of US$76.13 midday and close just slightly above the US$75 level at US$75.09. The same day, China’s 9 percent VAT rebate on solar exports came to an end.Silver slid to a low of US$69.58 early on Thursday before rebounding to US$72.38 by 10:00 a.m. PST.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Silver price chart, March 26 to April 2, 2026.The structural supply deficit in silver amid strong industrial demand is still a source of firm price support for the metal. Silver is essential in thousands of applications, making it the second most-used commodity after oil.In silver-mining news, Santacruz Silver Mining (TSXV:SCZ,NASDAQ:SCZM) reported revenues of US$326.4 million, up 15 percent year-on-year, driven by a 36 percent rise in the average realized price of silver.

Platinum price
Platinum continues to outperform gold and silver, with the price up nearly 7.8 percent this past week.The price of platinum was trading at a low of US$1,817 per ounce midday on March 26, before recovering to US$1,845.50 by closing. On March 27, the precious metal’s price was at an intraday low of US$1,807.50 in early morning trade, but rose to a high of US$189.40 before closing lower at US$1,855. Platinum rose on buy-the-dip trading early on Monday, hitting a high of US$1,937.30 in the session. However, the metal retreated quickly to a low of US$1,978.10 in the afternoon before closing up at US$1,892.90. The following day, platinum rallied with the other precious metals, starting the day at US$1,906.80, surging to US$1,974 in the afternoon and closing out the day at US$1,966.10. Platinum rose on expectations that a de-escalation in the Middle East would lower energy costs, eventually benefiting the automotive manufacturing sector.On Wednesday, platinum rose to its highest weekly price of US$1,993.90 in the morning, but sank back down to close at US$1,965.50. The precious metal lost more ground the next day in morning trade, falling to US$1,903.90 before climbing back up to US$1,991.02 by 10:00 a.m. PST.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Platinum price chart, March 26 to April 2, 2026.Like silver, platinum is responding to market forces as both a precious and an industrial metal. Tight mine output persists out of South Africa, which accounts for more than 70 percent of global supply. The World Platinum Investment Council is forecasting a fourth consecutive annual deficit for 2026 at a projected 240,000 ounces.On the demand side, automakers still prefer to use platinum in catalytic converters, anchoring long-term industrial demand. As for investment demand, investors are increasingly viewing platinum as a cheaper alternative to gold, sparking a rotation into platinum exchange-traded funds and physical bullion products.For more on the supply and demand fundamentals shaping the platinum market, check out: Edward Sterck: Platinum Records Biggest Deficit Ever in 2025, What’s Next?

Palladium price
Palladium put up the best price performance of the precious metals this week, gaining 8.9 percent. On March 26, the palladium price was trading at US$1,385 per ounce in the early morning before falling to US$1,347.50 and rising back up to US$1,388. By midday, it was back down to US$1,348 before closing at US$1,380.The volatility continued on March 27, with palladium trading at US$1,385 in the early morning before rising to US$1,414. The price of palladium closed back down at a five month low of US$1,376.50. Palladium had a much better day on Monday, rising off of five month lows to US$1,449 in the morning session, but closed down at US$1,411.50. On Tuesday, palladium really picked up the pace of its gains, starting the day at US$1,451.50. By the afternoon, the price of palladium was trading as high as US$1,497.50; it went on to close down slightly lower at US$1,492. The market has begun to price in the possibility of anti-dumping duties on Russian palladium, set to be resolved by mid-2026. The decision could have an effect on the US supply/demand balance.The following day, palladium rose to an intraday high of US$1,519 before closing at US$1,481.50 later in the trading session. However, the metal mustered up another close of US$1,439.The price of palladium was trading as low as US$1,446 early on Thursday morning before retracing upward to US$1,503.10 as of 10:00 a.m. PST.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Palladium price chart, March 26 to April 2, 2026.On top of the factors driving the precious metals, palladium also found further support from high industrial demand. “Russia’s Nornickel, the world’s largest palladium producer, highlighted rising industrial demand beyond the automotive sector,” reports Trading Economics. “The company is investing US$100 million to cultivate new palladium markets and aims to generate approximately 1.7 million troy ounces of annual demand by 2030, including near-term applications in electrochemistry for anodes and water treatment.”

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Silver Price Update: Q1 2026 in Review

On: April 4, 2026

Silver achieved the hitherto unthinkable feat of triple-digit prices in the first quarter of 2026.The rise came as the silver market benefited from both expanding industrial uses and strong safe-haven demand. However, economic and geopolitical uncertainty brought about by the US-Iran war, as well as US monetary policy shifts, injected more volatility and downward momentum into silver’s price movements as Q1 continued. Unpredictable headwinds aside, the basic fundamentals of the silver market remain bullish for the precious metal’s long-term outlook. Here’s what happened to silver in the year’s first quarter.

