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September 11, 2024

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Equities Say “Go Fish”; How “Healthy” are the Markets?

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Good morning and welcome to this week’s Flight Path. Equities flashed an uncertain “Go Fish” bar at the end of the week as the markets became even more unsettled. Treasury bond prices remained in a “Go” trend and saw that trend was strong for almost all of last week. U.S. commodity index remained in a “NoGo” painting strong purple bars the entire week and it was no picnic for the dollar either. The greenback saw the “NoGo” continue and the week ended with a couple of purple bars.

$SPY Falls Out of “Go” Trend

The GoNoGo chart below shows that after seeing trend weakness with aqua bars the week ended with an amber “Go Fish” bar. This most recent “Go” move was unable to set a new higher high before the GoNoGo Trend indicator painted a “Go Fish” bar of uncertainty. We look at the oscillator panel and see that after briefly testing the zero level from above GoNoGo Oscillator fell into negative territory on heavy volume. This inability to find support at zero was a concern for the “Go” trend.

The longer time frame chart shows that last week was a bad one. However, we still see that the trend is a “Go” painting blue bars. We can see that price hasn’t made a new higher high but the trend remains and GoNoGo Oscillator is in positive territory at a value of 2. We will watch to see as the oscillator gets closer to zero if it finds support at that level.

Treasury Yields Stay in “NoGo” Trend

Treasury bond yields painted strong purple “NoGo” bars this week and we saw a sharp fall that saw a challenge of recent lows. In the oscillator panel, we see that a Max GoNoGo Squeeze was broken to the downside, with GoNoGo Oscillator falling into negative territory. This tells us that momentum is surging in the direction of the underlying “NoGo” trend and so we see a NoGo Trend Continuation Icon (red circle) in the above panel.

The Dollar’s “NoGo” Remains

As strong purple bars return we see that the U.S. dollar has made a new lower low. GoNoGo Trend shows that trend strength returned at the end of the week and so the weight of the evidence tells us that the “NoGo” trend is in full force. If we look at the oscillator panel, we see that GoNoGo Oscillator has rallied to test the zero line from below. It has remained stuck at that level for several bars and so we see a GoNoGo Squeeze building. As we see heavy volume, it will be important to watch for the direction of the break of the GoNoGo Squeeze.

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Biotech’s Big Comeback: Why Investors are Eyeing This Beaten-Down Sector

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Perhaps no other industry in the world is more synonymous with risk and emergent (R&D) developments like biotechnology. While the information technology sector has been a dominant driver on Wall Street since the big tech revolution in the 2000s, biotech, a subset of the healthcare sector, took a sharp nosedive during the pandemic in 2020.

By 2020, 80% of all biotech companies were losing money. Near-zero interest rates made it easy for biotech companies to continue raising capital to fund their operations. But as the Fed began raising interest rates a few years later to combat rising inflation, the capital lifeline was cut, and the biotech industry cratered.

But now, with Fed rate cuts on the horizon, Wall Street may be eying this beaten-down industry, currently trading with bargain basement valuations. Does this present an opportunity for a long trade?

Biotech vs. the Broader Healthcare Sector

Let’s look at biotech starting at its 2020 top and compare it to the broader healthcare sector. We’ll use the following industry and sector proxies:

  • SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) for our biotech industry proxy
  • Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) for our sector proxy

Go to your StockCharts Dashboard and open up PerfCharts. Type in XBI,XLV and drag the bottom timeline slider to around 932 days. It should look like this:

CHART 1. PERFCHART OF XBI AND XLV. The chart starts when XBI hit a top in 2020.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

To get an idea of relative performance, this shows you just how much the biotech proxy has been underperforming healthcare over the last three years.

With that knowledge, what’s going on today with regard to biotech relative to its sector? Why not get a quick glance at the Advancers & Decliners?

In one of the data panels on your StockCharts dashboard, select the More button and click Advancers & Decliners > US Sectors. On Tuesday (mid-day), this is what I saw:

CHART 2. ADVANCERS & DECLINERS BY SECTOR. Notice that the number of advancing and declining stocks are neck-and-neck.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

This tells me something about healthcare as a sector—namely, that the number of stocks going up and down is nearly the same. But it doesn’t tell me much about biotech as an industry.

So, let’s check the StockCharts Sector Summary and drill down.

Open the page and click on XLV. You should see each individual industry. Let’s select a three-month look-back to get a bigger picture of industry performance. This is what I got:

CHART 3. 3-MONTH INDUSTRY VIEW ON STOCKCHARTS’ SECTOR SUMMARY. Biotech rising?Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

This tells you that, over the last quarter, biotech’s market performance has been second only to healthcare providers. But take a look at the volume. It has the highest volume of trades in the entire sector. Could this mean that Wall Street is steadily accumulating biotech stocks, fueling its rise to date? If so, is biotech on the verge of an upside trend reversal?

 Let’s look at a daily chart of XBI to see what the price action says.

