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March 25, 2025

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The Best Five Sectors, #12

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Energy Jumps to #2

A big move for the energy sector last week as XLE jumped to the #2 position in the ranking, coming from #6 the week before. This move came at the cost of the Consumer Staples sector which was pushed out of the top-5 and is now on #7.

Because of the jump of Energy, the Financials sector was pushed down to #3. Healthcare and Utilities remain in the top-5 but have switched positions.

The New Sector Lineup

  1. (1) Communication Services – (XLC)
  2. (6) Energy – (XLE)*
  3. (2) Financials – (XLF)*
  4. (5) Utilities – (XLU)*
  5. (4) Healthcare – (XLV)*
  6. (7) Industrials – (XLI)*
  7. (3) Consumer Staples – (XLP)*
  8. (8) Real-Estate – (XLRE)
  9. (9) Consumer Discretionary – (XLY)
  10. (10) Materials – (XLB)
  11. (11) Technology – (XLK)

Weekly RRG: XLF and XLC remain strong

On the weekly Relative Rotation Graph, Communication Services and Financials remain strong inside the leading quadrant. From the big cluster of tails inside the improving quadrant, XLE has jumped to the front of the queue (almost) while XLU and XLV continue to pick up nicely.

The long tail on XLY at a negative RRG-Heading rapidly continues to push the sector to the lagging quadrant. The Negative RRG-Heading on XLK keeps the sector at the bottom of the list.

Daily RRG: Modest Pickup of Relative Momentum for XLK and XLY

On the daily RRG:

  • XLE jumps to the highest RS-Ratio reading while maintaining the highest RS-Momentum.
  • Utilities stall inside the lagging quadrant
  • XLV rotates into weakening but remains at an elevated RS-Ratio reading
  • XLF rotates back into the leading quadrant, signaling the start of a new leg in the already established relative uptrend.

Communication Services

XLC held above the rising support line and closed towards the high of the week, suggesting that a new higher low is now getting into place.

Relative Strength continues to be strong, and RS-Momentum bottoms against 100-level.

Energy

The Energy sector rapidly improved, jumping from position #6 to #2 in one week. On the price chart, XLE is breaking its falling resistance, which opens the way for a further rally to the horizontal barrier near 98.

The raw RS-line is close to leaving its two-year-old falling channel, which would signal a significant shift in sentiment and a turnaround into a relative uptrend.

Financials

XLF remains a strong sector in position #3, with relative strength continuing to rise.

Last week’s rally on the price chart brought the price back to the old rising support line, which is now expected to start acting as resistance. The former support from the low near 5o is also expected to start acting as resistance.

This means that the upside potential in terms of price seems limited for now, but RS is still going strong.

Utilities

Relative strength for Utilities continues to creep higher, enough to keep the sector inside the top 5.

Both price and RS remain within the boundaries of their trading ranges.

Healthcare

RS for the Healthcare sector stalled at the level of the previous low. The RS-Ratio and RS-Momentum combinations on the daily and weekly Relative Rotation Graphs remain strong enough to keep the sector in the top 5.

Portfolio Performance Update

In the portfolio, the position in Consumer Staples (XLP) was closed against the opening price of Monday morning (3/24). At the same time, a new position was opened in Energy (XLE) against the opening price.

The rally in Consumer Discretionary and Technology at the end of last week has put a small dent in the performance,e and RRGv1 is now 1.4% behind SPY since the start of the year.

#StayAlert, -Julius

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DP Trading Room: Tariffs Narrowing, Sparks Market Rally

Stock 3 Mins Read

Over the weekend it was announced that tariffs will be narrowing and possibly not as widespread as initially thought. Negotiations are continuing in the background and this seems to be allaying market participants’ fears. The market rallied strongly on the news.

Carl and Erin gave you their opinions of whether this rally has staying power. Carl began the program with a look at the current DP Signal Tables. Biases remain very negative but as we often say things get as bad as they’re going to get before they start turning it around.

After looking at the tables, Carl analyzed the market in general and then covered Gold, the Dollar, Yields, Bitcoin and more. Get a sense of market conditions with a review of this section.

The Magnificent Seven were next up on the agenda. Carl reviewed both the daily and weekly charts seeing many new rallies kicking in. Their improvements bode well for the market in general.

Erin took the reins and gave us a complete overview of sector rotation. She took a deep dive in the aggressive sectors with an under the hood view of Consumer Discretionary (XLY), Communication Services (XLC) and Technology (XLK).

Erin concluded the program by looking at viewer symbol requests that included SOFI, RIVN, F and SMCI.

01:18 DP Signal Tables

03:42 Market Overview

13:24 Magnificent Seven

22:05 Sector Rotation

28:31 Symbol Requests

Join us LIVE in the trading at Noon ET on Mondays by registering once here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D6iAp-C1S6SebVpQIYcC6g

We are running a two week FREE trial on any of our subscriptions! Just use coupon code: DPTRIAL2 at checkout! Here is a list of our subscriptions: https://www.decisionpoint.com/products.html

The DP Alert: Your First Stop to a Great Trade!

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Technical Analysis is a windsock, not a crystal ball. –Carl Swenlin

(c) Copyright 2025 DecisionPoint.com

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. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

DecisionPoint is not a registered investment advisor. Investment and trading decisions are solely your responsibility. DecisionPoint newsletters, blogs or website materials should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to take any specific action.

Helpful DecisionPoint Links:

Trend Models

Price Momentum Oscillator (PMO)

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Swenlin Trading Oscillators (STO-B and STO-V)

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SCTR Ranking

Bear Market Rules

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DRI Stock Breakout Confirmed: Here’s What You Need to Know Now!

