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Statistics Canada released its January consumer price index (CPI) figures on Tuesday (February 18). The data showed that inflation ticked up on a yearly basis to 1.9 percent from the 1.8 percent recorded in December. On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.1 percent in January following a 0.4 percent decline in December.

The rise in inflation was owed to a 5.3 percent increase in energy prices on an annualized basis, primarily gasoline and natural gas, after recording a more modest 1 percent gain the previous month. Headlining the gains was an 8.6 percent jump in gasoline prices versus the same period last year and a 3.5 percent increase over December.

The agency also released its December mineral production survey on Thursday (February 20). The report showed overall increases in copper, gold and silver production and shipments compared to November’s totals.

Copper production increased by over 5 million kilograms to 38.93 million kilograms in December, up from 33.23 million kilograms the prior month. Shipments saw a similar increase, with 49.17 million kilograms shipped compared to 44.6 million kilograms shipped in November.

Gold production increased to 17,325 kilograms from 16,573 kilograms in November. Meanwhile, shipments of the precious metal increased even more, coming in at 23,217 kilograms compared to 14,332 kilograms in November.

As for silver, December saw the highest production and shipment levels for silver in 2024. Silver production increased to 33,074 kilograms, up significantly month-over-month from 24,959 kilograms. Silver shipments jumped even more at 36,984 kilograms, a considerable uptick from November’s 23,709 kilograms.

In mining news, Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF) announced that its 50.1 percent owned subsidiary Anglo American Sur and Chilean state mining company Codelco signed a memorandum of understanding to create a framework for implementing a joint mining plan for the companies’ adjacent Los Bronces and Andina mines in Chile.

Anglo American says the new operating company will optimize the use of processing capacity between the two mines. The companies expect that the mines will produce an additional 2.7 million metric tons of copper over a 21-year period starting in 2030, and generate an additional US$5 billion in pre-tax value. The companies will retain full ownership of their respective properties.

Markets and commodities react

US equity markets were broadly down this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) losing 1.67 percent to end Friday (February 21) at 6,013.12 and the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) falling 1.93 percent to 21,614.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) sank the furthest, down 2.89 percent to 43.428.03.

In Canada, markets were also in decline. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fell 2.48 percent on the week to close at 634.69 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) posted a 2.15 percent loss to hit 25,147.03 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 2.59 percent to 132.46.

After hitting new all-time highs on Wednesday, the gold price remained in record territory on Friday, seeing a 1.78 percent increase on the week to close at US$2,934.24 per ounce at 4:00 p.m. EST. Silver also saw gains this week, moving up 1.22 percent to US$32.52.

In base metals, the copper price was in decline this week, shedding 2.13 percent throughout the week to close at US$4.59 per pound on the COMEX. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was flat, shedding 0.08 percent to close at 569.41.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

So how did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

We break down this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Data for this article was retrieved at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

1. Minsud Resources (TSXV:MSR)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 47.06 percent
Market cap: C$156.7 million
Share price: C$1

Minsud Resources is a copper exploration company focused on advancing its operations in Argentina.

Its flagship project, Chita Valley, is located in San Juan and covers 19,883 hectares. The area hosts widespread porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineralization and includes three core properties: the Chita, Brechas Vacas and the Minas de Pinto mineral concessions. Minsud’s primary target is its Chinchillones deposit.

Shares in Minsud saw recent gains following the release of a technical report for Chita Valley on February 14 reporting its January maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Chinchillones deposit. The deposit’s total indicated resource is 188 million metric tons (MT) of ore containing 466,000 MT of copper, 674,000 ounces of gold, 63.5 million ounces of silver, 6,800 MT of molybdenum and 291,000 MT of zinc.

The deposit also hosts an inferred resource of 573 million MT of ore containing 1.24 million MT of copper, 1.65 million ounces of gold, 166.6 million ounces of silver, 53,200 MT of molybdenum and 616,000 MT of zinc.