What happened to the silver price in Q1?
Silver shattered its record high of US$49.95 in October 2025. For much of the remainder of the year, the price of silver was on an uptrend, and at the open of 2026 it was trading at US$74.02. That represents a more than 150 percent increase from silver’s price at the start of 2025. By January 14, the white metal’s value had risen to a new all-time high of US$92.20, up by nearly 25 percent in less than two weeks. The price of silver continued to soar during the second half of January, surging past US$100 and into triple-digit territory on January 26, as rising high as US$116.67 that day. The precious metal achieved its current all-time high of US$121.62 a few days later on January 29.

Chart via the Investing News Network.Silver price, Q1 2026.Much of silver’s gains for the month of January were wiped out on February 2, with the white metal falling by 35 percent from its peak to US$71. The rapid decline came on the back of US President Donald Trump’s nomination of the hawkish Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve.However, by February 11 the price of silver had regained some ground, rising back up to the US$86 level. Much of the rest of February saw silver see-saw amid significant price swings. The metal was back down to US$78.24 by February 18, and then back up to US$94.14 on February 27.The first half of March brought more stability to the silver price as the metal for the most part stayed trading in the US$82 to US$88 range. But the second half of the month was a different story. By mid-March, silver had once again encountered a steep downward trend as the US-Iran war’s impact on oil prices and inflation began to dampen demand for precious metals. By the March 23 trading session, silver had fallen as low as US$61.At the close of the month, silver had climbed back up to US$75.15.

US-Iran war, Fed rattle silver market
Even more so than his first term in office, Trump has become a wild card in geopolitics and the global economy. Whether it be capturing heads of state in Venezuela, threatening the annexation of Greenland, sparking a worldwide tariff war or warring with Iran and the Fed, the decisions made by the White House have had an oversized impact on commodities markets since Trump took the helm in the US again. Early in Q1, his feud with the Fed stoked concerns over the central bank’s independence and raised expectations of lower interest rates, both of which weakened the US dollar and strengthened safe havens.Prior to the breakout of the US-Iran war, silver was on a clear path into triple-digit territory, with calls that the metal could go even higher by the end of the year. It seemed certain that the Fed would see fit to lower rates in the second half of the year on a weakening labor market, rising national debt and an inflation rate within sight of its target. Even though Trump’s nomination of Warsh as the next Fed head caused a course correction for silver in early February, the consensus among analysts was that the Fed would have no choice but to lower rates. The prevailing view was that gold and silver’s deep price correction at the time was a normal and healthy event in the next leg of the current bull cycle, and that both metals would quickly regain that ground in the weeks and months ahead.Throwing a wrench in the works was another event happening at the same time — namely the escalation of tensions between the US, Israel and Iran, which broke out into a full-on regional war in the Middle East in early March. At first, the geopolitical upheaval sent investors flocking to gold and silver as safe-haven assets, pushing silver back up near triple-digit territory. However, the price spikes were short-lived — profit taking soon set in, as did rising oil prices once the conflict began impacting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Rania Gule, senior market analyst at XS.com, sees the geopolitical forces playing out in the Middle East as the most complex factor currently impacting the silver sector. “In theory, such tensions should boost demand for safe-haven assets, including silver. However, the current reality presents a clear paradox: precious metals are not fully benefiting from these conditions,” explained Gule in a late March note on the market shared with the Investing News Network (INN). “In my view, the primary reason lies in rising energy prices, which in turn influence global monetary policy expectations. As inflation increases due to higher energy costs, central banks become less inclined to cut interest rates and may instead maintain tighter policies for longer.”As oil is priced in US dollars, this strengthened the greenback, making gold and silver more expensive for international buyers. At the same time, the risk of higher inflation the longer the war drags on caused the Fed to hold rates steady for the second time this year, also putting to rest any notion of rate cuts in 2026. The perfect storm set gold and silver prices on course for another historic single-day slide on March 23. “This shift in monetary expectations places direct pressure on silver, as it is a non-yielding asset. In such an environment, investors tend to favor income-generating assets like bonds or even the dollar itself over precious metals,” said Gule. “As a result, I see silver currently caught between two opposing forces: theoretical support from geopolitical tensions and tangible pressure from tight monetary policy.”

