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Crypto Price Forecast: Top Trends for Crypto in 2026

Investing 6 Mins Read

After 2025’s volatile end, 2026 is poised to be a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency sector, marking a transition from a speculative asset class to essential global financial infrastructure.

Further regulatory clarity, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and sustained institutional inflows could propel DeFi and crypto markets in 2026. According to experts, this is no longer a conversation about crypto versus TradFi; it’s about a hybrid financial system where digital assets are simply better tools.

Crypto market maturity and resilience

According to Elkaleh, Bitcoin’s resilience during its recent pullback, which brought a 37 percent drawdown from its October all-time high, was telling. While such severity was surprising, he observed that long-term holders and institutions continued to accumulate rather than unwind exposure, which he sees as an indicator of health.

“Q4 was defined by a major leverage reset, with BTC’s sharp pullback forcing a broader reassessment of risk,” he said.

At the time of this writing, analysts were split on where Bitcoin could go next. A further crash risk lingers if the US Federal Reserve delays interest rate cuts; however, a post-purge rally to US$135,000 to US$150,000 is in sight mid-year if institutions return, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows flip positive and futures premiums stabilize above 5 percent.

As Bitcoin dropped, Elkaleh observed other segments of the market tied to practical use cases and diversification strategies — such as privacy assets, decentralized AI and stablecoin ecosystems — weather the storm.

“The market (has shown) growing maturity: capital and developer attention shifted toward utility-driven sectors such as tokenization, stablecoins and real-world integrations.”

Tokenization: The on-chain first institutional default

Mersch sees tokenization accelerating in 2026, eventually becoming the default for new institutional financial products.

He sees the foundation of this shift being built, with tokenized treasuries and money-market funds serving as a core yield sleeve for institutional investors who demand liquidity, standardized reporting and programmable settlement.

“If current growth holds, tokenized assets could be a multi-trillion dollar market by 2030, with government bonds and cash-like instruments as the anchor,” he said. “Over the next five years, the key shift is likely that new institutional products are designed as on-chain first, and only secondarily wrapped in legacy wrappers.”

He anticipates that stablecoins will be solidified as the liquidity backbone for a growing tokenized market, acting as the new cash layer. The most likely end state, according to Mersch, will be a hybrid digital cash stack, where bank-issued stablecoins, private stablecoins and central bank digital currenciesco-exist and interoperate.

Mersch predicts that tokenized real estate and private credit will now start to see expansion.

For real estate, tokenization converts a traditionally illiquid market into tradable, divisible assets, lowering the barrier to entry for global investors and providing recurring revenue streams.

Rupena, whose company, Milo, pioneered the crypto-backed mortgage, asserts that lenders will be expected to recognize digital assets as a core part of a client’s real balance sheet, just like cash or securities.

Elkaleh also expects to see strong expansion in RWA tokenization in 2026, alongside stablecoin-based payouts and small-business payment rails. “The most accelerated growth will occur in emerging markets, where mobile-first users turn to crypto as a practical financial alternative,” he wrote in an email.

“The rise of RWA markets, L2 scalability and more accessible DeFi will allow onchain credit and savings to scale meaningfully. Combined with steady institutional inflows, these economies will become the strongest demand engines of 2026, driving both user growth and real economic activity onchain.”

DeFi: An institutional derivatives and credit layer

The final pillar of the 2026 crypto outlook is the maturation of DeFi. Mersch asserted that DeFi is poised to emerge as a compliance-ready core platform for credit and risk management in 2026.

Real-world structural resilience supports Mersch’s forecast.

Rupena noted that market ups and downs are expected in the digital asset ecosystem, and that conservative LTVs, real-time monitoring and clear margining frameworks are designed to cope with volatility.

“Lower forced liquidation activity, even during big market moves, is a very healthy signal,” he explained, adding that customers are purposely keeping collateral cushions so they can stay calm during market swings.

This focus on prudence and durability validates the market’s readiness for institutional-grade credit and risk products.

“If successful, this creates a liquid, 24/7 derivatives layer that sits on top of both tokenized and traditional markets,” Mersch said. “By 2026 and beyond, the most interesting innovation may not be crypto versus TradFi, but portfolio and product designs that blend tokenized assets, stablecoin liquidity and DeFi-based synthetic exposure into a single stack.”

This institutional leap is fundamentally enabled by regulatory clarity.

“You can already see this through partnerships like Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) with Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) and Morpho (TSE:3653), where yield is embedded at the platform level without requiring users to interact directly with on-chain protocols. Regulation will accelerate that model,’ he added.

Elkaleh noted that clearer rules will allow users to adopt on-chain tools for cross-border payments, tokenized savings and AI-driven bill pay with the same confidence they have in regulated fintech apps. He expects the most transformational impact will come from next-generation L2 scalability paired with AI-agent execution.