CHART 4. DAILY CHART OF XBI. There’s a very wide ascending triangle formation in the price chart; the stochastic oscillator is starting to turn higher above the 20 level, and On Balance Volume is trending higher.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Here are the main points to watch:

  • XBI has been trending upward since late April, and it’s about to challenge the $103 range (see blue dotted line) marking the March 2023 high and this year’s July and August highs, forming a long ascending triangle pattern which leans on the bullish side.
  • Price appears to be bouncing off the stochastic oscillator’s 20 line (see orange circle), just above oversold territory.
  • The On Balance Volume (OBV) indicator, whose founding principle is “volume precedes price,” shows that buying pressure is on a steady uptrend, mirroring XBI’s price action.

For XBI’s uptrend to remain valid and to see if Wall Street capital begins flowing into biotech ahead of the anticipated Fed rate cuts, XBI will have to break through resistance at the $103 range while staying above the current trend line (see solid blue trendline) or the last major swing low at $91.

At the Close

Here’s the takeaway: Biotech has had it rough since its 2020 peak, but there could be some light at the end of the tunnel. With Fed rate cuts on the horizon, Wall Street might be eyeing this beaten-down industry for a rebound. Keep an eye on the technical levels to spot any hint of major market moves before the rest of the crowd catches on.

Last but not least, be sure to save XBI in one of your StockCharts ChartLists.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Global Investing: How to Diversify with an International Portfolio

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In an increasingly connected world, savvy investors are looking beyond domestic borders to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on global opportunities.

Please note that this article is written with a focus on North American investors and may not fully account for the unique financial regulations, tax laws and investment practices of other regions.

What are the pros and cons of global investing?

International investing is a strategy that offers advantages and challenges. It provides access to a range of opportunities in emerging markets and high-growth sectors that may be underrepresented in North America. International stocks offer the benefit of portfolio diversification as investors can spread their stakes across different markets and currencies.

Another advantage of investing in international markets is its positive impact on the global economy. Foreign direct investment can greatly impact wealth distribution and help develop successful economies.

A flourishing global economy also benefits North American investors as economic growth in foreign markets can increase the demand for goods and services from North America.

However, investing in foreign markets also exposes investors to risks. The value of foreign investments can be affected by currency fluctuations, and return on investment may be offset by transaction costs. Market volatility arising from political and economic instability in foreign markets can also negatively impact a stock’s performance.

Moreover, international investment involves navigating different regulatory frameworks and the potential unavailability or unreliability of information about foreign enterprises and markets compared to domestic ones. This difference poses a significant challenge in making well-informed investment decisions.

“The oft-stated purpose for foreign capital deployment is to seek higher returns, improve diversification, reduce aggregate return volatility and hedge loss of purchasing power of (the) home currency,” said Stephen Johnston, a private equity manager and director of Omnigence Asset Management. “The high-level tradeoffs are political and regulatory risk and enhanced administrative and tax complexity, depending on the foreign destination.’

Johnston continued:

“Pension plans are susceptible to this reasoning as they cannot invest in higher return niche domestic opportunities given their material capital deployment needs — not so for non-institutional investors.

“It follows then that many investors could, within reason, be agnostic as to the domicile of their investment holdings, as long as those holdings suitably enhance their portfolios along the parameters above and can be implemented at the scale suitable to their individual deployment needs.”

Global investing for beginners

While global investing may sound complex it can be relatively straightforward for North Americans.

To invest in specific stocks, one option is purchasing American depositary receipts (ADRs). ADRs are issued by US banks to foreign companies, with the bank acting as a depository holding the underlying foreign shares. ADRs represent shares of a foreign company trading on a US stock exchange, denominated in US dollars.

Similarly, global depositary receipts (GDRs) represent foreign company shares and are issued by depositary banks. However, while ADRs can only be traded on US stock exchanges, GDRs can be traded on stock exchanges around the world. They are typically denominated in US dollars, euros or British pounds.

A more risk-averse option is to invest in mutual funds or ETF. Both offer diversification and professional management services, relieving investors from selecting and monitoring individual investments. They can hold a range of assets, including stocks and bonds, currencies, crypto, real estate and commodities like oil and gold.

Both mutual funds and ETFs may focus on particular sectors of the economy such as technology, healthcare, energy or automotive manufacturing. Examples of sector-specific ETFs include the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLK), the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF (ARCA:VHT) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLE).

Global sector funds hold sector-specific funds from different countries, such as the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ARCA:IXJ), which includes pharmaceutical companies from the US, Switzerland and India, three countries with strong reputations in that industry. Meanwhile, the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF (ARCA:VGT) tracks the performance of tech companies in countries known for their lucrative tech sectors.

For its part, the Fidelity International Index Fund (MUTS:FSPSX) is a mutual fund tracking the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index, which includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East.

The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (ARCA:FXI) is a country-specific fund, while the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF (NASDAQ:VXUS) covers a broad range of international companies.

Additionally, funds may track development-based markets, such as the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF (TSX:VEE), the iShares MSCI Frontier and Select EM ETF (ARCA:FM) or the T. Rowe Price Global Stock Fund (NASDAQ:PRGIX), a mutual fund that invests in developed and emerging markets around the world.