Stock 5 Mins Read

Markets surged out of the gate Monday morning, with all three major U.S. indexes notching early gains. But after a bruising two-week rout on Wall Street, the question facing investors is whether stocks can sustain the rebound.

If Monday’s bounce is driven more by short-term bargain hunting than long-term conviction, then certain scans, like StockCharts’ Strong Uptrends to New Highs can help cut through the noise — flagging the outliers breaking key levels and showing enough momentum to possibly hold the upward move.

How I Scanned the Market at the Open

First stop: A high-level sweep of the S&P 500 using MarketCarpets to catch the early movers. From there, I drilled down into the sectors to see where real strength, or weakness, was taking shape.

FIGURE 1. MARKETCARPETS S&P 500 AND SECTOR VIEW. The S&P 500 view gives you a sea of green, but zooming into sectors, Consumer Discretionary (XLY) stands out above the rest.

Consumer Discretionary is outpacing all sectors, a signal worth noting. Instead of looking for leadership, I considered stocks hitting new highs, and then checking to see if any Discretionary names stand out from the pack.

So, next, I ran a Strong Uptrends To New Highs scan (you can find it in your scan library).

FIGURE 2, IMAGE OF THE SCAN AS IT APPEARS IN THE LIBRARY: This is one among numerous bullish scans you can run in StockCharts.

Only four stocks came up as a result. The most recognizable figure is Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI).

Darden Restaurants Stock: A Tasting Menu of Profits or Bloat

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the stock, you know Darden. Here’s a short list: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chuy’s, Bahama Breeze, and a few more. Sound familiar?

DRI jumped after reporting strong fiscal Q3 results, with sales and EPS rising. The company also raised its full-year outlook and declared a $1.40 dividend; analysts also gave it an upgrade.

On the technical side of things, DRI also showed up on several other scan engines which appeared in the StockCharts Symbol Summary:

  • Moved Above Upper Bollinger Band
  • Moved Above Upper Price Channel
  • P&F Double Top Breakout
  • Moved Above Upper Keltner Channel
  • New 52-week Highs
  • P&F Spread Triple Top Breakout

Let’s take a look at DRI’s relative performance against its sector (XLY) and the S&P 500 using PerfCharts.

FIGURE 3. PERFCHARTS OF DRI, XLY, AND $SPX.  DRI’s outperformance is very recent, according to this chart.

This chart tells an interesting story. DRI has been the laggard for most of the last 12 months, though it began picking up steam as XLY began outpacing the S&P 500. As tariff fears brought XLY valuations down toward S&P levels, DRI maintained its valuations, and after a two-week dip, shot higher.

Let’s take a longer-term look using a weekly chart.

FIGURE 4. WEEKLY CHART OF DRI. The dotted line shows this week’s breakout to all-time highs.

So, what does this chart tell us relative to the PerfCharts above? First, while DRI has been underperforming XLY and the S&P over the last year (and longer than that if you extend the PerfCharts analysis period), the stock has been chugging along on a slow and steady, albeit volatile, uptrend, staying well above its 200-period simple moving average (SMA).

The StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) line shows you that DRI has had periods fluctuating from technical strength to weakness. I consider the 70-line signal, more or less, to be the strength threshold, and right now, the stock is at 92, an extremely bullish level. The question now is whether it can maintain its trajectory and if so, might there be an entry point for those who are bullish on the stock?

For that, let’s shift over to a daily chart.

FIGURE 5. DAILY CHART OF DRI. Watch the momentum and volume.

DRI has been marching steadily upward since the middle of last summer, with its recent push to all-time highs fueled by strong fundamentals. However, in terms of momentum and volume, the Money Flow Index (MFI), which is a volume-driven RSI of sorts, has been declining during DRI’s rise, signaling the potential for a pullback.

Whether DRI can sustain its current momentum remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Ichimoku Cloud can help anticipate and gauge any potential pullback, with a broad support zone forming below. The first key level to watch is $192, while $180 marks a critical support line — a close below that could open the door to further downside.

At the Close

This scan-driven approach began with a broad market view and drilled down to individual stocks that made new highs while others merely rebounded. DRI emerged as a standout: a fundamentally strong name hitting new highs while much of the market remains in recovery mode. Whether it continues to climb or pulls back toward support, tools like the Ichimoku Cloud and volume-based indicators can help you manage the risk and prepare for entry.

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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Key Levels for AAPL, AMZN, NVDA — Will This Market Rally Hold?

Stock 1 Min Read

In this video, Dave breaks down the upside bounce in the Magnificent 7 stocks — AAPL, AMZN, NVDA, and more — highlighting key levels, 200-day moving averages, and top trading strategies using the StockCharts platform. Find out whether these leading growth stocks are set for a bullish reversal or more downside. Will the rally hold?

This video originally premiered on March 24, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!

Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.

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African Gold Announces Transformational Strategic Partnership with Montage Gold

Investing 5 Mins Read

African Gold Ltd (ASX: A1G) (“African Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its plans to secure a strategic investment from Montage Gold Corp. (TSXV: MAU; OTCQX: MAUTF) (“Montage Gold”) and new investors with a total value of up to A$9,174,768.