Short-term pain for long-term gain?
On the flip side, Chen Lin of Lin Asset Management sees the current silver price environment as one of short-term pain for long-term gain. Speaking during the Silver in Focus roundtable discussion, presented by INN during the March Kinvestor Mining & Energy Virtual Investor Conference, Lin explained that one of the purposes of precious metals like silver is to store wealth in order to buy what you need in times of an emergency.“In the short term, as we see war goes on, people will sell gold … to feed (their) family,” he said. “(This is) especially true in Dubai, especially true in India. In India we see the biggest selling … because they depend on Middle East oil and gas and they need to feed themselves — they don’t even have fertilizer for the spring (planting season).” The elephant in the room for Lin is the US$39 trillion US national debt, which continues to grow at a rate of US$2 trillion per year. In his view, the US-Iran war will increase that debt load, and the interest paid to service that debt will also increase, placing further pressure on the Fed to lower rates down the road. “This will really benefit gold and silver in the long run,” said Lin.

Silver’s growing industrial uses
Although its value as an investment metal has grown in recent years, silver’s industrial demand has skyrocketed as well. The white metal’s exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity make it highly suited for a vast number of uses in modern technology such as solar panels, artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and electric vehicles.Peter Krauth, editor of Silver Stock Investor and Silver Advisor, also participated in the Silver in Focus roundtable, where he shared his thoughts on how new industrial uses for silver are shaping the investment thesis for the metal. Krauth pointed out that over the past five years, silver demand from industrial uses has climbed a full third, rising from 50 percent to about 65 to 67 percent. “In types of applications, silver is the second most-used commodity after oil. It has something like 10,000 different applications,” the expert explained. “The interesting thing to point out is not only is industrial demand requiring more, but what that does is it squeezes out the available silver for investment demand,” he added. “So if you think about five years ago, when half of silver went to industry, the other half was available for investment. Now today only a third is available.” This scenario has been price positive for silver, and explains how the January high occurred as silver investment increased rapidly and squeezed demand, Krauth told listeners at the online event. On the other hand, as an industrial metal, the silver price is also subject to the whims of market drivers behind the sectors it services. “(Silver’s) price movements remain more sensitive to economic fluctuations compared to gold, given its dual role as both an investment asset and an industrial metal,” said Gule. For example, hits to AI sector in February, which brought a dramatic drop in the share price values of chipmakers and AI tech firms, also added downward pressure to the silver price. In addition, higher silver prices over the past year have increased manufacturing costs for solar panel makers, leading the firms to look for alternatives such as copper, or to pursue thrifting, a practice that involves limiting the amount of silver used in the manufacturing process.

Silver supply deficit in sixth straight year
On the supply side, silver is in a multi-year deficit, and it takes about a decade to bring a new silver discovery through to production. Released in February, the Silver Institute’s latest forecast, based on analysis by consultancy Metals Focus, projects a 67 million ounce silver shortfall in 2026, with total demand outstripping total supply.This deficit is why some of the world’s biggest economies have designated silver as a critical mineral.As of January 1, China has expanded its restrictions on silver exports in an effort to secure domestic supply for key industries. China is the world’s second largest silver producer, producing 3,400 metric tons of the metal in 2025. The Asian naion also hosts the third largest silver reserves at 67,000 metric tons.Last year, the US added silver to its critical minerals list, citing the precious metal’s important role in manufacturing advanced energy and defense technologies. While still among the 10 largest silver-producing nations, US production amounted to 1,100 metric tons last year, up only 50 metric tons from the previous year. At the same time, the country imported 7,600 metric tons of the metal compared to 4,430 metric tons in 2025. For Alex Ebkarian, co-founder of Allegiance Gold, the move to secure domestic silver supply speaks to the positive long-term outlook for demand and a higher silver price. “Yes, we have some structural deficits. Yes, we have more demand than available supply,” he said in a March interview with INN. “When silver was added, (as a) critical metal here in the US, that was not a noise — that was a signal that we need it, and we want to control it.”

Silver price forecast for 2026
Silver had a fantastic start to the year, and despite the current volatility in the market, as of April 1 the metal was still trading up 130 percent over the same period last year. What does the remainder of the year hold for the silver price?”I think silver this year will challenge the three-digit level. We could very well see another US$100 level,” said Ekbarian. “I think the fundamentals are still there. It was good for silver to have a little bit more retraction so that way we can solidify and have more of a tested level, as opposed to this wild ride.”Commerzbank (ETR:CBK,OTCPL:CRZBF) is forecasting that silver will be at the US$90 level by year end, and US$95 by the end of 2027. UBS Group (NYSE:UBS) is more conservative, projecting the white metal will average $85 by the end of 2026. For its part, Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) is more bullish, with an eye toward US$100 by the end of the year.For her part, Gule sees the silver price battling volatility in the near near term, with some support if the dollar loses some steam. “However, I only see the potential for a strong and sustained uptrend if one of two conditions is met: either a clear shift toward more accommodative global monetary policy, or a sharp geopolitical escalation that drives investors collectively toward precious metals,” she added.