Managed volatility mutual funds employ strategies to minimize risks associated with global investing like currency fluctuations, political instability and the differences in regulatory environments. They typically hold shares in low-volatility sectors like consumer staples and utilities or multinational stocks like Johnson & Johnson.

Reuters reported on LSEG’s most recent Lipper data reading for this past July, which shows US$601 million in inflows to global volatility funds, the first net inflow in 14 months. Analysts expect more to come as investors exercise caution ahead of the November election and interest rate cuts expected in September.

Some differences between ETFs and mutual funds make them more well-suited to individual investors. Mutual funds, unlike ETFs, do not trade on stock exchanges, and their prices are calculated once a day after the markets close. ETFs can also be bought and sold in any amount, whereas mutual funds often require a minimum investment. Furthermore, mutual funds are only required to disclose their holdings once every quarter, while ETFs disclose their holdings daily. Investors generally pay less in management fees for ETFs than they do for mutual funds.

Global indexes such as the MSCI World Index (WORLD:MSCI), FTSE Global All Cap Index (INDEXFTSE:GEISAC) and the S&P Global BMI (INDEXSP:SBBMGLU) provide a benchmark for the performance of various sectors and regions in the global equity markets. Many mutual funds and ETFs aim to replicate these indexes’ performance by investing in companies and sectors represented within these indexes.

Finally, investing in multinational corporations (MNCs) is an easy way to indirectly benefit from the dynamics of international economic integration. MNCs are businesses with a significant presence in at least two countries. They often engage in foreign direct investments and have a globalized production process with revenue, operations and profits spread across different countries. This means that your investment is indirectly exposed to the economic conditions and performance of the countries it operates in. Some examples are Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Toyota (NYSE:TM).

More complex global investing strategies

Direct foreign investing is another avenue that is primarily undertaken by experienced investors, high-net-worth individuals or private equity firms with a deep understanding of global markets. It’s a complex process accompanied by tax implications and other challenges that require specialized knowledge and expertise.

Establishing a brokerage account through a local firm, such as Fidelity in North America, or a foreign brokerage account in the target investment country, like Degiro in Europe, or Saxo Markets in Asia is one way to get started. Sometimes, foreign companies list their shares directly on US exchanges through initial public offerings.

Investors can also access foreign stocks through global exchanges. One of the most well-known is the MERJ Exchange, a multi-market, multi-currency platform headquartered in the Seychelles. Others include the Nordic Stock Exchange, which operates in the Nordic and Baltic countries; the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which lists companies from various African countries as well as some international stocks; and the Euronext, a pan-European exchange that primarily operates in the European Union but includes non-member the United Kingdom.

Euronext expanded into the Asia-Pacific region in 2019 by launching Euronext FX, its foreign exchange trading platform, in Singapore. Other exchanges that facilitate trading in Asia are the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange.

Another strategy is carry trades, which involves borrowing money in a low-interest-rate currency and investing in a high-interest-rate currency. The profit comes from the interest rate differential between the two currencies.

For example, until recently the Japanese yen had a very low interest rate compared to the US dollar. Investors could borrow yen, convert it to dollars and invest in US assets that yielded higher interest rates.

Carry trades can be profitable when the interest rate differential is large and the exchange rate stable. However, as the world saw on August 5 after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates — and indicated that further increases were possible — carry trades can also be risky. As the yen strengthened against the US dollar, investors sold off their higher-yielding assets and repaid their yen-denominated loans, leading to a global market selloff.

Legal considerations for global investing

Global investors must understand and comply with various securities regulations across different jurisdictions.

Some countries restrict foreign investment to protect national interests, promote domestic companies and maintain control over critical sectors of the economy. For example, China requires government approval to invest in certain sectors like telecommunications. India also imposes restrictions on foreign investment industries like defense, which is subject to government approval and is limited to a maximum foreign equity ownership of 74 percent.

Other industries are subject to special regulations that could impact operations and profitability. For example, pharmaceutical companies must navigate multiple rounds of testing and obtain approvals from various regulatory bodies, resulting in a lengthy process to bring a drug to market. While success can lead to substantial profits, these regulatory hurdles can also pose risks to potential investors.

Income tax regulations are another important area for investors to consider when participating in international markets. In the US, the Internal Revenue Service considers some foreign investment vehicles, typically foreign-based mutual funds and ETFs, as Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs). The government body has implemented rules and regulations to prevent US taxpayers from deferring taxes owed from those investments. It’s crucial to know whether a stock is classified as a PFIC, because it can result in additional tax and reporting requirements.

The Canada Revenue Agency requires Canadian taxpayers to report their foreign investment income, including dividends, interest and capital gains from foreign investments. Canadian taxpayers with foreign investments may be subject to withholding taxes, a percentage of earned income from an investment that’s withheld from the investor and remitted to the tax authority where it was earned. However, Canada has tax treaties with many countries that can help mitigate withholding taxes, including Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, Singapore and the US.