Highlights

  • Montage Gold and insiders to acquire a 19.9% stake in African Gold via:
    • a share swap of 2,026,388 Montage shares, valued at approximately A$6,466,445, for 92,377,787 African Gold shares at a deemed issue price of A$0.07 per share; and
    • a placement to Montage insiders of 12,371,429 African Gold shares at $0.07 per share raising A$866,000 (before costs).
  • The strategic partnership with Montage Gold will accelerate exploration at African Gold’s highly prospective Didievi gold project and broader tenement portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire.
  • Leadership team strengthened: Montage Gold’s EVP of Exploration, Silvia Bottero, joins the Board as Non-Executive Director, and CEO Martino De Ciccio to serve as a strategic advisor.
  • Montage Gold, recognised for its success in Côte d’Ivoire with the 4Moz+ Koné gold project, has a proven track record of value creation. This investment builds on their successful Sanu Gold (CNSX: SANU) partnership, which has delivered significant shareholder returns.

Key Terms:

  • Share Swap Agreement: African Gold will issue 92,377,787 shares at a deemed issue price of A$0.07 per share to Montage Gold in exchange for an equivalent value of Montage shares (2,026,388 shares) at a deemed issue price of C$2.87 per share1.
  • Placement to Montage insiders: 12,371,429 shares will also be issued to Montage related parties raising A$866,000 (before costs).
  • Following completion, Montage and insiders will hold 19.9%2 of African Gold, with an expected cash-equivalent valuation of $7,332,445.
  • Private Placement: African Gold will conduct a non-brokered private placement for approximately 5.0%2 of its shares to new investors by the issue of 26,318,899 shares at A$0.07 per share, raising approximately A$1,842,323 (before costs).
  • Board & Advisory Roles: Montage Gold’s EVP of Exploration, Silvia Bottero, will join the African Gold Board, while Montage CEO, Martino De Ciccio, will serve as a strategic advisor.
  • Assignment of pre-emptive rights: African Gold will assign to Montage its pre- emptive rights with respect to certain minority interests in the Didivei project, including that of a right to acquire the 20% project level shareholding owned by minority shareholders.
  • Exploration Funding & Oversight: Montage will oversee exploration at the Didievi project, with costs covered by African Gold. A joint technical committee— comprising three African Gold representatives and two from Montage—will determine exploration strategy and expenditures.
  • Right of First Refusal (“ROFR”): On certain asset-level transactions for the Didievi Project.
  • Silvia Bottero and Martino De Ciccio will be granted 5 million options each with an exercise price of $0.10 per share and expiry date three years from date of issue (subject to shareholder approval), recognising their active involvement and contributions to A1G.

This agreement follows the highly successful deal between Montage Gold and Sanu Gold, which enabled Sanu to aggressively advance drilling on its Guinea-focused projects and generate significant shareholder value. The Sanu Gold deal was conducted at C$0.072 per share, with Sanu’s share price rising as high as C$0.32 per share and currently trading at C$0.30 per share.

Africa Gold’s Chief Executive Officer, Adam Oehlman, said“We are excited to partner with Montage Gold given their extensive exploration track record and strong presence in Côte d’Ivoire. This collaboration offers an exciting opportunity to unlock exploration value at notably our flagship Didievi project. Furthermore, Montage’s robust technical due diligence process strengthens our belief that the Didievi project is highly prospective. We are very pleased with the ongoing 10,000-metre drill programme at our Didievi project and look forward to further drilling the property this year given our strengthened financial position.

“As part of this partnership, we are pleased to welcome Silvia Bottero to the African Gold board. With over 20 years of experience in mining, Silvia has a proven track record in driving greenfield discoveries and advancing brownfield projects, particularly in Africa and over the last decade she has been credited with the discovery of over 15Moz of M&I gold resources in Côte d’Ivoire.

“We are also excited to welcome Martino De Ciccio as a strategic advisor to African Gold given his extensive expertise and value creation track record. Moreover, Martino has a profound understanding of the African mining landscape, being recently recognized as one of the 20 most influential people in the African mining sector by Africa Business. Over the last year, under Martino’s leadership, Montage’s market capitalization grew from C$140 million to over C$1 billion given their success in obtaining environmental and mining permits, staffing a high-quality team, obtaining high profile strategic investors, securing over US$950 million in financing, delivering strong exploration results, and launching construction of their project.

“We look forward to working closely with Montage Gold, to maximise the potential of our assets in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage, commented:“We are very pleased to form a strategic partnership with African Gold and work alongside them to rapidly unlock exploration value across their highly attractive portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire, including the high-grade Didievi project, by leveraging our presence and expertise in the country. Our strategic investment in African Gold follows a thorough review of potential partnerships in Côte d’Ivoire, based on a value-driven approach that considers risk-adjusted geological potential and is supported by technical due diligence.”

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Trump Invokes Wartime Powers to Boost US Critical Minerals Production

Investing 4 Mins Read

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic production of critical minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign sources — particularly China.

The order, signed on March 20, identifies mineral production as a national security imperative and authorizes the Department of Defense, in coordination with the International Development Finance Corporation, to facilitate financing, permitting and investment support for mining and processing essential minerals.

It also directs the Department of the Interior to expedite permits and prioritize mining operations on federal land.

‘Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production,’ the order states. ‘It is imperative for our national security that the United States take immediate action to facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent.’

The Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law originally enacted in 1950, grants the government the authority to direct private industry toward national security objectives. In recent years, the law has been used to ramp up production of defense materials, medical supplies and renewable energy components.

Trump’s use of the act signals a strong shift toward prioritizing domestic resource extraction to counteract China’s dominance in the supply chain and dependence on other nations.

US reliance on foreign minerals

Despite possessing significant reserves, the US remains heavily dependent on mineral imports.

According to the US Geological Survey, the country imports at least 15 critical minerals in large quantities, with 70 percent of America’s rare earths coming from China.