2. Kapa Gold (TSXV:KAPA)

Weekly gain: 32 percent
Market cap: C$11.58 million
Share price: C$0.165

Kapa gold is an exploration company focused on advancing the past-producing Blackhawk mine in San Bernardino County, California.

The project site is composed of seven patented and 178 contiguous federal lode claims covering 1,496.2 hectares. The property hosts multiple mineralized zones with previous exploration work revealing deposits with high grade gold, silver, lead and zinc. Historic production has seen grading from ramps and underground mines averaging 10 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold.

Kapa has not released news since January 7, when it announced that it was advancing baseline studies and surface exploration at Blackhawk. The company said the work was being conducted in preparation for a 2025 drill program, with data gathered being used to identify drill targets.

3. Power Metals (TSXV:PWM)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 31.03 percent
Market cap: C$160.67 million
Share price: C$1.14

Power Metals is a lithium and cesium exploration company focused on its Case Lake project.

Located in Northeastern Ontario, the site is 10 kilometers by 9.5 kilometers in size and comprises 585 cell claims. Exploration at the site between 2017 and 2024 led to the discovery of pegmatite dykes bearing lithium, cesium and tantalum (LCT). Case Lake now consists of six spodumene dykes that form a mineralization trend of about 10 kilometers.

Assays from the site released on February 14 included a highlight of 8.07 meters grading 2.19 percent lithium oxide, 5.19 percent cesium oxide and 1,438 parts per million (ppm) tantalum. The results also included a 1 meter intersection bearing 1.85 percent lithium oxide, 11.7 percent cesium oxide and 208 ppm tantalum.

In addition to its most recent exploration news, Power Metals announced on February 10 that it had brought on DRA Global to begin work on a maiden mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment for the Case Lake project. It expects to have the former completed by the end of Q1 2025, with the latter to follow in Q2.

Adding to Power Metals’ recent share gains was a release on February 5 in which the company reported that it had been awarded a new exploration permit for Case Lake. The new permit will remain valid for the next three years and will be used to target newly identified cesium targets uncovered in late 2024.

While the company did not release news this week, it continued its upward trend from recent weeks.

4. Minco Silver (TSXV:MSV)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 29.73 percent
Market cap: C$12.82 million
Share price: C$0.24

Minco Silver is a development company working to advance its Fuwan silver project in China’s Guangdong province.

The property consists of three exploration permits covering a total of 125.74 square kilometers. Exploration to date has largely been focused on an area hosting 2.8 kilometers by 10 kilometers of strike.

A 2009 feasibility study for the property included a total probable reserve estimate of 55.3 million ounces of silver across 9.12 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 189 g/t.

Shares in Minco have seen gains this past week but the company has not released news.

5. K2 Gold (TSXV:KTO)

Company Profile

Weekly gain: 29.03 percent
Market cap: C$24.65 million
Share price: C$0.18

K2 Gold is a gold exploration and development company with a portfolio of three assets located in Canada and the United States.

The company’s Wels project in Canada is composed of 351 contiguous quartz claims covering 7,200 hectares near Beaver Creek, Yukon. According to the project page, K2 says the deposit is similar to Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM) nearby 4 million ounce Coffee gold deposit.

In the US, K2 owns its flagship Mojave gold project in Inyo County, California, which covers 5,830 hectares with 12 exploration targets. In addition to gold, Mojave also contains mineralization of copper, silver, lead and zinc.

The company’s final asset is the Si2 gold project in Esmeralda County, Nevada, US. The site consists of 118 Bureau of Land Management lode claims covering 986 hectares in the Walker Land trend. Exploration has indicated gold-bearing mineralization, with concentrated veins hosted by fault structures at depth.

On January 17, K2 announced that it signed an agreement with Orogen Royalties (TSXV:OGN) to accelerate its acquisition of a 100 percent stake in the Si2 project.