Many countries issue foreign tax credits to offset taxes on their foreign-source income and prevent double taxation, with specific rules and terms differing between countries. Controlled Foreign Corporation rules apply to larger stakeholders or those making direct investments in foreign companies or real estate.

Investor takeaway

Whether or not you’re a seasoned investor, understanding the dynamics of global investing, and key considerations like the risks and advantages of dabbling in international stocks, is crucial to making informed decisions and potentially reaping the rewards of a diversified portfolio.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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5 Best-performing ASX Gold Stocks of 2024

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Gold prices have soared since the start of 2024 and have set record prices in major global currencies. On August 1, the price for an ounce of gold in Australian dollars surged to AU$3,762.17, breaking the previous record of AU$3,638.01 set in April.

Recent gains have come on the back of the resumption of buying by Chinese banks, an improving US economic situation that is increasing odds of US interest rate cuts in September and ongoing geopolitical instability.

On a local level, Australia’s economy is improving as the annualized inflation rate fell to 3.5 percent in July. This marks the lowest level since March and beats June’s 3.8 percent increase. However, as inflation remains higher than the 2 to 3 percent target and July’s inflation data was slightly higher than anticipated, a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia is not likely to occur in the next few months.

How have these factors affected gold stocks on the ASX? Read on to learn about the biggest gainers year-to-date.

Data for this article was retrieved on September 3, 2024, using TradingView’s stock screener, and only companies with market capitalizations greater than AU$50 million are included.

1. Larvotto Resources (ASX:LRV)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 471.43 percent; market cap: AU$123.95 million; share price: AU$0.40

Larvotto Resources is a gold exploration and development company working to advance its flagship Hillgrove gold-antimony project in New South Wales, which it acquired in late 2023.

Hillgrove is currently in the pre-development stage, and Larvotto released the pre-feasibility study for the project on August 5. In the release, the company reported total resources of gold at 1.04 million ounces of gold from 7.26 million tonnes of ore with an average grade of 4.4 grams per tonne (g/t). In addition to gold, the company also reports 93,000 tonnes of antimony on site with an average grade of 1.3 percent.

The study also included a maiden ore reserve estimate, with 3.15 million tonnes of ore grading 3.2 g/t gold and 1.2 percent antimony for 320,000 ounces and 39,000 tonnes of contained metal respectively.

The company indicated a post-tax net present value of AU$157 million and an internal rate of return of 50 percent with a payback period of 2 years, contingent on prices of US$2,000 per ounce of gold and US$15,000 per tonne of antimony.

Shares in Larvotto saw significant gains following news in August that China had decided to ban antimony exports. China is the world’s largest exporter of antimony, which is used in the production of solar panels, military applications and electronics. The mineral is commonly found within gold-bearing quartz veins.

The most recent news from Hillgrove came on August 21 when the company reported that it had received the final drilling permits for the second drill program at the site and would commence 5,250 meters of drilling on August 26.

Shares in Larvotto reached a year-to-date high of AU$0.41 on August 26.

2. Australian Gold and Copper (ASX:AGC)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 319.12 percent; market cap: AU$75.70 million; share price: AU$0.29

Australian Gold and Copper is an exploration company that has spent 2024 focused on advancing the Achilles gold-silver discovery at its South Cobar project in New South Wales, Australia.

The company has made several advancements at the project through its exploration programs this year, including the identification of new targets at Achilles, as reported on April 23.

A subsequent announcement on May 15 caused shares to soar when the company reported follow-up drill results from Achilles with a highlighted assay of 2.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 43 metres, including 16.9 g/t gold over 5 metres.

The most recent news from Achilles came on August 5 when the company provided an exploration update on the project. In the announcement, Australian Gold and Copper reported that its recently commenced geophysical survey, which was designed to test for targets at Achilles, revealed the potential for a second zone west of Achilles that will be the target for future drilling programs.

The company also provided an update on RC drilling, saying of the 21 holes planned 14 had been completed and assays have been received for the first five, with gold, silver and base mineralization extending to the north and south and at depth. It said it would be commencing diamond core drilling in mid-August to help identify higher-grade zones at the project.

Shares of the firm reached a year-to-date high of AU$0.56 on May 22 alongside a rally in the gold price.

3. Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 179.5 percent; market cap: AU$503.5 million; share price: AU$2.25

Catalyst Metals is a gold development and production company focused on its Plutonic mine in Western Australia and Henty mine in Tasmania.

The company acquired Plutonic as part of a takeover of Vango Mining in 2023. On March 28, the company announced it had repaid the first tranche of an AU$12.1 million convertible note that it inherited as part of the purchase.

Since the takeover, Catalyst has been working to increase production at the mine, and the company announced in its March quarterly report that performance had improved. Production for the quarter reached 21,252 ounces of gold, a slight increase over the previous quarter despite equipment breakdowns.

In the company’s fiscal year-end update released on July 10, the company said it continued to make improvements at Plutonic, with production at the mine year reaching 85,000 ounces under its ownership versus only 60,000 ounces in the previous year, which was prior to its acquisition.