“These shifts will bring down transaction costs, compress settlement times, and enable autonomous payments, subscriptions and cross-chain operations,” the expert explained.

“We also expect prediction-market aggregation to emerge as a breakout consumer interface and RWA perpetuals to bring macro assets, including commodities, credit and inflation onchain through synthetic markets. These developments collectively move crypto into a more comprehensive, high-velocity financial system.”

Upcoming crypto market catalysts

The pivot to a hybrid financial system will be driven by several concurrent catalysts.

The US Market Structure Bill is targeted for a Senate floor vote in early 2026, aiming to create the first federal framework for digital assets. North of the border, Canada’s Stablecoin Act, which provides C$10 million for Bank of Canada oversight starting in 2026, signals official endorsement of the digital cash layer.

Globally, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is set to implement new capital standards for banks’ crypto exposures, crucial for encouraging institutional momentum, by January 1, 2026.

The technological engine supporting this adoption is fueled by scalability and intelligence.

On the blockchain side, Ethereum’s aggressive roadmap, including the Glamsterdam upgrade targeted for 2026, continues to refine Layer-2 (L2) systems. This focus on L2 efficiency, combined with the integration of AI agent execution, is key for supporting the millions of transactions needed for a comprehensive, high-velocity financial system.

Investor takeaway

In 2026, the crypto market is set to deliver meaningful gains and stable, sustained growth as this new, highly efficient, and globally interoperable financial system moves from the laboratory into production scale.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Update: Strategy Adds to Bitcoin Treasury, SEC Ends Ondo Finance Probe

Investing 4 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (December 8) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$90,672.01, down by 0.9 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, December 8, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Cryptocurrencies traded choppily, but were ultimately directionless over the weekend.

Bitcoin briefly slipped toward the high US$87,000s on Sunday (December 7) ahead of this week’s US Federal Reserve meeting, with both short and long positions liquidated.

Markets are pricing in a 25 basis point interest rate cut from the Fed on Wednesday (December 10), but labor weakness and sticky inflation will make Chair Jerome Powell’s tone pivotal.

Linh Tran, senior market analyst at XS.com, believes Bitcoin “will likely continue oscillating within the US$84,000 to US$100,000 range until the Fed delivers a clear message,” adding that a 0.25 percentage point cut and dovish signals “would be favorable for risk assets, particularly Bitcoin,” while a hawkish stance risks downward pressure.

On Monday, Bitcoin briefly traded at around US$92,000, but failed to retest US$92,000 to US$93,500 resistance, dropping below US$90,000 as the US market opened.

Crypto analyst Daan Crypto Trades said bulls must defend the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement zone, which serves as a key area of support and resistance during market cycles. Failure to do so could result in a fall to April lows. Fellow analyst van de Poppe is eyeing US$86,000 as key support before potential lows retest.

Liquidity stayed thin, and derivatives positioning showed waning momentum rather than clear trend conviction, setting up a cautious, data‑dependent start to the new week.

Last week, US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced net outflows of US$87.77 million, while spot Ether ETFs recorded US$65.59 million in outflows.

Cycle data mirroring 2022’s market suggests Bitcoin’s long-term bottom is in or imminent, according to investment manager Timothy Peterson. Derivatives data analyzed by CryptoQuant indicates trader apathy, signaled by low OI and leverage, paving the way for a potential rally.

Ether (ETH) is currently priced at US$3,129.54, down 0.4 percent over 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$2.09, a decrease of 0.2 percent over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$134.23, down by 1.3 percent over 24 hours.

Crypto derivatives and market indicators

Bitcoin futures open interest rose 0.53 percent to US$58.18 billion in the last four hours of trading, alongside US$4.88 million in liquidations that hit mostly long positions, while Ether open interest climbed 0.49 percent to US$37.84 billion, with US$8.76 million liquidated.

Bitcoin’s relative strength index sits neutral at 51.67 with a mildly negative funding rate of -0.001 percent, signaling balanced momentum and slight short bias, whereas Ether’s positive 0.006 percent funding rate points to lingering long interest despite the downside pressure.

These metrics reflect cautious positioning amid recent Bitcoin consolidation, with rising open interest indicating fresh capital entering despite liquidation flushes that targeted longs more aggressively. The neutral-to-bearish Bitcoin funding and RSI suggest limited upside conviction short-term, potentially capping rallies until macro catalysts provide direction, while Ether’s funding tilt hints at relative resilience in alt positioning.

Today’s crypto news to know

StableChain launches mainnet

StableChain has launched its mainnet, introducing USDT as the gas fee token alongside a new dedicated governance token for network participants.

Tether’s USDT regulatory win

Tether’s USDT stablecoin received key regulatory status in Abu Dhabi, enhancing its legitimacy for institutional use.