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Dr. Mark Thornton: Has Gold Bottomed? Why it Fell, Key Price Drivers Now

On: April 4, 2026

Dr. Mark Thornton, senior fellow at the Mises Institute, shares his thoughts on the gold price, outlining its key drivers and explaining why it’s gone down since the Iran war began. He also weighs in on the US economy and discusses growing issues in private credit. 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.

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Top 5 Canadian Silver Stocks in 2026

On: April 3, 2026

Silver achieved a triple-digit price in the first quarter of 2026, drawing attention to silver-mining companies.During January, the silver price reached an all-time high of US$121.62 per ounce. Although prices have come down significantly in recent weeks, silver remains well above its 40 year previous high of around US$50.The price of the precious metal has seen firm support from fundamentals — the white metal continues to experience a structural supply deficit, supported by robust industrial silver demand. Investment demand is also rising as silver offers a more affordable safe-haven alternative to gold.How has silver’s price movement benefited Canadian silver stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE?The five companies below have seen the best performances year-to-date. Data was gathered using TradingView’s stock screener on March 25, 2026, and all companies listed had market caps over C$10 million at that time.

1. BP Silver (TSXV:BPAG)
Year-to-date gain: 56.25 percentMarket cap: C$46.1 millionShare price: C$1BP Silver is an exploration company focused on its flagship Cosuño silver project in Bolivia. Covering approximately 3,375 hectares, the project hosts a 10.5 square kilometer alteration zone with at least four primary exploration targets identified within the southern area.Shares of BP Silver began the year at C$0.62 before tracking the price of silver higher to hit C$0.93 on January 29. BP Silver released assay results from the first two holes of its Phase I drill program at Cosuño on February 2. Highlights from the results include 29 meters at 56 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver and 0.28 g/t gold.On February 27, the company announced assay results from the final eight holes of the 11 hole drill program at Cosuño. This time, high grades were on display, with one hole delivering 600.4 g/t silver over 5 meters; that includes an intersection of 1,655 g/t silver over 1 meter.BP Silver’s stock value reached a year-to-date high of C$1.32 on March 2.

2. Highlander Silver (TSX:HSLV)
Year-to-date gain: 41.3 percentMarket cap: C$1.49 millionShare price: C$7.63Highlander Silver has a portfolio of precious metal assets in Latin America. In Mexico, the company operates the Mercedes gold-silver mine. In Peru, it is advancing the Corani silver project and the San Luis gold-silver project. Late last year, the company announced a merger with Bear Creek Mining; it was completed in February. Shares of Highlander kicked off the year trading at C$5.46, and by January 28 had hit C$7.89. On January 27, Highlander announced a US$40 million strategic investment by Eric Sprott through the purchase of common shares in the company. Its other major shareholders include the Augusta Group and Lundin family.“The additional capital will allow us to accelerate growth plans within our portfolio, which includes the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project, one of the highest M&I resource grade projects in either the gold or silver sectors, and one of the largest permitted primary silver deposits in the world in the Corani silver project after the closing of the previously announced combination with Bear Creek Mining,” stated Daniel Earle, president and CEO of Highlander. Highlander’s share price reached its highest year-to-date value of C$10.42 on March 2.

3. Honey Badger Silver (TSXV:TUF)
Year-to-date gain: 28.95 percentMarket cap: C$31.93 millionShare price: C$0.285Honey Badger Silver is an exploration-stage company with a large portfolio of greenfield and brownfield projects in Canada’s Northwest Territories, as well as Yukon and Nunavut. This includes the newly required PC silver project in the Northwest Territories.PC is a permitted underground silver-zinc-lead project that hosts a large, high-grade historical resource base with significant existing underground and development infrastructure. In late March, Honey Badger closed on an C$11.5 million private placement to fund the costs associated with the acquisition.Shares of Honey Badger reached a year-to-date high of C$0.32 on January 23.

4. First Majestic Silver (TSX:AG)
Year-to-date gain: 23.26 percentMarket cap: C$14.19 billionShare price: C$28.77First Majestic Silver is the world’s second biggest silver miner by market cap. It operates four mines in Mexico: Durango’s San Dimas silver-gold mine, the Santa Elena silver-gold mine in Sonora, the La Encantada silver mine in Coahuila and the Los Gatos silver mine in Chihuahua. Los Gatos, in which Japan’s Dowa Holdings (TSE:5714,OTCPL:DWMNF) owns a 30 percent share, also produces zinc, lead and gold as by-products.Additionally, First Majestic mints and sells silver bullion from its First Mint facility in Nevada, US. On January 15, the company reported that its 2025 silver production came in at 15.4 million ounces. First Majestic’s production guidance for 2026 is set at 13 million to 14.4 million ounces of silver, with silver equivalent all-in sustaining costs at US$26.15 to US$27.91 per ounce.First Majestic’s stock value rose from C$22.06 to a year-to-date high of C$43.64 on February 27.