The new deal will see K2 pay Orogen C$250,000 in cash or common shares and a 2 percent net smelter return royalty to immediately acquire the property, replacing a January 2022 deal in which K2 had to make US$200,000 in cash payments and C$2.3 million in exploration expenditures.

The release also included results from an alteration study on Si2 drill core that determined the presence of an intact, low-sulfidation epithermal gold system.

K2 said the acquisition “allows us the flexibility to advance the project at our own pace as we approach the final steps in permitting at K2’s flagship Mojave project.

The Company’s most recent news came on February 21, when it said it had increased its previously announced non-brokered private placement to C$3 million in capital through the sale of 20 million units at a price of C$0.15 per share. The funds will be used for exploration and permitting at the Mojave gold project.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

How many companies are listed on the TSXV?

As of June 2024, there were 1,630 companies listed on the TSXV, 925 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,806 companies, with 188 of those being mining companies.

Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has released its annual TSX Venture 50 ranking, recognizing the top-performing companies based on share price appreciation, market capitalization growth and Canadian trading value.

Among this year’s top 10 are six companies from the mining and oil and gas sectors.

Read on to learn about the companies and their assets.

1. Sintana Energy (TSXV:SEI)

Company Profile

Sintana Energy, a Canadian oil and natural gas exploration company, secured the third position on the TSX Venture 50.

The company’s share price rose an impressive 293 percent in 2024.

Sintana’s primary asset is its ownership interest in the VMM-37 block, located in Colombia’s Magdalena Basin. With offices in Toronto and Dallas, Sintana continues to strengthen its exploration portfolio.

2. Power Metallic Mines (TSXV:PNPN)

Company Profile

Power Metallic Mines ranked fourth overall on the TSX Venture 50 and saw a 365 percent increase in share price.

The company is focused on developing its Nisk project, a high-grade nickel-copper-PGMs-gold-silver asset in Québec, Canada. Nisk spans a 20 kilometer strike length, with multiple high-grade discovery zones.

Power Metallic Mines changed its name from Power Nickel, effective February 21, to better reflect the polymetallic nature of its flagship asset. CEO Terry Lynch emphasized in the announcement that the Lion zone’s high-grade copper, platinum and palladium assays necessitated a rebranding to align with the company’s evolving vision.

3. Montage Gold (TSXV:MAU)

Company Profile

Fifth place Montage Gold, which recorded a 193 percent share price appreciation last year, is advancing the Koné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire. The project is regarded as one of Africa’s highest-quality gold assets, boasting a 16 year mine life and an annual production target exceeding 300,000 ounces for the first eight years.

With an all-in sustaining cost of US$998 per ounce, the project is well positioned for economic viability.

Construction began in late 2024, with first gold production anticipated by Q2 2027.

4. Founders Metals (TSXV:FDR)

Company Profile

Canadian exploration company Founders Metals came in sixth place and experienced a 196 percent rise in share price. Founders Metals is focused on the Antino gold project in Suriname’s Guiana Shield.

Covering over 20,000 hectares, Antino hosts a past-producing mine that produced over 500,000 ounces of gold.

The company recently announced a high-grade gold discovery at the Van Gogh prospect, reporting an intersection of 28.5 meters at 7.12 grams per metric ton gold from a 2025 drilling campaign.

5. Q2 Metals (TSXV:QTWO)

Company Profile

Q2 Metals secured ninth place with a 214 percent share price appreciation.

The company is focused on its lithium projects in Québec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region.

Last year, the company acquired the Cisco lithium project, which comprises 767 claims across 39,389 hectares. Q2 Metals is also actively advancing the Mia lithium project, which hosts the MIA 1 and MIA 2 lithium occurrences along a 10 kilometer trend. Additionally, it owns the 3,972 hectare Stellar lithium project located near the Mia project.