BlackRock files for staked Ether ETF

BlackRock filed to list a staked Ether ETF, signaling growing institutional appetite for Ether-based yield products.

SEC closes Ondo probe

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ended its investigation into tokenized equity platform Ondo Finance, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.

Strategy boosts BTC holdings

Strategy’s (NASDAQ:MSTR) Bitcoin treasury has surpassed 660,000 BTC after a US$962 million purchase, underscoring aggressive accumulation by major players.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

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Investing

Locksley Resources LimitedU.S. Investors Lead Oversubscribed $17m Placement

Investing 5 Mins Read

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) announced the successful completion of a heavily oversubscribed capital raising (‘Placement’), securing firm commitments to raise approximately A$17 million via a placement of new shares at A$0.24 per share to domestic and international professional and institutional investors.

HIGHLIGHTS

– A$17 million raised at A$0.24 per share through an oversubscribed placement to domestic and international institutional and sophisticated investors

– Cornerstone U.S. institutional support provides strong strategic validation of Locksley’s role in advancing onshore supply of antimony and rare earths for U.S. national security and industrial supply chains

– Strengthened balance sheet enables rapid progression of Locksley’s U.S. Mine to Market strategy while complementing ongoing engagement with federal funding and grant programs

– Funding accelerates drilling, downstream technology development, and project execution, while deepening engagement with U.S. institutional partners and key government agencies

– Locksley Investor Webinar – See link below

The Placement was led by well established U.S. institutional investors, providing a strong endorsement of Locksley’s strategy to deliver a fully integrated U.S. based ‘Mine to Market’ critical minerals supply chain. Their participation brings not only capital but aligned sector expertise and ongoing engagement that supports the Company’s downstream development objectives within the United States.

The raise was conducted under the Company’s refreshed placement capacity pursuant to ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A, following shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting held on 28 November 2025.
Strategic Execution Enabled by the Placement

Proceeds from the Placement will accelerate execution across the following:

– Rapid Advancement of drilling, assay programs and structural mapping to define mineralisation across the Mojave Project

– Acceleration of downstream processing and American-made conversion planning for antimony products

– Enhanced positioning for engagement with federal level funding initiatives, supporting Locksley’s role within the U.S. critical minerals ecosystem

– Accelerated progression toward first-mover status in restoring domestic U.S antimony supply, aligned with national security and industrial demand

– Continuous parallel execution of permitting, stakeholder engagement, engineering and project scheduling

Locksley Managing Director, Kerrie Matthews, commented:

‘The depth of support across both international and Australian institutional markets represents a strong validation of our strategic pathway. In particular, the strong level of U.S. participation aligns directly with our downstream ambitions and reinforces the commercial relevance of our development plan.

The involvement of leading U.S. institutional investors is more than capital allocation; it is a strategic endorsement of Locksley’s emerging role within the domestic U.S critical minerals sector. This support comes at a time when the U.S administration is emphasising critical minerals as a national security priority and seeking to reduce reliance on foreign-controlled processing capacity.

With this institutional backing, Locksley is positioned to advance its contribution to a U.S. based supply chain for antimony and rare earths.

Importantly, this funding allows us to execute at pace while continuing to progress federal engagement initiatives. The capital secures our ability to accelerate exploration, development planning, and downstream partnerships, unlocking the full potential of the Mojave Project.

We are delighted to welcome these new investors to the register and look forward to working with partners who can support our long-term growth agenda.’

Investor Webinar – U.S Development Progression & Execution Strategy

Locksley invites shareholders and investors to attend a live Investor Webinar to discuss recent milestones and provide an update on the advancement of its U.S Mine to Market execution pathway and upcoming development milestones.

ZOOM WEBINAR: TUESDAY, 9th DECEMBER 2025 at 1:00pm AEDT / 10:00am AWST
REGISTRATION LINK:
https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/85LT5VD6

Placement Details:

The Placement was managed by Alpine Capital Pty Ltd and Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners, acting as Joint Lead Managers.

Settlement of the Placement is expected to occur on or around 11 December 2025, with new shares to rank equally with existing fully paid ordinary shares. An Appendix 2A and cleansing notice will be released to the ASX in due course.

The Placement is structured under a single tranche comprising 70,833,334 new Securities to raise approximately A$17,000,000, conducted under the placement capacity of the Offer in accordance with ASX LR 7.1 & LR 7.1A.

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Kerrie Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
Kerrie@locksleyresources.com.au

Jane Morgan
Investor and Media Relations
T: +61 (0) 405 555 618
jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Questcorp Mining Announces Flow Through Offering

Investing 4 Mins Read

Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) announces that it will offer (the ‘Offering’) up to 5,769,231 flow-through units (each, an ‘FT Unit’), at a price of $0.13 per FT Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $750,000, by way of non-brokered private placement. Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company, issued as a flow-through share within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and one-half-of-one share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a ‘Warrant’). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 for a period of twenty-four months.