On: April 1, 2026

The gold price soared in Q1, reaching a new all-time high above AU$6,860.28 per ounce.The gold bull market has been fuelled by a number of factors. Among them is geopolitical turmoil brought on by the Iran war and the resulting global economic uncertainty. The high gold price has boosted margins for gold producers, and investment in the sector has increased during over the course of the year, pushing up share prices and interest in gold equities.How has this bull market affected ASX-listed gold stocks?Read on to discover which Australian gold companies have seen the biggest gains so far in 2026.Data for this article was retrieved on March 25, 2026, using TradingView’s stock screener, and only companies with market capitalisations greater than AU$10 million at that time were considered.

1. PC Gold (ASX:PC2)
Year-to-date gain: 147.89 percentMarket cap: AU$175.04 millionShare price: AU$0.88PC Gold’s main focus is its wholly owned Spring Hill gold project, located in the Pine Creek region of Australia’s Northern Territory. The property has a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of 25.6 million tonnes at 1 gram per tonne (g/t) gold. Granted mining leases and environmental approvals are in place to start open-pit mining.The company is currently working on infill drilling to upgrade resource confidence, while also exploring for new mineralisation to increase the resource base. Drill results will be used to complete a feasibility study for Spring Hill.In late January, PC Gold released a series of updates on its drill campaign. High-grade gold was intersected in initial resource definition drilling, confirming strong mineralisation within the Hong Kong and Macau lodes. Extensive visible gold was also observed in five resource definition holes within and outside the current resource estimate envelope. In addition to that, the company shared that it had secured all the regulatory approvals necessary to reopen the historic Spring Hill underground adit, calling it a “major milestone.” The advancement gives PC Gold a cost-effective means of accessing the mineralisation in this zone for underground diamond drilling. Shares of PC Gold were trading at AU$0.36 at the start of the year, and rose alongside the gold price to AU$0.60 on January 29. News in February added to its momentum, starting with the February 2 announcement that a drill hole in the Hong Kong zone returned 25 metres at 36.83 g/t gold from 283 metres, including 2 metres at 444.3 g/t gold from 304 metres. On February 9, the company completed a C$24 million financing that will help fund further drill work as well as feasibility study activities. By February 11, PC Gold’s value had hit AU$0.82 per share.Company shares struck their highest value year-to-date at AU$0.98 on March 5 after the March 3 release of drill data highlighting 14.9 metres at 3.84 g/t gold from 143.1 metres, including 0.98 metres at 30.6 g/t gold from 147.9 metres.

2. Riversgold (ASX:RGL)
Year-to-date gain: 71.43 percentMarket cap: AU$25.27 millionShare price: AU$0.012Riversgold is advancing its Kalgoorlie gold project in Western Australia.The company has a right-to-mine and co-operation agreement with MEGA Resources through which the latter will provide all development and mining funding for a 50/50 profit share.Shares of Riversgold started the year at AU$0.10, but quickly doubled to a year-to-date high of AU$0.20 by January 20. The rise came after the company reported intersections of shallow gold mineralisation at Kalgoorlie, including 8 metres at 5.81 g/t gold from 46 metres. It also announced a AU$2.15 million capital raise.Throughout Q1, the strong gold price and a steady flow of news helped the company meet that high several times. On February 17, Riversgold announced that all objections to its application for a mining lease covering the project had been settled. Later in the month, the company shared that its first drill program for 2026 had been completed, with assay results to be reported in the coming weeks. In addition, on February 26, Riversgold increased the tenement package for Kalgoorlie by 820 percent to 6.75 square kilometres.

3. Hamelin Gold (ASX:HMG)
Year-to-date gain: 71.43 percentMarket cap: AU$25.78 millionShare price: AU$0.10Hamelin Gold’s portfolio includes landholdings in the Tanami, Paterson and Yilgarn gold provinces of Western Australia. Its wholly owned exploration-stage West Tanami gold project includes 100 kilometres of strike along the Trans-Tanami structural corridor that hosts Newmont’s (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Callie gold deposit in the Northern Territory.A key target for 2026 is the Venus gold project, which is located within the prolific Murchison gold district with Westgold Resources’ (ASX:WGX,OTCPL:WGXRF) Comet gold mine at the border of the project. On January 27, the company shared that it had commenced a “detailed airborne magnetic survey over the southern half of the project and a second phase of soil sampling over previously untested targets along strike to the south of the Comet Gold Mine.” Another area of focus for Hamelin this year is the Day Dawn gold project, which is situated in the Paterson province of Western Australia. A detailed review of historical drilling datasets resulted in the identification of the high-grade Aurora gold lode on the project, according to a February 9 news release. Shares of Hamelin achieved a year-to-date high of AU$0.18 on February 26.