As for its Henty mine, Catalyst said Henty achieved record quarterly production of 6,926 ounces in its fiscal Q4 and produced 24,982 during the year. According to the company, the mine is on its way to annual production of 30,000.

Catalyst also said it had reduced debt from AU$36 million to AU$8 million.

The most recent announcement from Catalyst came on August 29, when it released its in-depth year-end results. During the period, the company achieved its first profit, with a net after-tax profit of AU$23.56 million versus an after-tax loss of AU$15.63 million in the previous year.

Shares in Catalyst reached a year-to-date high of AU$2.28 on August 29.

4. WIA Gold (ASX:WIA)

Company Profile

Year-to-date gain: 173.81 percent; market cap: AU$125.50 million; share price: AU$0.12

WIA Gold is an exploration company focused on developing projects in Africa. The company’s primary goal is to advance the Kokoseb deposit at its Damaran gold project.

Kokoseb is located on WIA’s Okombahe exploration licence, which consists of 12 tenements across a 2,700 square kilometre area within the Damaran Belt in Northwest Namibia. WIA Gold holds an 80 percent stake in the exploration licence, with the remaining 20 percent being held by Namibian state-owned mining company Epangelo.

On April 16, the company released an updated resource estimate for Kokoseb, reporting 2.12 million ounces of gold from 66 million tonnes at 1 g/t gold with a cut off of 0.5 g/t gold.

The company reported drill results from the project on August 20 that identified high-grade mineralization below the current resource as well as new mineralization in the Eastern zone. WIA reported a highlighted intercept from the new area grading 4.95 g/t gold over 4 metres.

WIA Gold also owns the early stage Bouafle project, which is located in Côte d’Ivoire and has been granted two exploration permits, with a third under application. On May 27, WIA reported that it had commenced reverse-circulation drilling at the site with the intention to test 10 previously identified trends.

In a recent update on September 2, the company reported results from the first phase of reconnaissance drilling at Bouafle. Highlighted assays from the 5,682 metre drill campaign included 4.54 g/t over 10 meters and 87.43 g/t over 4 meters. The company plans to follow it with a second phase of 2,000 metres in October.

Shares in WIA Gold reached a year-to-date high of AU$0.125 on May 21 alongside a surging gold price.

5. Spartan Resources (ASX:SPR)

Press ReleasesCompany Profile

Year-to-date gain: 165.15 percent; market cap: AU$1.58 billion; share price: AU$1.37

Spartan Resources is a gold exploration and development company whose core assets are located in Western Australia. Its flagship operation, the Dalgaranga gold mine, produced 71,153 ounces of the metal in 2022 before being placed on care and maintenance as low grades reduced the asset’s viability.

Spartan has since turned its focus to increasing grades and expanding Dalgaranga’s resource estimate. It has largely focused on the Never Never deposit, which it discovered in 2022.

Exploration at the site has continued in 2024, and on April 18 Spartan reported the discovery of a new lode, dubbed the Pepper prospect, situated 90 metres south of the main Never Never deposit. The company said Pepper has similar mineralization and grades to Never Never, with one assay showing 15.86 g/t gold over 17.52 metres, including 27.89 g/t gold over 9.22 metres.

Using data from exploration efforts at Pepper, Spartan released an updated mineral resource estimate for Dalgaranga on July 23 showing a contained resource of 2.48 million ounces of gold from 16.1 million tonnes of ore with an average grade of 4.79 g/t gold.

It was up significantly from Spartan’s December 2023 resource estimate, which came in at 1.7 million ounces, including 952,000 ounces at Never Never. The increase is attributable to the additional 438,100 ounces of gold from Pepper and an increase at Never Never to 1.49 million ounces.

In an exploration update on August 28, Spartan reported that a drill hole at Pepper contained the highest-grade interval to date at Dalgaranga. Drilling intercepted 39.15 g/t gold over 27.01 metres, including an intersection of 121.35 g/t over 5.11 metres.

Shares of Spartan reached a year-to-date high of AU$1.455 on August 29.

FAQs for ASX gold stocks

How to invest in gold on the ASX?

As Australia is a top gold-mining jurisdiction and the country’s government is supportive of mining, there are plenty of options for investing in gold on the ASX. Between gold miners operating major projects and gold explorers hunting for the next significant gold discovery, investors can choose what kind of company matches their risk appetite and portfolio.

When looking for a gold company to invest in, be sure to do your due diligence and learn about the company’s key characteristics, including its leadership team, its finances and the geology of its projects.

How to buy gold on the ASX?

Once you’ve selected a company or multiple companies to invest in, you can buy gold stocks using trading apps with access to ASX stocks, or you can get the help of a stock broker.

How to buy gold ETFs on the ASX?

For investors who prefer broader exposure to a sector, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a good option, and the ASX is home to multiple gold-focused ETFs. Because they are traded on exchanges like stocks, you can buy ETFs using the same methods described above. ASX-listed gold ETFs to consider include:

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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John Feneck: Gold, Silver, Copper — 10+ Stocks I’m Bullish on Now

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John Feneck, portfolio manager and consultant at Feneck Consulting, shared his latest thoughts on the gold sector, saying that with the yellow metal’s price reaching all-time highs now is a good time to buy gold stocks.