6. Artemis Gold (TSXV:ARTG)

Company Profile

Artemis Gold rounds out the list in 10th place with a 118 percent share price appreciation. The company is focused on developing the Blackwater mine in BC, which holds a gold resource of over 10 million ounces.

The project has secured key regulatory approvals and is expected to become one of Canada’s largest gold mines. This January, Artemis announced its first gold and silver pour at Blackwater, marking a major milestone.

President and Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Langford noted that the crushing circuit has exceeded nameplate throughput, and the milling circuit is performing as expected. Commercial production remains on track for Q2 2025.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Bitcoin attracts bold predictions. Recent forecasts show that this top cryptocurrency may soon hit Bitcoin Reach $200000. Many trusted sources, including Yahoo Finance, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, and CNBC, have reported this forecast. This public news reflects rising optimism among market experts amid changing economic conditions.

Market Sentiment and Economic Drivers

Many analysts believe that economic uncertainty and rising prices create a strong chance for Bitcoin to serve as a safe asset. Investors now see Bitcoin as a reliable store of value. They shift funds to cryptocurrencies when they lose trust in traditional assets. In addition, new regulations in key markets push both large and small investors to spread their money across various assets.

Technical Analysis and Price Trends

Technical data supports a potential price surge. Long-term charts show an upward trend, while short-term drops offer good buying points. Trading volumes and network activity grow each day. Experts point to a limited supply and high demand as key reasons that Bitcoin Reach $200000 upto.

Investor Implications and Risk Management

Investors must stay alert in this volatile market. They should manage risk by diversifying their portfolios. Many experts advise reviewing holdings and allocating funds wisely. They also recommend keeping up with the latest market news and technical signals to guide decisions.

Conclusion

This forecast that Bitcoin may reach $200,000 comes from strong market sentiment, positive technical trends, and a unique economic climate. However, investors face a volatile market that demands caution. Experts urge both individual and institutional investors to monitor these trends closely and prepare for various market moves.

While reaching $200,000 is not guaranteed, this forecast offers valuable insight into the ever-changing crypto market. It shows that the market can shift quickly and that informed decisions are key. Investors should act wisely and stay updated on news and trends. By doing so, they can protect their investments and uncover new opportunities in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrencies.

The post Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.

Executives at Meta stand to get bigger bonuses this year. 

The company said in a corporate filing Thursday that it had approved “an increase in the target bonus percentage” for its annual bonus plan for executives. Meta’s named executive officers could earn a bonus of 200% of their base salary under the new plan, up from the 75% they earned previously, according to the filing. 

The updated bonus plan doesn’t apply to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the filing noted.

A committee for Meta’s board of directors approved the change on Feb.13 after determining that the “target total cash compensation” for its executives “was at or below the 15th percentile of the target total cash compensation of executives holding similar positions” at peer companies. 

“Following this increase, the target total cash compensation for the named executive officers (other than the CEO) falls at approximately the 50th percentile of the Peer Group Target Cash Compensation,” the filing said.

The disclosure of the new executive bonus plan comes a week after Meta began laying off 5% of its overall workforce. The company had previously said this would impact its lowest performers.

Meta also slashed its annual distribution of stock options by about 10% for thousands of employees, according to a report published Thursday by the Financial Times. The report noted that the stock option reduction may differ based on where the workers live and their position at the company.

Meta shares are up more than 47% over the past year and closed Thursday at $694.84, underscoring investor enthusiasm over the social media company’s growing sales in the digital advertising market and the potential for its artificial intelligence investments to eventually generate big returns.

The company said in January that its fourth-quarter revenue grew 21% year over year to $48.39 billion.

Meta did not reply to a request for comment.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

The largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange said Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission would drop its lawsuit against it, a signal that the Trump administration plans to take a friendlier approach to the broader crypto industry.

In a release it titled ‘Righting a major wrong,’ the exchange, Coinbase, said SEC staff had agreed in principle to dismiss a suit filed during the Biden administration. The suit accused Coinbase of acting as an unregistered securities broker.