The US also relies on imports for nearly 50 percent of its lithium, 90 percent of its gallium and nearly 100 percent of its graphite, all essential for defense applications and the growing electric vehicle industry.

The move to boost domestic production comes amid growing concerns over China’s tightening export controls.

Beijing has recently begun restricting shipments of germanium, gallium and antimony — materials that are vital for semiconductors and defense systems. In response, US policymakers have pushed for strategic stockpiles and expanded domestic production to reduce vulnerability.

Mixed market response to executive order

Industry leaders have applauded the order, calling it a necessary step toward securing a stable supply chain.

Some US mining companies have also issued statements in support of the executive order.

Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU,OTCQX:UURAF), which is currently working with the Department of Defense on rare earth elements processing technology, called the order a move that ‘underscores the urgent need to establish robust, domestic rare earth processing capabilities’ in a recent press release.

CEO Pat Ryan noted that the Trump administration’s efforts align with Ucore’s plans to commercialize its refining technology, which would help reduce the country’s dependence on Chinese processing facilities.

Similarly, American Tungsten (CSE:TUNG,OTCQB:DEMRF) praised the initiative, citing the need for an independent tungsten supply chain. ‘This Executive Order is a clear endorsement for America’s mining industry. We believe our tungsten project, the IMA Mine, is a core example of why critical mineral production in the U.S. must be prioritized and addressed without delay,’ commented CEO Murray Nye in a statement.

However, environmental groups have criticized the order, warning that it could weaken safeguards meant to protect public lands from excessive mining activity. ‘Yet again, President Trump is trying to ignore the law and dictate that our national public lands be handed over to private companies for extraction and profit above all else,’ Bloomberg quotes Rachael Hamby, policy director at the Center for Western Priorities, as saying.

Many environmental advocates prefer stronger regulations, and have long warned that increased mining activity, particularly on federal lands, could lead to pollution, habitat destruction and water contamination.

The order directs federal agencies to produce a list of US mines that could be quickly approved, and to assess which federal lands, including those managed by the Pentagon, could be used for mineral processing.

It also mandates the creation of a centralized forum for buyers and sellers in the critical minerals industry.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Funding the Energy Transition: The Role of Public and Private Finance in Building Supply Chains

Investing 6 Mins Read

The energy transition demands substantial funding as participants look to build out infrastructure and supply chains, but experts say new solutions are emerging to help navigate this landscape.

During the ‘Financing the Energy Transition’ panel at the Benchmark Summit, participants discussed the role of government and public sector investment, as well as the outlook for Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

Moderated by Adam Webb, head of battery raw materials at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the discussion at the Toronto-based event opened with a snapshot of Canada’s EV battery supply chain buildout.

Daanish Hussein, senior manager of grants and direct funding at BDO Canada, highlighted the downstream, midstream and upstream development happening in Ontario and Québec.

“If you look at the last four years, just looking at Ontario, we’ve secured over C$45 billion in this industry,” he said, adding that Ontario’s strategy has initially been focused on downstream growth.

“Whereas in Québec, I think what you’ve seen is a bigger focus on the midstream and upstream,” added Hussein.

Moving forward, he expects both provinces to prioritize midstream and upstream expansion.

“We want to make sure that Canada has the breadth and depth to get supply chain security, but also it’s an economic development imperative to develop the north, and there’s a lot of private and public sector support for this,” he noted.

Federal support for Canada’s mining industry

During the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, which coincided with the Benchmark Summit, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources, made several announcements aimed at supporting the country’s exploration, mining and development sectors.

The first was an extension to the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) until March 31, 2027.

The 15 percent METC aims to support junior exploration, mining and mineral processing companies, providing an estimated C$110 million to drive exploration investment.

Wilkinson also announced a second round of funding under Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. It will offer up to C$500 million for energy and transportation projects to boost the mining sector.

Last year’s round approved over 31 projects with C$300 million pending final review.

Hussein noted that these types of funding initiatives are imperative to encourage northern development.

Will US tariffs derail Canadian growth?

Despite focusing largely on Canada, the panel could not escape talks of US tariffs.

While acknowledging the uncertainty that the tariff threat presents, Hussein explained that the EV supply chain project pipeline in Québec and Ontario is robust and financially strong.

He pointed to Linamar’s (TSX:LNR,OTC Pink:LINAF) C$1 billion investment in six Ontario automotive technology sites, announced in January, as an example. The Ontario-based global auto parts manufacturer is also receiving support from the provincial (C$100 million) and federal (C$169.4 million) governments.

“So yes, there is reason for trepidation, but I think there’s a lot of compelling reasons to be optimistic,” said Hussein.

Battery metals investors must rejig expectations

Webb next asked where investors are currently finding value.

Arun Viswanathan, senior equity analyst for chemicals and packaging at RBC (TSX:RY,NYSE:RY), told the audience that investors are currently grappling with three issues.

“First off, they’re a little bit anchored to the recent peak as a potential possibility as to how high they think prices can go, and there isn’t really support for investors to get to that level,” he said.

In addition to unrealistic expectations about metals prices returning to peaks seen in late 2021 and early 2022, Viswanathan pointed to apprehension in EV sales growth in the EU and North America.

“Investors are also struggling with the idea that (in) North America and Europe, EV demand is very weak, and that demand has coincided with this downturn in pricing,” Viswanathan said.

“Even though 80 percent of the supply chain in lithium is in China, 99 percent of LFP capacity production is there, people actually do think that the North American and European markets do matter to drive pricing.”

A lack of transparency was the final factor impacting investor sentiment Viswanathan underscored.