‘Gold has now trended higher for months. Last year it was forming a base at US$1,900 (per ounce), this year it’s forming a base at US$2,300 to US$2,400. And this is for weeks and weeks and weeks,’ he explained.

‘When you see this kind of basing pattern in any chart it’s called consolidation — it’s a really good chart pattern to look for where you’re building a base that you can build off of usually — not the other way where it crashes and burns.’

Feneck gave overviews of a variety of small-cap resource stocks he’s watching. Precious metals stocks on his radar at the moment include Guanajuato Silver (TSXV:GSVR,OTCQX:GSVRF) and Silver X Mining (TSXV:AGX,OTCQB:AGXPF).

Moving over to copper, he mentioned Inflection Resources (CSE:AUCU,OTCQB:AUCUF), Vox Royalty (TSX:VOXR,NASDAQ:VOXR), Alta Copper (TSX:ATCU,OTCQX:ATCUF) and Denarius Metals (OTCQX:DNRSF).

‘Special situation’ companies with different ideas or exposure to lesser-known sectors are also of interest to Feneck. Examples include Millennial Potash (TSXV:MLP,OTCQB:MLPNF) and Angkor Resources (TSXV:ANK,OTCQB:ANKOF).

Watch the interview above for more from Feneck on the resource sector and the companies he’s eyeing.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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CleanTech Lithium PLC Announces Community Support for Laguna Verde Project

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Indigenous community leader publicly endorses Laguna Verde project at key mining seminar in Santiago, Chile

CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, participated in the Centre for Copper and Mining Studies (‘CESCO’) seminar in Santiago, a prominent annual seminar for the mining sector in Chile, and received public support from the local indigenous community for its Laguna Verde project. Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, Steve Kesler, presented and reinforced the Company is ready to begin project construction by 2026 upon the granting of a Special Lithium Operating Contract (‘CEOL’) by the Chilean Government

Highlights:

CESCO seminar brought together key industry stakeholders including government and local community representatives to discuss the development of the lithium sector in Chile

Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community expressed support for lithium project development depending on companies building solid community relationships and agreements, as achieved by CTL, and advocating for such projects to move forward.

Industry experts discussed the main challenges facing the sector and how to advance projects faster in line with the National Lithium Strategy, with implementing sustainable extraction technologies such as Direct Lithium Extraction being critical to that.

CTL has a co-signed agreement with the nearby local communities which will initially focus on the Laguna Verde project and aligns with the priorities set by the Chilean Government to advance the objectives of the National Lithium Strategy

Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:

‘We are very well placed to be one of the projects that the Government aims to have operational by 2026. We believe the Laguna Verde project is the best-positioned new lithium project to commence operations in Chile within the earliest timeframe. We highly value the support of the indigenous community which we think provides a rare and valuable partnership in facilitating mutually beneficial project development.’

Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community, said:

‘We want the State to respect us in our territories and recognise our right to determine to whom the CEOLs are granted through proper indigenous consultations. It is a matter of dignity. I have a dream for the Atacama region. When CleanTech arrived, they explained how they would carry out the process, building together with us the information collection for submission of the EIA. That is our dream. The dream of being able to participate, to be consulted.’

Image 1: Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community speaking at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile

Image 2: Marcela Sepúlveda, Community Relations Manager CleanTech Lithium, Cristián Quinzio, Quinzio Abogados, Alina Bendersky, Partner Bofil Mir, Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community and Juan Ignacio Guzmán, Executive Director, GEM

Image 3: Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, presenting at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile

The seminar, organised by CESCO, brought together industry spokespeople to provide a comprehensive view of the current situation of the lithium industry in Chile, considering the progress of the National Lithium Strategy.

Juan Esteban Fuentes, Associate Director at Benchmark Minerals, attended and further commented: ‘From 2030, the current surplus [of lithium] is expected to diminish, requiring a significant number of projects to double production over the next 10 years globally (to around 2.6 million tonnes), which implies the incorporation of 70 to 80 more operations and US$188 billion in capital by 2040.’

Arlene Ebensperger, advisor to the Ministry of Mining, also highlighted the need to harmonise the role of indigenous communities with the development of the industry through governance models which builds a shared vision and agreed objectives.

CleanTech Lithium co-signed an agreement with the local indigenous communities in 2023. The alliance will ensure that the extraction processes conducted in the region by the Company comply with the highest international standards, including a process of early consultation with the communities to see their direct participation by providing data for the environmental baselines required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

For further information contact:

CleanTech Lithium PLC

Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter

Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321

Chile office: +562-32239222

Or via Celicourt

Celicourt Communications

Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani

+44 (0) 20 7770 6424

cleantech@celicourt.uk

Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak

+44 (0) 20 7628 3396

Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker)

Daniel Fox-Davies

+44 (0) 20 3884 8450

daniel@fox-davies.com

Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker)

James Asensio

+44 (0) 20 7523 4680

Beaumont Cornish Limited (‘Beaumont Cornish’) is the Company’s Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish’s responsibilities as the Company’s Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

About Reach announcements

This is a Reach announcement. Reach is an investor communication service aimed at assisting listed and unlisted (including AIM quoted) companies to distribute media only / non-regulatory news releases into the public domain. Information required to be notified under the AIM Rules for Companies, Market Abuse Regulation or other regulation would be disseminated as an RNS regulatory announcement and not on Reach.