4. Horizon Gold (ASX:HRN)
Year-to-date gain: 55.23 percentMarket cap: AU$217.31 millionShare price: AU$1.32Horizon Gold is an exploration company focused on its wholly owned Gum Creek project in Western Australia. The project currently contains a JORC mineral resource estimate of 37.97 million tonnes at 1.89 g/t gold for 2.3 million ounces. The indicated portion represents 71 percent of the total resource ounces.Shares of Horizon Gold were trading at AU$0.81 in early January and climbed to AU$0.96 on January 30 as gold rose higher. By February 17, the stock’s value had climbed to AU$1.29 per share. On February 23, the company reported high-grade intercepts from drill work at the Kingfisher prospect, including 4 metres at 11.35 g/t gold from 431 metres, including 1 metre at 42.2 g/t gold from 432 metres.Horizon Gold shares hit a year-to-date high of AU$1.55 per ounce on March 11.

On: March 30, 2026

(RTTNews) – Oil prices extended their surge to trade above $115 a barrel on Monday as the Middle East war entered its fifth week with no signs of slowing down.

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Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Altura Energy Jumps 81 Percent

On: March 27, 2026

Welcome to the Investing News Network’s weekly look at the best-performing Canadian mining stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE, starting with a round-up of Canadian news impacting the resource sector.The US-led war against Iran continued to plague the commodities space this past week. Oil prices have been in decline for much of the week, with Brent and West Texas Intermediate falling below US$100 per barrel. The decreases started on Monday (March 23) as US President Donald Trump walked back his 48 hour ultimatum to attack Iranian energy facilities if the country didn’t allow shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.Trump initially said Iran would have until Friday (March 27) to follow through on his demands, but on Thursday (March 26), the deadline was extended by an additional 10 days, as he said talks with Iran had been productive. For its part, Iran asserts that it has not been negotiating with US representatives.More broadly, the war has had a broad effect on supply chains for other commodities as well. Iranian attacks on Qatari gas production have halved the country’s helium output. Liquefied gas is critical for the operation of MRI scanners and semiconductor manufacturing, and Qatar is the second largest producer of helium. Analysts suggest helium prices could climb to over US$2,000 per thousand square feet from the average of around US$500 over the past two years.The uncertainty stemming from the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and inconsistent communications from the White House has driven significant volatility in Canadian markets. The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) was off by 1.8 percent by Friday morning, led by a 3.6 percent decline in Canadian resource equities and a 3.1 percent drop in tech stocks.Likewise, precious metals have also been affected as the US dollar surged on safe-haven demand. The rise comes amid concern that the US Federal Reserve could keep interest rates unchanged for longer, or raise it should oil prices remain high amid a protracted war with Iran, which is driving inflation risk.Also this week, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) announced on Thursday that it will be ending operations at its Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The mine has been in production for 23 years, delivering more than 150 million carats and contributing C$11.75 billion to the Northwest Territories’ economy. The mine was also a significant contributor to the community, creating more than 1,000 jobs. Between 200 and 300 will remain employed by Rio Tinto as the mine is decommissioned. 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) rebounded slightly, posting a gain of 0.52 percent over the week to close Friday at 31,960.65, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fell 2.72 percent to 915.00.The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) gained 4.02 percent to 174.55.The gold price slipped 3.12 percent to close at US$4,508.73 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EST. The silver price closed the week up 3.82 percent at US$70.01 per ounce on Friday.In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 1.06 percent decrease this week to US$5.46 per pound. The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 1.6 percent to end Friday at 739.24.

1. Altura Energy (TSXV:ALTU)
Weekly gain: 81.25 percentMarket cap: C$16.02 millionShare price: C$0.29Altura Energy is a helium exploration and development company advancing assets in Arizona, US. The company owns a 100 percent stake in the Pinta South project, located in the Holbrook Basin. The property covers 10,600 acres and hosts seven shallow helium wells. Gas from the wells is free of hydrocarbons and is composed of between 5 to 8 percent helium and the remainder nitrogen. Altura finalized its stake in Pinta South in September 2025. The company began selling helium to an offtake partner in November 2025 for a contracted price of US$350 per thousand cubic feet.On March 19, Altura re-completed two helium wells with initial flow rates of 123,000 and 118,000 cubic feet per day.The company also reported that it had completed additional field testing and diagnostics of legacy infrastructure connecting wells to the sites’ processing facilities. Altura discovered deterioration in exposed surface piping, prompting a temporary shutdown of all wells to implement a replacement program.The company said repairs will take approximately eight weeks.

