Canadian company PMET Resources (ASX:PMT, TSX:PMET, OTCQX:PMETF) has completed a lithium-only feasibility study on the CV5 deposit of its Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium project in Northern Quebec.

The company said that the feasibility study confirms that the project is a large-scale and lifelong operation, with CV5’s maiden reserve updated to 84.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.26 percent lithium oxide or about 2.62 Mt lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in probable reserves.

Results also show that there is still potential to upgrade and expand resources at CV5 and its nearby CV13 deposit, which currently hold a total resource of 108.0 million tonnes at 1.40 percent indicated and 33.4 at 1.33 percent inferred.

“Our large scale and long-life project is ideally suited to support the emerging American, European, and Asian lithium raw materials supply chains,” commented CEO and President Ken Brinsden.

“There are very few projects of this size & scale, quality, and low production cost that can assist in underwriting the expected capital investment supporting new supply chains and demand growth in western markets.”

Located in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Shaakichiuwaanaan is recognised as the largest lithium pegmatite mineral resource in the Americas.

It is also among the largest lithium mines in the world, with potential to become the second largest following the Greenbushes lithium operations in Western Australia.

Greenbushes is owned by Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) and was recorded with an estimated 0.21 metric tonnes per annum lithium production in 2023.

PMET is targeting a final investment decision for Shaakichiuwaanaan for the second half of 2027, hoping that “the overall market supply-demand balance tightens over the coming years.”

Researchers found that the project can have an annual production of up to 800,000 tonnes of lithium-rich rock, along with pollucite, tantalite, and cesium.

Brinsden said that about 20 percent of the jobs created at Shaakichiuwaanaan will be allotted to workers at the Cree territory.

PMET Resources was formerly Patriot Battery Metals. The company officially changed its name in September.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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This week began on a strong note, with emerging signs that US-China tensions could ease and White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett’s suggestion that the federal government shutdown could soon end.

US stocks rallied broadly, led by small caps and semiconductors, with the PHLX Semiconductor Sector (INDEXNASDAQ:SOX) hitting an all-time high amid reduced concerns about regional bank credit quality.

On Tuesday (October 21), hotter-than-expected Canadian inflation data weighed on the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX), while the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) outperformed.

Wednesday (October 22) saw profit taking in high-growth names as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) reported after the bell, and as reports of potential new US export curbs on China pressured equities.

IBM beat revenue forecasts with US$9.5 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) revenue, but offered cautious guidance, leading its share price to fall after-hours. Tesla missed revenue estimates, with margins falling to 5.8 percent due to price cuts and reduced regulatory credits, despite record deliveries. CEO Elon Musk reiterated medium-term goals in AI, autonomy and robotics, though the firm didn’t update its financial guidance. Tesla shares also dropped after hours.

Despite the pullback, the tech sector rebounded sharply on Thursday (October 23), driven by optimism about AI and cloud infrastructure. Quantum computing companies such as IonQ (NASDAQ:IONQ), Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) surged on reports of increased US government funding.

North of the border, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a C$3 billion joint investment in small modular reactors at the Darlington site, located east of Toronto in Bowmanville.

Later, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) surpassed expectations with a 3 percent year-on-year revenue increase, reaching US$13.7 billion, with gross margins doubling to 38 percent. The demand for AI accelerators and x86 processors contributed to these strong results. CEO Lip-Bu Tan expressed confidence in continuing AI-driven compute demand.

Following the announcement, shares rose and opened nearly 5 percent higher the next day.

Intel’s standout earnings boosted sentiment heading into Friday. Markets opened higher after delayed US inflation data came in cooler than expected, showing easing underlying pressures and reinforcing expectations for another Fed rate cut next week. Tech stocks led the advance once again.

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

Ed Steer of Ed Steer’s Gold and Silver Digest shares his thoughts on silver’s run past US$50 per ounce, saying that in his view the bull market is just getting started.

‘One way or another we’re going to run into a supply/demand brick wall, and when that day happens we could see triple-digit silver prices in a very, very short period of time,’ he said.

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

The gold price declined from its recent all-time highs this week, sinking to nearly US$4,000 per ounce and recording its biggest one-day decline in more than 12 years.

Silver took a similar hit, slipping back below the US$50 per ounce level.

The drops have been attributed to factors like a stronger US dollar and lower US-China tensions, as well as profit taking, potentially from traders who are new to the market.

Many experts have been anticipating a correction for the metals — their latest rise has been quick, and no asset can go straight up forever.

However, there’s also a broad consensus that gold has entered a new phase. For example, Patrick Tuohy of Goldstrom believes gold won’t fall below US$3,000 again.

Here’s what Tuohy said:

‘Is this a short-term phenomenon that’s going to have some some dynamics that are going to turn it on its head and it reverses 50, 60 percent? I don’t believe that is the case. I think within our group … the consensus is that it’s unlikely that we’ll see gold below US$3,000 again in our lifetimes. So let’s say that that’s the floor. That’s a fairly significant move from where we were two years ago. So that’s comfortable.’

Next week, all eyes will be on the US Federal Reserve, which is set to meet from October 28 to 29. CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool shows strong expectations for another interest rate cut.

While the release of US government data has been affected by the ongoing shutdown, September consumer price index numbers were released on Friday (October 24).

The report was the first major piece of federal economic data to come out since the shutdown began, and it has confirmed expectations of another rate reduction.

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