Notes

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium’s mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.

CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com

**ENDS**

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE:CleanTech Lithium plc

View the original press release on accesswire.com

News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Indigenous Community Leader Publicly Endorses Laguna Verde Project at Key Mining Seminar in Santiago, Chile

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CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, participated in the Centre for Copper and Mining Studies (‘CESCO’) seminar in Santiago, a prominent annual seminar for the mining sector in Chile, and received public support from the local indigenous community for its Laguna Verde project. Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, Steve Kesler, presented and reinforced the Company is ready to begin project construction by 2026 upon the granting of a Special Lithium Operating Contract (‘CEOL’) by the Chilean Government.

Highlights:

CESCO seminar brought together key industry stakeholders including government and local community representatives to discuss the development of the lithium sector in ChileErcilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community expressed support for lithium project development depending on companies building solid community relationships and agreements, as achieved by CTL, and advocating for such projects to move forward.Industry experts discussed the main challenges facing the sector and how to advance projects faster in line with the National Lithium Strategy, with implementing sustainable extraction technologies such as Direct Lithium Extraction being critical to that.CTL has a co-signed agreement with the nearby local communities which will initially focus on the Laguna Verde project and aligns with the priorities set by the Chilean Government to advance the objectives of the National Lithium Strategy

Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:

‘We are very well placed to be one of the projects that the Government aims to have operational by 2026. We believe the Laguna Verde project is the best-positioned new lithium project to commence operations in Chile within the earliest timeframe. We highly value the support of the indigenous community which we think provides a rare and valuable partnership in facilitating mutually beneficial project development.’

Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community, said:

‘We want the State to respect us in our territories and recognise our right to determine to whom the CEOLs are granted through proper indigenous consultations. It is a matter of dignity. I have a dream for the Atacama region. When CleanTech arrived, they explained how they would carry out the process, building together with us the information collection for submission of the EIA. That is our dream. The dream of being able to participate, to be consulted.’

Image 1: Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community speaking at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile

Image 2: Marcela Sepúlveda, Community Relations Manager CleanTech Lithium, Cristián Quinzio, Quinzio Abogados, Alina Bendersky, Partner Bofil Mir, Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community and Juan Ignacio Guzmán, Executive Director, GEM

Image 3: Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, presenting at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile

The seminar, organised by CESCO, brought together industry spokespeople to provide a comprehensive view of the current situation of the lithium industry in Chile, considering the progress of the National Lithium Strategy.

Juan Esteban Fuentes, Associate Director at Benchmark Minerals, attended and further commented: ‘From 2030, the current surplus [of lithium] is expected to diminish, requiring a significant number of projects to double production over the next 10 years globally (to around 2.6 million tonnes), which implies the incorporation of 70 to 80 more operations and US$188 billion in capital by 2040.’

Arlene Ebensperger, advisor to the Ministry of Mining, also highlighted the need to harmonise the role of indigenous communities with the development of the industry through governance models which builds a shared vision and agreed objectives.

CleanTech Lithium co-signed an agreement with the local indigenous communities in 2023. The alliance will ensure that the extraction processes conducted in the region by the Company comply with the highest international standards, including a process of early consultation with the communities to see their direct participation by providing data for the environmental baselines required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

For further information contact:

CleanTech Lithium PLC

Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter

Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321

Chile office: +562-32239222

Or via Celicourt

Celicourt Communications

Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani

+44 (0) 20 7770 6424

cleantech@celicourt.uk

Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak

+44 (0) 20 7628 3396

Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker)

Daniel Fox-Davies

+44 (0) 20 3884 8450

daniel@fox-davies.com

Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker)

James Asensio

+44 (0) 20 7523 4680

Beaumont Cornish Limited (‘Beaumont Cornish’) is the Company’s Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish’s responsibilities as the Company’s Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

About Reach announcements

This is a Reach announcement. Reach is an investor communication service aimed at assisting listed and unlisted (including AIM quoted) companies to distribute media only / non-regulatory news releases into the public domain. Information required to be notified under the AIM Rules for Companies, Market Abuse Regulation or other regulation would be disseminated as an RNS regulatory announcement and not on Reach.

Notes

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium’s mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.

CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction.www.ctlithium.com


Source

Click here to connect with CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL, OTCQX:CTLHF, Frankfurt:T2N), to receive an Investor Presentation

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah special forces commander

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A senior Hezbollah commander has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.

Mohammed Qassem Al-Shaer, a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, was killed in a strike on the village of Qaraoun in the western Beqaa Valley on Tuesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF said Al-Shaer had “advanced numerous terrorist activities against the state of Israel” and his “elimination” would impair the Iran-backed militant group’s ability to launch attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah confirmed Al-Shaer had been killed and said it responded to his killing by launching “dozens” of Katyusha rockets and several drones toward two locations in northern Israel.