2. Cosa Resources (CSE:COSA)
Weekly gain: 77.46 percentMarket cap: C$49.78 millionShare price: C$0.63Cosa Resources is a uranium explorer advancing a portfolio of assets in Canada’s Athabasca Basin.Among its projects are Orion, a 20,255 hectare property located 29 kilometers from Cameco’s (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) Cigar Lake mine. Orion hosts approximately 25 kilometers of strike along an extension of the Larocque Lake trend.Additionally, Cosa is collaborating on a trio of projects with Denison Mines (TSX:DML,NYSEAMERICAN:DNN). They cover more than 20,000 hectares and consist of Murphy Lake North, Darby and Packrat. On March 3, the company announced an expansion to its land holdings at Orion, adding one claim covering 1,564 hectares on the southeast portion of the property. Additionally, the company said it had also increased holdings at Murphy Lake North by 345 hectares and its holdings at Darby by 758 hectares.On Tuesday (March 24), Cosa encountered anomalous radioactivity at Murphy Lake North. A radioactivity reading of 13,900 counts per second was detected in a 5 meter intersection at a depth of 260 meters from the surface.

3. Helium Evolution (TSXV:HEVI)
Weekly gain: 65.63 percentMarket cap: C$28.03 millionShare price: C$0.265Helium Evolution is an exploration and development company focused on assets in Saskatchewan, Canada.The company’s main focus is on its 40,000 acre Mankota property which lies adjacent to North American Helium’s. To date, the company has drilled 10 wells and has made six helium discoveries. It’s currently focused on two targets at the basal sand unit and Earlie sandstone.On February 2, the company entered into a pooling agreement with North American Helium for the property, which gives Helium Evolution a 49 percent stake in the operation, and North American the controlling 51 percent.The announcement also said the companies were going to carry out a 3d seismic program at the neighbouring properties. The program was planned for six weeks, with interpretation anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.Shares of Helium Evolution saw significant gains this week alongside supply chain disruptions in the Helium market, but the company did not release any news.

4. Bullion Gold Resources (TSXV:BGD)
Weekly gain: 58.33 percentMarket cap: C$10.11 millionShare price: C$0.095Bullion Gold Resources is an exploration company advancing its Bousquet project in Québec, Canada.The site, located in the Abitibi along the Cadillac Larder Lake fault, consists of 71 claims covering an area of 2,369 hectares. The property hosts seven gold showings, with multiple magnetic targets. Bousquet is currently under option by Olympio Metals (ASX:OLY), which can earn up to an 80 percent stake in the project.On Monday, Bullion received the first assay from the Phase 2 drill program at the Paquin prospect at Bousquet. The results highlighted bonanza-grade gold of 41.81 grams per metric ton (g/t) over 7.5 meters, which included intervals of 60.36 g/t over 4.3 meters and 109.51 g/t over 2 meters. The company said the results are the best to date and highlight the potential for high-grade lodes.

5. Electric Metals (USA) (TSXV:EML)
Weekly gain: 65.63 percentMarket cap: C$28.03 millionShare price: C$0.265Electric Metals (USA) is a mineral development company focused on advancing its flagship North Star manganese project in Minnesota, US. According to the company, the asset is North America’s highest-grade manganese resource. It plans to produce high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate for lithium-ion batteries.In August 2025, Electric Metals released a preliminary economic assessment for North Star. It demonstrates a base-case after-tax net present value of US$1.39 billion, with an internal rate of return of 43.5 percent and a payback period of 23 months. The report also includes an updated resource estimate with an indicated resource of 7.6 million metric tons of ore grading 19.07 percent manganese, 22.33 percent iron and 30.94 percent silicon, and an inferred resource of 3.73 million metric tons of ore grading 17.04 percent manganese, 19.04 percent iron and 30.03 percent silicon.The most recent news from Electric Metals came on March 16, when it announced it had agreed to sell its non-core silver assets in Nevada to Ameerex (OTC:HIRU) for total consideration of US$3.5 million in staged payments. Additionally, Electric Metals will retain a 2.5 percent net smelter royalty.The assets consist of the Corcoran and Belmont properties, which sit on federal lode claims and lease options on patented mining claims. The sale will allow Electric Metals to focus on advancing its North Star Manganese project.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

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Top 5 Junior Gold Mining Stocks on the TSXV

On: March 27, 2026

On: March 24, 2026

(RTTNews) – Crude oil has surged on Tuesday as market participants found that U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of U.S.-Iran peace talks was not officially substantiated by Iran. Yesterday, oil prices slumped after Trump’s message triggered confidence that the war would

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Gold Ticks Lower Amid Conflicting Reports On Efforts To End Gulf War

On: March 24, 2026

(RTTNews) – Gold prices gave back the gains made earlier in the session, when it bounced from consecutive sessions of decline amid reports of U.S.-Iran peace talks through third-party mediators, as investors wanted more credible reports before making big moves.