“The third thing I would mention is opacity in the market,” he said. “And when you think about what is actually observable in China and elsewhere, I think investors struggle with data.”

He suggests that investors often “hone in” on inventory numbers, which do not always paint a complete picture.

Viswanathan went on to say that the lithium industry was once seen as a high-growth sector, but major producers are now scaling back their forecasts. For example, Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), has reduced its expected production growth from double digits to low single digits for 2025 and possibly 2026.

With a significant surplus in the market, there’s little immediate catalyst for change. Many investors remain focused on the short term, limiting interest in long-term opportunities despite potential value over the next decade.

“I think in general, investors are optimistic on the long-term story. But even though prices have come down significantly, I don’t know if we’re at value stages yet,” he said.

Does ESG matter for financing?

From there, the discussion shifted to the importance of ESG credentials in financing projects.

Weighing in on the topic, Shelley Gilberg, markets leader of managed accounts at PwC, noted that it “depends on whose money you are taking’ and said alternative forms of financing are emerging.

“You’re starting to see the emergence of much more purpose capital that understands what they’re investing in. They’re prepared to potentially take a slightly lower rate of return in exchange for the thematic investing that they’re doing.”

Gilberg highlighted the Canada Growth Fund’s recent equity stake in the Nouveau Monde Graphite (TSXV:NOU,NYSE:NGM) as part of the shift in financing strategies. Announced in December, the C$57 million investment aligns with the Canada Growth Fund’s goal of supporting national critical minerals development.

Gilberg went on to suggest that companies seeking financing have to pay attention to a multitude of factors, including boardroom dynamics, shareholder activism and industry partnerships.

In today’s geopolitical climate, some market expectations conflict — some US buyers reject ESG commitments, while European buyers demand them, leaving Canadian firms navigating a middle ground.

“I think the most difficult thing for every company right now — this isn’t unique to mining — is how do you line up customer sentiment around this stuff with investor sentiment?” she said. “And I can tell you, it’s difficult.”

Ultimately, Gilberg explained that these are strategic business decisions, not just ESG concerns.

Although the landscape is rough, companies that are able to mesh customer needs with investor concerns are likely to benefit from what Gilberg described as a “reset” of the sustainability and ESG lens.

‘I think the greatest risk and the greatest opportunity right now for mining companies comes from aligning the customers you’re going to serve with the investors whose money you’re using,” she said. “That has to be the magic.”

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Group Eleven Intersects 7.5m of 20.1% Zn+Pb and 51 g/t Ag, incl. 2.2m of 37.5% Zn+Pb and 72 g/t Ag at Ballywire in Step-Out Drilling; Upcoming Drilling at Cu-Ag Target and ‘D’ Gravity Anomaly

Investing 14 Mins Read

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) (‘Group Eleven’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce assay results from four new holes (and additional assays from a previously announced hole) from the ongoing drill program at the Company’s 100%-owned Ballywire zinc-lead-silver discovery (‘Ballywire’), PG West Project (‘PG West’), Republic of Ireland.

Highlights:

  • G11-3552-29 intersected (from 189.3m):
    • 130.7m of 2.3% Zn+Pb (2.0% Zn and 0.3% Pb) and 13 g/t Ag, including
    • 7.5m of 20.1% Zn+Pb (19.1% Zn and 1.0% Pb) and 51 g/t Ag, including
    • 5.7m of 24.1% Zn+Pb (23.2% Zn and 1.0% Pb) and 60 g/t Ag, including
    • 2.2m of 37.5% Zn+Pb (36.9% Zn and 0.7% Pb) and 72 g/t Ag
    • Represents a 55m step-out down-dip from G11-3552-27
  • G11-3552-271 intersected (from 201.5m):
    • 70.5m of 3.4% Zn+Pb (2.2% Zn and 1.2% Pb) and 41 g/t Ag, including
    • 25.7m of 7.9% Zn+Pb (5.7% Zn and 2.2% Pb), 78 g/t Ag and 0.12% Cu and
    • 4.2m of 2.0% Zn+Pb (0.4% Zn and 1.6% Pb), 172 g/t Ag and 0.66% Cu, including
    • 0.9m of 3.6% Zn+Pb (0.9% Zn and 2.6% Pb), 511 g/t Ag and 2.01% Cu
    • Located 50m down-dip from G11-3552-25 (announced 06-Feb-2025)
  • G11-3552-29 expands the footprint of the recently announced 360m long, flat-lying zone of zinc-rich massive sulphide lenses by at least 50m down-dip, to a total of at least 125m down-dip
  • Drilling continues at Ballywire with two rigs testing further down-dip of the two holes released today, plus the NE extension; assay results are expected in due course
  • In several weeks, drilling will also begin testing (a) a Cu-Ag target below the Zn-Pb-Ag discovery horizon; and (b) a step-out target 1.3km to the ENE of the Ballywire discovery testing in the vicinity of the prospective ‘D’ gravity-high anomaly, at a locality with abundant calcite similar to the calcite typically observed immediately above high-grade mineralization along the discovery trend

‘We are very pleased to see the NE massive sulphide zone expanded by a ninth consecutive high-grade hole,’ stated Bart Jaworski, CEO. ‘Additional excellent Ag and Cu values also continue to point to a stratigraphically deeper Cu-Ag horizon, which we are aiming to start drill testing for the very first time over the next few weeks. We also look forward to stepping out 1.3km ENE towards a very prospective area near the ‘D’ gravity high anomaly. This locality hosts abundant calcite bodies, commonly seen above high-grade mineralization at Ballywire. A nearby historic hole is also mineralized. With the Cu-Ag target, continued drilling to the NE and larger step outs along our prospective 6km trend, 2025 promises to be an exciting year of exploration for Group Eleven.’