The IDF said those attacks caused no casualties, with some of the “projectiles” being intercepted and others falling in an open area.

The Israeli military added that it had responded by striking Hezbollah launchers “in the areas of Mansouri and At Tiri,” which had been used in the attacks.

Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force said it had struck a Hezbollah military structure in the village of Rachaf in the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the strike on Rachaf wounded 12 people.

There have been almost daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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Israeli official floats safe passage for Oct. 7 architect Yahya Sinwar in return for hostages

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An Israeli official has floated the possibility of offering Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar safe passage out of Gaza, once all remaining hostages held in the Palestinian territory are released.

Hirsch said those conditions, along with Gaza being “demilitarized and deradicalized,” could help recover Gaza and end the war.

On Tuesday, Hirsch elaborated on the idea in an interview with Bloomberg, saying Israel has already proposed safe passage to Sinwar.

“I’m ready to provide safe passage to Sinwar, his family, whoever wants to join him,” he told Bloomberg. “We want the hostages back. We want demilitarization, de-radicalization of course — a new system that will manage Gaza.”

He told Bloomberg that the offer of safe passage was put on the table a day and a half ago, but did not say what the response was. Israel would be open to releasing prisoners it holds as part of any deal, he told Bloomberg.

Sinwar, one of Hamas’ most powerful figures, is accused by Israel of being the key architect of the October 7 massacre in Israel, when militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 250 people hostages. He is also among the Hamas leaders charged by US prosecutors over the deadly attack.

Hamas announced Sinwar as the head of its political bureau last month, days after former political bureau head and top negotiator Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.

He is believed to remain at large in the vast warren of tunnels trenched beneath Gaza, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages as human shields, US officials believe. He has not been seen in public since October 7.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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‘Free Kshamenk’: The campaign to release the last captive orca in Latin America

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The last captive orca in all of Latin America cuts a lonely figure.

“Kshamenk” has lived in the Mundo Marino oceanarium in the Argentine city of San Clemente del Tuyú since 1992 – the majority of that time, following the death of his female companion in 2000, as the lone representative of his species.

But in recent weeks, Kshamenk has amassed something of a following. One far beyond what might usually be expected at his oceanarium some 320 kilometers (200 miles) from Buenos Aires.

A campaign by the Canadian activist group UrgentSeas – which has been working to secure Kshamenk’s release – is building steam thanks to a series of clips on social media that allegedly show the orca in his tank, barely moving.

One of the group’s latest posts shows a timelapse video of what it says is a bird’s eye view of Mundo Marino in August and has the hashtag “FreeKshamenk.” It has already amassed more than 184,000 responses on TikTok.

Mundo Marino claims the images posted by UrgentSeas “have been maliciously manipulated as part of a disinformation campaign to suggest that Kshamenk is inactive and to make a negative diagnosis about his health, without any objective veterinary indicators.”

UrgentSeas insists its “videos are not edited or deceptive. They’re a real time look at Kshamenk’s cruel captivity without the music and spectacle of the show.”

Activists say the videos simply draw attention to the negative side of keeping these apex predators in captivity – a practice that not only in Latin America, but across the world has gone out of fashion in recent decades as the public’s awareness of animal rights issues has grown.

Globally, according to the International Marine Mammal Project, as of January 2024 there were just 54 orcas remaining in captivity out of the 166 that have been taken from the wild since 1961.

In Kshamenk’s case, controversy over his captivity has been brewing ever since he arrived at the oceanarium more than three decades ago.

According to Mundo Marino, “Kshamenk was rescued in November 1992 after stranding with a group of orcas.”

But animal rights activists have long questioned that account, alleging that he was deliberately captured to be used in its orca show and have launched legal action against Mundo Marino.

“They went out to look for a male orca for Belén, who was the female they had. What they wanted was reproduction to have more orcas and to have an orca show. That is the plain truth,” said María Rosa Golía, from the NGO Marine Animal Rights.

Last October several activist groups, including Marine Animal Rights, filed an injunction in court aimed at stopping the orca shows and forcing Mundo Marino to return Kshamenk to the wild.

Mundo Marino insists it is acting in Kshamenk’s best interests and that Kshamenk’s remaining years are best spent in captivity. It says that after the orca’s rehabilitation it received expert advice that reintroducing him to the wild would put his life at risk.

But some activists are skeptical about that claim and argue that, whatever the truth about his capture, three decades is too long for an animal of Kshamenk’s size – according to Mundo Marino, he is 19 foot long and weighs 4 tons – to be kept in captivity.

“Kshamenk has been locked up in that oceanarium, entertaining people (ever since his capture),” said animal rights lawyer Mauricio Trigo. “And since the year 2000, he has not seen another orca,” added activist Dalila Lewis.

Other activists point out that, while Kshamenk has spent most of his 35 years of life so far in captivity, he has the potential to live many more if given the right environment. Orcas can live up to 90 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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