The agency must still vote to formally drop the suit.

A representative for the SEC declined to comment on Coinbase’s announcement. 

‘I think it is a really important signal that a small group of activists in the prior administration who tried to unlawfully attack this industry — we are able to turn page on that and finally get regulatory clarity in America,’ Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in an interview on CNBC on Friday morning.

Coinbase shares were up 5% in premarket trading. Bitcoin prices were up 1%.

The move to drop the suit would serve to make good on President Donald Trump’s campaign commitment to roll back the strict enforcement of the crypto industry that occurred under then-President Joe Biden. Trump has promised to make the United States the ‘crypto capital of the world,’ and has launched his own meme coin.

In its original suit, the SEC said Coinbase’s alleged actions were depriving investors of ‘critical protections, including rulebooks that prevent fraud and manipulation, proper disclosure, safeguards against conflicts of interest, and routine inspection by the SEC.’

“You simply can’t ignore the rules because you don’t like them or because you’d prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great,” Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said at the time.

To date, the SEC has not categorized bitcoin as a security. The crypto industry has long complained that, under former Chair Gary Gensler, the agency took an overly critical posture toward the industry while failing to provide clear ‘rules of the road’ and work with it to develop a means for it to operate legally.

Lawsuits against two other exchanges, Binance and Kraken, are still pending.

‘We tried to ‘come in and register’ but it turned out it was a fake offer, as every crypto company discovered,’ Armstrong wrote in a separate post on X on Friday, referring to the Biden administration’s previous actions concerning the crypto industry.

‘Regulators are supposed to enforce the law, but they can’t make up new laws on the spot if they don’t like the current ones, or weaponize a lack of clarity in the law.’

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve released minutes from its January 28–29 meeting. There weren’t any surprises — the Fed wants to see inflation go lower before cutting interest rates again and would also like to see the impact of the new administration’s policies before making interest rate cut decisions. The takeaway: We won’t see rate cuts in the next Fed meeting.

The broader equity indexes rose after the Fed minutes were released, with the S&P 500 ($SPX) closing at a record high — that’s two consecutive record-high closes. The upside moves may not have been big spikes, but they were enough to show that investor sentiment is bullish and market breadth is improving. Bond prices also rose slightly. 

Sector Strength

The Bullish Percent Index, an amazing indicator that gives you an indication of the internal health of an index or sector, displayed significant gains for several indexes and sectors. The S&P Industrials Sector BPI ($BPINDY) and the S&P Technology Sector BPI ($BPINFO) gained over 5%, the S&P Healthcare Sector BPI ($BPHEAL) gained over 3.50%, and the Nasdaq 100 BPI ($BPNDX) gained almost 3%.

Let’s look at the charts of the Industrials BPI and Technology BPI. The chart of the Industrials BPI (see below) shows that it has just crossed over the 50 level, an indication the sector is gaining bullish strength. The daily chart of the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI), a proxy for the Industrial sector, is still trading sideways and its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) is still trending lower (see chart below). However, if the BPI of the sector rises higher, there could be an upside move in this sector. 

FIGURE 1. DAILY CHART OF THE S&P INDUSTRIALS SECTOR BPI AND INDUSTRIAL SELECT SECTOR SPDR ETF. The bullish move isn’t evident in the chart of XLI but if $BPINDY continues to rise, XLI could move toward its all-time high. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Shifting to the daily chart of $BPINFO, it’s clear that BPI is above 60, indicating bulls are in control in this sector. The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is at its all-time high, which could be toppy. A break above this level would be bullish for the Tech sector. 

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF $BPINFO. The Technology sector is more bullish than the Industrials, but it could be getting toppy. A break above prevailing levels could mean the Tech sector still has legs. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Market Participation

Overall, there looks to be broader participation in the stock market. The S&P 500 Equal Weighted Index ($SPXEW) is moving higher (see chart below) but is battling against a resistance level (green line). A break above its current level clears the path for the index to reach its 52-week high. 