Exhibit 1. Cross-Section Showing New Drilling (G11-3552-27, -29 and -31) at Ballywire Discovery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_1b4f826a447618ea_002full.jpg

Note: Partial assays from G11-3552-27 previously announced on 06-Feb-25, consisting of 24.8m of 8.1% Zn+Pb, 80 g/t Ag;

Exhibit 2. Plan Map Showing New Drilling and Interpreted Cu-Ag ‘Feeder’ Structure

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_1b4f826a447618ea_003full.jpg

Note: Partial assays from G11-3552-27 previously announced on 06-Feb-25, consisting of 24.8m of 8.1% Zn+Pb, 80 g/t Ag;

New Step-Out Holes at Ballywire Discovery

The Ballywire prospect at the Company’s 100%-owned PG West Project in Republic of Ireland, is a relatively new zinc-lead-silver discovery (first announced Sept-2022). In addition to 44 holes drilled and reported by Group Eleven to date, the most recent four holes (G11-3552-24, -26, -28, and -29) and additional assays for previously announced hole, G11-3552-27, are reported today (see Exhibits 1 to 7).

High-grade mineralization from G11-3552-27 and -29 (see Page 1 and Exhibits 1 to 4) consists predominantly of massive and semi-massive sulphide (sphalerite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite and suspected tennantite-tetrahedrite), as well as, disseminated and vein hosted sulphide mineralization. Mineralization occurs along and/or close to the base of the Waulsortian Limestone (see Exhibit 1).

Exhibit 3. Summary of Assays from G11-3552-24, -26, -27, -28 and -29 at Ballywire

Item From
(m)		 To
(m)		 Int
(m)		 Zn
(%)		 Pb
(%)		 Zn+Pb
(%)		 Ag
(g/t)		 Cu
(%)
G11-3552-27 201.45 271.94 70.49 2.22 1.20 3.41 40.8 0.09
Incl. 212.07 237.81 25.74 5.69 2.21 7.90 77.8 0.12
Incl. 219.42 235.06 15.64 8.30 3.28 11.59 122.1 0.19
Incl. 218.47 222.21 3.74 12.18 3.05 15.23 75.3 –
And 228.51 235.06 6.55 11.06 5.65 16.71 240.0 0.42
Incl. 230.36 233.90 3.54 13.26 8.01 21.27 395.1 0.73
And 267.72 271.94 4.22 0.40 1.58 1.97 171.6 0.66
Incl. 268.64 269.49 0.85 0.93 2.62 3.55 511.0 2.01
G11-3552-29 189.33 320.05 130.72 1.99 0.26 2.25 13.0 –
Incl. 224.27 229.61 5.34 4.10 0.79 4.88 12.5 –
And 259.03 266.56 7.53 19.08 1.01 20.09 51.3 –
Incl. 259.03 264.74 5.71 23.16 0.95 24.11 60.0 –
Incl. 259.03 261.25 2.22 36.86 0.68 37.54 71.7 –
And 307.91 320.05 12.14 0.23 0.04 0.27 66.2 0.12
Incl. 315.26 320.05 4.79 0.38 0.05 0.42 149.4 0.27
Incl. 318.00 320.05 2.05 0.09 0.04 0.12 301.0 0.52
G11-3552-24 186.26 199.20 12.94 0.15 0.04 0.19 2.1 –
Incl. 193.76 197.31 3.55 0.30 0.10 0.40 4.8 –
And 235.85 236.76 0.91 0.01 0.01 0.01 36.1 0.35
G11-3552-26 215.80 216.36 0.56 0.83 0.79 1.62 71.5 –
Incl. 215.80 215.97 0.17 2.52 2.25 4.77 190.0 –
G11-3552-28 157.95 174.81 16.86 0.02 0.58 0.59 3.1 –
Incl. 166.42 169.28 2.86 0.05 1.26 1.31 9.0 –
And 172.99 174.81 1.82 0.07 2.12 2.19 6.8 –
And 179.67 181.49 1.82 0.03 0.17 0.20 64.1 0.16
And 218.66 220.50 1.84 0.00 0.00 0.01 2.7 0.26

 

Note: True width of the intervals above as a percentage of the intersected interval is 90% (G11-3552-27), 80-90% (G11-3552-29), 90-100% (G11-3552-24), 80-90% (G11-3552-26) and 90-100% (G11-3552-28)

Holes drilled as 300m step-outs to the NE (G11-3552-24, -26 and -28; see Exhibit 2) returned zones of mineralization narrower and weaker than those at the main discovery trend (see Exhibit 3). Disseminated copper mineralization, as well as, mineralized veins and fractures, however, are strengthening towards the north, suggesting massive sulphide mineralization may be present further north (see northern-most projected mineralized trend in Exhibit 4). A second mineralized trend is also emerging to the south where the interpreted Cu-Ag rich ‘feeder’ fault pierced by drilled along the main discovery trend (see solid purple line in Exhibits 2 and 4) appears to correlate with mineralization intersected in G11-3552-08 (see Exhibit 2). More drilling is ongoing in the NE area to test the above targets.