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Liberty Gold Gains FAST-41 Status for Idaho Project

On: March 24, 2026

Liberty Gold (TSX:LGD,OTCQX:LGDTF) has moved a step closer to advancing its flagship US asset after securing entry into the US Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s FAST-41 program.The company announced that its Black Pine oxide gold project in Idaho has been accepted into the program as a “covered project,” giving it access to a coordinated federal review schedule and enhanced interagency oversight.Shares of the company rose 7.7 percent to C$1.05 following the announcement, reaching their highest point since March 2022, and have since held steady at that level.For developers, the clarity brought about by the program is often as important as speed. Created under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, FAST-41 was designed to address one of the mining sector’s most persistent challenges: unpredictable permitting timelines.Projects admitted into the program are assigned a lead agency, a defined schedule and a publicly tracked timeline through a federal dashboard. While the framework does not override environmental laws or guarantee faster approvals, it aims to reduce delays tied to fragmented reviews and shifting regulatory requirements.Liberty Gold said it expects to enter a structured coordination phase within 60 days, after which an updated permitting schedule for Black Pine will be published.

FAST-41 projects gain momentum
FAST-41 has expanded rapidly this year as US policymakers push to accelerate resource development.According to the Permitting Council, the program’s portfolio grew to 76 active projects in 2025, with 13 completing federal permitting during the year. Mining projects have become an increasingly prominent part of that pipeline, reflecting broader efforts to secure domestic supply chains for critical materials.“This has been an exciting year for the Permitting Council, as our agency has taken on a prominent role in bringing real, measurable improvements to federal permitting and getting more projects to the finish line,” said Executive Director Emily Domenech in a January press release. The agency has also introduced new tools, including expanded use of a transparency dashboard and coordination agreements with state governments, aimed at tightening timelines and improving accountability across agencies.Liberty Gold is just one of a growing list of companies turning to FAST-41 as a way to de-risk large-scale projects. Uranium Energy’s (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) Sweetwater project in Wyoming was designated under the framework in August 2025, part of a broader push to strengthen domestic uranium production. The designation allows the company to advance modifications to existing permits and expand operations using in-situ recovery methods. Shares of Uranium Energy rose to a 52 week high of US$9.91 following the announcement and have since climbed to US$12.51, a gain of roughly 26 percent in over 7 months.Meanwhile, Equinox Gold (TSX:EQX,NYSEAMERICAN:EQX) saw a similar re-rating after its Castle Mountain Phase 2 project in California was accepted into FAST-41 the same month. The company pointed to improved regulatory certainty and a defined permitting schedule, with federal approvals expected by late 2026.Its shares have risen from US$6.65 at the time of the announcement to US$12.64, an increase of about 90 percent, supported by both project-specific developments and a stronger gold price environment.

Enhancing permitting timelines
For mining companies, permitting remains one of the longest and least predictable phases of project development. Even well-defined assets can face delays tied to environmental reviews, interagency coordination or legal challenges.While FAST-41 does not eliminate those risks, it nonetheless introduces structure. By setting timelines and making them public, the framework reduces uncertainty around the process, potentially changing how investors react and value a project.In development-stage mining, valuation often hinges on perceived risk as much as underlying resource size or economics. A project with a clearer path to approval can command a higher valuation multiple, particularly in jurisdictions where permitting has historically been a bottleneck.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Analyst Favorites: Vale Ranks As a Top Metals Pick

On: March 24, 2026

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Vale SA (Symbol: VALE) is the #6 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global Mining Ti

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Infographic: Copper Market Facing Pressure as AI Demand Accelerates

On: March 24, 2026

On: March 23, 2026

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Gold and Silver Prices Suffer Massive Correction as US-Iran War Shakes Markets

On: March 23, 2026

On: March 18, 2026

(RTTNews) – Paring the gains made earlier, crude oil slid later in the session but rebounded on Wednesday as investors analyzed Iraq’s resumption of production. Profit-booking by traders to monetize from yesterday’s surge limited the upswing.

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