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF THE S&P 500 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEX. The index is moving higher but has hit resistance. A break above this resistance level would confirm broader market participation. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Closing Position

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the stock market, the markets are leaning to the bullish side. We’re seeing upside movement in other asset classes besides the Mag 7 stocks. Monitor the BPI of various indexes and sectors. The simplest way is to follow these steps:

  • Download the Essentials ChartPack.
  • The US Sectors – Bullish Percent Indexes ChartList contains the BPI of all the sectors.
  • The Market & Index Bullish Percent Indexes ChartList contains BPIs of various indexes.
  • The US Industries – Bullish Percent Indexes ChartList contains charts of two indexes.
  • You can modify these ChartLists by adding/deleting symbols.
  • Monitor your ChartLists regularly.

Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) has reportedly reached an agreement with the Malian government after nearly two years of issues, resolving a prolonged conflict over its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex.

According to Reuters, the deal, which is pending formal approval by Mali’s government, includes financial compensation and regulatory commitments. It will lift gold export restrictions and allow Barrick to resume full operations.

Barrick/Mali dispute background

The dispute between Barrick and Mali began in 2023 after Mali introduced a new mining code that increased the state’s financial stake in mining projects. The revised framework required foreign mining companies to cede a greater share of revenue to the government, which relies heavily on the sector as a primary source of income.

Barrick, one of Mali’s largest mining operators, resisted certain provisions, leading to months of negotiations without resolution. Tensions escalated in late 2024, when Malian authorities detained four Barrick employees from the company’s Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, charging them with undisclosed violations.

Barrick refuted the charges and sought diplomatic and legal avenues to secure the employees’ release.

The arrests followed similar actions against executives of Resolute Mining (ASX:RSG,LSE:RSG,OTC Pink:RMGGF), which was accused of owing US$162 million to Mali in back taxes.

In early 2025, the Malian government imposed export restrictions on Barrick’s gold production, preventing the company from shipping stockpiled gold from Loulo-Gounkoto. At the time, CEO Mark Bristow warned that a prolonged shutdown could force the company to suspend mining activities at the site entirely.

Mali then escalated the standoff by enforcing gold seizures at the mine on January 11, with government officials reportedly transferring up to 3 metric tons of gold by helicopter.

Terms of the agreement

As part of the settlement, Barrick will pay US$438 million to the Malian government.

In return, the government has agreed to release Barrick’s detained employees, lift the gold export restrictions imposed on the company and allow mining operations to resume at full capacity.

A delegation of more than 15 Malian officials and representatives from consulting firm Iventus Mining conducted a three day inspection of Loulo-Gounkoto before finalizing the deal. The Malian government reportedly gave Barrick a one week deadline to restart operations, further pressuring the company to reach an agreement.

Bristow previously stated that the closure of Loulo-Gounkoto would cause financial losses for both Barrick and Mali.

In 2024, Barrick paid US$460 million in taxes and royalties to Mali. The company has estimated that it would have contributed US$550 million in 2025 if operations had continued without disruption.

The prolonged shutdown forced Barrick to lower its annual gold output forecast to between 3.2 million and 3.5 million ounces, compared to 3.9 million ounces in 2024 and 4.1 million ounces in 2023.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Asset management firm Purpose Investments launched seven new yield shares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Thursday (February 20), including four that offer Canadians exposure to key tech companies.

Purpose Investments’ new ETF lineup

Three of Purpose’s ETFs — the Palantir (PLTR) Yield Shares Purpose ETF (CBOE:YPLT), the Coinbase (COIN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF (CBOE:YCON) and the Broadcom (AGO) Yield Shares Purpose ETF (CBOE:YAVG) — offer concentrated exposure to leading enterprises in the defense, blockchain and artificial intelligence sectors.