Key 2025 Exploration Targets at Ballywire Discovery

Copper-Silver Target

As drilling progresses at Ballywire, it is increasingly evident that there exists an interpreted Cu-Ag ‘feeder’ fault parallel to and spatially associated with the main Zn-Pb-Ag discovery at Ballywire (see Exhibit 2). This ‘feeder’ fault hosts mineralization with up to 5.90% Cu and 1,440 g/t Ag, interpreted to have been transported by mineralizing fluids from below by vertical to steeply-dipping structures (see Exhibit 5). Today’s results provide further evidence, with grades up to 2.01% Cu and 511 g/t Ag (see Exhibit 3). Meanwhile, the stratigraphy of the region suggests that approximately 100-200m below the discovery horizon (base of the Waulsortian Limestone), is the Lower Limestone Shale horizon, which hosts four well known Cu-Ag historic occurrences in the surrounding area (see Denison, Oola, Gortdrum and Tullacondra in Exhibit 8, located approx. 5km, 9km, 10km and 45km away from Ballywire, respectively).

These historic Cu-Ag occurrences can be interpreted as the eroded remnants of originally more vertically extensive mineralizing systems, likely representing the roots of stratigraphically higher Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization. At Ballywire, there is a chance the mineralizing system is much larger than at the neighbouring deposits (based on relatively large footprint to date), and if it is there, any Cu-Ag mineralization would notionally be intact below the existing Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization.

Given the compelling nature of the above exploration model, Group Eleven aims to begin drilling this deeper Cu-Ag target over the coming several weeks.

Exhibit 4. Plan Map Showing Interpreted Cu-Ag ‘Feeder’ and Calcite Body Targets at Ballywire

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_1b4f826a447618ea_004full.jpg

Note: Calcite bodies occurring at the discovery trend are not shown here (shown in Exhibit 6 instead)

Exhibit 5. Cross-Section Showing Hypothesized Location of Cu-Ag Mineralization

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_1b4f826a447618ea_005full.jpg

Calcite Body Vectors

As drilling progresses at Ballywire, it is increasingly evident that high-grade Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization at Ballywire is spatially associated with steeply dipping bodies of calcite (see Exhibit 6), interpreted to represent the ‘exhaust’ from the mineralization process below (i.e. dissolved limestone at the mineralized horizon is re-precipitated as calcite bodies immediately above). These calcite bodies may prove to be a strong exploration vector along the undrilled remainder of Ballywire’s prospective 6km trend.

Two shallow historic holes, located 1.3km ENE from the current boundary of the Ballywire discovery, intercepted such calcite bodies (see Exhibits 4 and 7), yet were never followed up. This locality is also near the prospective ‘D’ gravity high anomaly and historic hole, 99-3352-05 (see Exhibit 7), which intersected mineralization of a tenor typically seen peripheral to massive sulphide zones at the discovery trend. Group Eleven aim to test this locality in the coming weeks.

Separately, two historic holes approx. 300m and 600m to the WSW, respectively, from the current boundary of the Ballywire discovery, also intercepted abundant calcite zones (see Exhibits 4 and 7) and were never followed up. Group Eleven aims to test these locations in due course.

Looking forward, six (6) drill holes (G11-3552-30 to -35; see Exhibit 2) are in progress with results expected in due course. Exhibit 2 shows drilling to date across 1.25km of the overall 2.6km long trend (see Exhibit 4) of significantly mineralized drill intercepts. This in turn is hosted within a 6km long prospective trend defined by four gravity high anomalies, only one of which (anomaly ‘C’) is systematically drilled to date (see Exhibit 7).

Exhibit 6. Oblique 3D View of Calcite Bodies Spatially Associated with Mineralization at Ballywire

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_1b4f826a447618ea_006full.jpg

Note: Bodies shown (calcite, Zn-Pb-Ag and Cu-Ag) are not constrained by any grade cut-off and are only meant for illustrative purposes

Exhibit 7. Regional Gravity at Ballywire Showing 6km Long Prospective Trend and Calcite Bodies

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_exhibit7.jpg

Notes to Exhibit 8: (a) Pallas Green MRE is owned by Glencore (see Glencore’s Resources and Reserves Report dated December 31, 2023); (b) Stonepark MRE: see the ‘NI 43-101 Independent Report on the Zinc-Lead Exploration Project at Stonepark, County Limerick, Ireland’, by Gordon, Kelly and van Lente, with an effective date of April 26, 2018, as found on SEDAR; and (c) the historic estimate at Denison was reported by Westland Exploration Limited in ‘Report on Prospecting Licence 464’ by Dermot Hughes dated May, 1988; the historic estimate at Gortdrum was reported in ‘The Geology and Genesis of the Gortdrum Cu-Ag-Hg Orebody’ by G.M. Steed dated 1986; and the historic estimate at Tullacondra was first reported by Munster Base Metals Ltd in ‘Report on Mallow Property’ by David Wilbur, dated December 1973; and later summarized in ‘Cu-Ag Mineralization at Tullacondra, Mallow, Co. Cork’ by Wilbur and Carter in 1986; the above three historic estimates have not been verified as current mineral resources; none of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historic estimates were reported and no resource categories were used; significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person before the historic estimates can be verified and upgraded to be compliant with current NI 43-101 standards; a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify them as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historic estimates as current mineral resources. ‘Rathdowney Trend’ is the south-westerly projection of the Rathdowney Trend, hosting the historic Lisheen and Galmoy mines.

Exhibit 8. Regional Map of Ballywire Discovery and Surrounding Cu-Ag Historic Occurrences

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/245941_figure8.jpg

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Professor Garth Earls, Eur Geol, P.Geo, FSEG, geological consultant at IGS (International Geoscience Services) Limited, and independent ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

Sampling and Analytical Procedures

All core drilled at Ballywire is NQ (47.6mm) and is cut using a rock saw. Sample intervals vary between 0.42m to 1.3m with the majority of samples in the 0.79m to 0.99m range. The half-core samples are bagged, labelled and sealed at Group Elevens core store facility in Limerick, Ireland. Selected sample bags are examined by the Qualified Person. Transport is via an accredited courier service and/or by Group Eleven staff to ALS Laboratories in Loughrea Co. Galway, Ireland. Sample preparation at the ALS facility comprises fine crushing 70%

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Information

Group Eleven inserts certified reference materials (‘CRMs’ or ‘Standards’) as well as blank material, to its sample stream as part of its industry-standard QA/QC programme. The QC results have been reviewed by the Qualified Person, who is satisfied that all the results are within acceptable parameters. The Qualified Person has validated the sampling and chain of custody protocols used by Group Eleven.

About Group Eleven Resources

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) and (FSE: 3GE) is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration in the Republic of Ireland. Group Eleven announced the Ballywire discovery in September 2022. Key intercepts to date include:

  • 10.8m of 10.0% Zn+Pb and 109 g/t Ag (G11-468-03)
  • 10.1m of 8.6% Zn+Pb and 46 g/t Ag (G11-468-06)
  • 10.5m of 14.7% Zn+Pb, 399 g/t Ag and 0.31% Cu (G11-468-12)
  • 11.2m of 8.9% Zn+Pb and 83 g/t Ag (G11-3552-03)
  • 29.6m of 10.6% Zn+Pb, 78 g/t Ag and 0.15% Cu (G11-3552-12) and
  • 11.8m of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 48 g/t Ag (G11-3552-18)
  • 15.6m of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 122 g/t Ag and 0.19% Cu (G11-3552-27)

Ballywire is located 20km from Company’s 77.64%-owned Stonepark zinc-lead deposit2, which itself is located adjacent to Glencore’s Pallas Green zinc-lead deposit3. The Company’s two largest shareholders are Glencore Canada Corp. (16.1% interest) and Michael Gentile (16.0%). Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bart Jaworski, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer

E: b.jaworski@groupelevenresources.com | T: +353-85-833-2463
E: j.webb@groupelevenresources.com | T: 604-644-9514

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company’s public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company’s mineral properties.

1 Partial assays from G11-3552-27 previously announced on 06-Feb-25, consisting of 24.8m of 8.1% Zn+Pb, 80 g/t Ag and 0.12% Cu. A further 55m was subsequently assayed and announced today (20.8m above and 34.1m below the stated 24.8m long interval).
2 Stonepark MRE is 5.1 million tonnes of 11.3% Zn+Pb (8.7% Zn and 2.6% Pb), Inferred (Apr-17-2018)
3 Pallas Green MRE is 45.4 million tonnes of 8.4% Zn+Pb (7.2% Zn + 1.2% Pb), Inferred (Glencore, Dec-31-2023)

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245941

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Nvidia’s CEO did a Q&A with analysts. What he said and what Wall Street thinks about it.

Business 3 Mins Read

Investors have closely watched Nvidia’s week-long GPU Technology Conference (GTC) for news and updates from the dominant maker of chips that power artificial intelligence applications.

The event comes at a pivotal time for Nvidia shares. After two years of monster gains, the stock is down 15% over the past month and 22% below the January all-time high.

As part of the event, CEO Jensen Huang took questions from analysts on topics ranging from demand for its advanced Blackwell chips to the impact of Trump administration tariffs. Here’s a breakdown of how Huang responded — and what analysts homed in on — during some of the most important questions:

Huang said he “underrepresented” demand in a slide that showed 3.6 million in estimated Blackwell shipments to the top four cloud service providers this year. While Huang acknowledged speculation regarding shrinking demand, he said the amount of computation needed for AI has “exploded” and that the four biggest cloud service clients remain “fully invested.”

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore noted that Huang’s commentary on Blackwell demand in data centers was the first-ever such disclosure.

“It was clear that the reason the company made the decision to give that data was to refocus the narrative on the strength of the demand profile, as they continue to field questions related to Open AI related spending shifting from 1 of the 4 to another of the 4, or the pressure of ASICs, which come from these 4 customers,” Moore wrote to clients, referring to application-specific integrated circuits.

Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar said the slide was “only scratching the surface” on demand. Beyond the four largest customers, he said others are also likely “all in line looking to get their hands on as much compute as their budgets allow.”

Another takeaway for Moore was the growth in physical AI, which refers to the use of the technology to power machines’ actions in the real world as opposed to within software.

At previous GTCs, Moore said physical AI “felt a little bit like speculative fiction.” But this year, “we are now hearing developers wrestling with tangible problems in the physical realm.”

Truist analyst William Stein, meanwhile, described physical AI as something that’s “starting to materialize.” The next wave for physical AI centers around robotics, he said, and presents a potential $50 trillion market for Nvidia.

Stein highliughted Jensen’s demonstration of Isaac GR00T N1, a customizable foundation model for humanoid robots.

Several analysts highlighted Huang’s explanation of what tariffs mean for Nvidia’s business.

“Management noted they have been preparing for such scenarios and are beginning to manufacture more onshore,” D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said. “It was mentioned that Nvidia is already utilizing [Taiwan Semiconductor’s’] Arizona fab where it is manufacturing production silicon.”

Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said Huang’s answer made it seem like Nvidia’s push to relocate some manufacturing to the U.S. would limit the effect of higher tariffs.

Rasgon also noted that Huang brushed off concerns of a recession hurting customer spending. Huang argued that companies would first cut spending in the areas of their business that aren’t growing, Rasgon said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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