The Tech Innovators Yield Shares Purpose ETF (CBOE:YMAG) offers exposure to the largest and most influential earners on the Nasdaq. Known by the acronym BATMMAAN, the basket of tech stocks in this ETF are Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA).

“The Tech Innovators Yield Shares is an exciting evolution of our suite, bringing together industry giants with a sophisticated strategy that allows investors to participate in their growth while generating enhanced, diversified income. This powerful blend of innovation and yield is designed to meet the needs of today’s investors,” said Nick Mersch, portfolio manager for Purpose’s Yield Shares division in a press release.

The remaining three ETFs offer exposure to Costco (NASDAQ:COST), UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX). Their names and tickers are as follows:

    All seven ETFs use a covered call strategy to generate attractive monthly distributions.

    This approach allows investors to potentially earn a higher income than traditional dividend yields while maintaining exposure to the performance of these leading companies.

    The Yield Shares ETFs are available for purchase through brokers and investment advisors.

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

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    Bitcoin attracts bold predictions. Recent forecasts show that this top cryptocurrency may soon hit Bitcoin Reach $200000. Many trusted sources, including Yahoo Finance, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, and CNBC, have reported this forecast. This public news reflects rising optimism among market experts amid changing economic conditions.

    Market Sentiment and Economic Drivers

    Many analysts believe that economic uncertainty and rising prices create a strong chance for Bitcoin to serve as a safe asset. Investors now see Bitcoin as a reliable store of value. They shift funds to cryptocurrencies when they lose trust in traditional assets. In addition, new regulations in key markets push both large and small investors to spread their money across various assets.

    Technical Analysis and Price Trends

    Technical data supports a potential price surge. Long-term charts show an upward trend, while short-term drops offer good buying points. Trading volumes and network activity grow each day. Experts point to a limited supply and high demand as key reasons that Bitcoin Reach $200000 upto.

    Investor Implications and Risk Management

    Investors must stay alert in this volatile market. They should manage risk by diversifying their portfolios. Many experts advise reviewing holdings and allocating funds wisely. They also recommend keeping up with the latest market news and technical signals to guide decisions.

    Conclusion

    This forecast that Bitcoin may reach $200,000 comes from strong market sentiment, positive technical trends, and a unique economic climate. However, investors face a volatile market that demands caution. Experts urge both individual and institutional investors to monitor these trends closely and prepare for various market moves.

    While reaching $200,000 is not guaranteed, this forecast offers valuable insight into the ever-changing crypto market. It shows that the market can shift quickly and that informed decisions are key. Investors should act wisely and stay updated on news and trends. By doing so, they can protect their investments and uncover new opportunities in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrencies.

    The post Could Bitcoin Reach $200000? Market & Expert Insights appeared first on FinanceBrokerage.

    In an attempt to court younger audiences, Disney’s ESPN is planning to add some user-generated content to its yet-to-be-named flagship streaming service, which will debut later this year.

    While the details are still unclear, ESPN will allow subscribers to post their own content at some point in the application’s evolution, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology likely won’t be available at launch, which the company hopes will occur before the National Football League season begins in September. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.

    Disney executives have also considered adding user-generated content to Disney+ and discuss YouTube’s influence on streaming on a near daily basis, CNBC reported last year.

    Alphabet’s YouTube, which leans heavily on creator-led content, is the most popular streaming service with an 11.1% share of total TV usage in the U.S., according to Nielsen.

    ESPN executives are targeting a price of either $25 per month or $30 per month for the ESPN streaming service, which will include all of ESPN’s linear programming plus other digital add-ons, the people said.

    The company plans to announce a name for the service, a price and a launch date in the coming months, the people said.

    Media and professional sports league executives are focusing on how to capture the attention of younger viewers that are opting to watch YouTube or TikTok over live games. ESPN spends tens of billions of dollars each year on the media rights for live sports.

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