The Company anticipates the net proceeds raised from the Offering will be used to conduct exploration of the Company’s North Island Copper Property, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The Company may pay finders’ fees to eligible parties who have assisted in introducing subscribers to the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day in accordance with applicable securities laws. Completion of the Offering remains subject to receipt of regulatory approval.

Final Tranche Closing

The Company also announces that it has closed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement and has issued a further 1,266,667 units (each, an ‘NFT Unit‘), at a price of $0.15 per NFT Unit, for gross proceeds of $190,000. Each NFT Unit consists of one common share, and one-half of one Warrant.

No finders’ fees were paid in connection with closing of the final tranche. All securities issued in the final tranche are subject to restrictions on resale until April 9, 2026 in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union Project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO

Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031

This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/277245

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

Keep Reading
Stock

S&P 500 Breaking Out Again: What This Means for Your Portfolio

Stock 3 Mins Read

The S&P 500 ($SPX) just logged its fifth straight trading box breakout, which means that, of the five trading ranges the index has experienced since the April lows, all have been resolved to the upside.

How much longer can this last? That’s been the biggest question since the massive April 9 rally. Instead of assuming the market is due to roll over, it’s been more productive to track price action and watch for potential changes along the way. So far, drawdowns have been minimal, and breakouts keep occurring. Nothing in the price action hints at a lasting change — yet.

While some are calling this rally “historic,” we have a recent precedent. Recall that from late 2023 through early 2024, the index had a strong start and gave way to a consistent, steady trend.

From late October 2023 through March 2024, the S&P 500 logged seven consecutive trading box breakouts. That streak finally paused with a pullback from late March to early April, which, as we now know, was only a temporary hiccup. Once the bid returned, the S&P 500 went right back to carving new boxes and climbing higher.

New 52-Week Highs Finally Picking Up

If there’s been one gripe about this rally, it’s that the number of new highs within the index has lagged. As we’ve discussed before, among all the internal breadth indicators available, new highs almost always lag — that’s normal. What we really want to see is whether the number of new highs begins to exceed prior peaks as the market continues to rise, which it has, as shown by the blue line in the chart below.

As of Wednesday’s close, 100 S&P 500 stocks were either at new 52-week highs or within 3% of them. That’s a strong base. We expect this number to continue rising as the market climbs, especially if positive earnings reactions persist across sectors.

Even when we get that first day with 100+ S&P 500 stocks making new 52-week highs, though, it might not be the best time to initiate new longs.

The above chart shows that much needs to align for that many stocks to peak in unison, which has historically led to at least a short-term consolidation, if not deeper pullbacks — as highlighted in yellow. Every time is different, of course, but this is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Trend Check: GoNoGo Still “Go”

The GoNoGo Trend remains in bullish mode, with the recent countertrend signals having yet to trigger a greater pullback.

Active Bullish Patterns

We still have two live bullish upside targets of 6,555 and 6,745, which could be with us for a while going forward. For the S&P 500 to get there, it will need to form new, smaller versions of the trading boxes.

Failed Bearish Patterns

In the chart below, you can view a rising wedge pattern on the recent price action, the third since April. The prior two wedges broke down briefly and did not lead to a major downturn. The largest pullbacks in each case occurred after the S&P 500 dipped below the lower trendline of the pattern.

The deepest drawdown so far is 3.5%, which is not exactly a game-changer. Without downside follow-through, a classic bearish pattern simply can’t be formed, let alone be broken down from.

We’ll continue to monitor these formations as they develop because, at some point, that will change.

Keep Reading
Investing

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Bayhorse Silver Runs With 73 Percent Gain

Investing 11 Mins Read

Statistics Canada released November’s job data on Friday (December 5). The numbers show the Canadian economy added 54,000 jobs over the month, with gains largely coming from part-time work. The increase surprised analysts, who had been expecting losses, and marked the third consecutive month of gains for a total of 181,000 new jobs since the start of September.

Headlining the data were increases of 46,000 health care and social service workers, 14,000 new employees in accommodation and food services, and 11,000 new jobs in the natural resources sector. However, gains were offset by 34,000 fewer workers in the wholesale and retail trade.

Overall, the increase pushed the employment rate up by 0.1 percentage points to 60.9 percent and lowered the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points to 6.5 percent.

The release is the last major economic news on the calendar before the Bank of Canada (BoC) Board of Governors meets December 10 to make its final interest rate decision of 2025.

Economists are predicting that the BoC will hold rates steady until 2027.

The first Friday of the month is also typically the release date for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ own jobs report; however, due to the lengthy government shutdown, the agency noted in the September release issued on November 20 that October’s data would be rolled in with November’s and its release would be delayed until December 16.

However, a report from payroll firm ADP on Wednesday (December 3) indicated that its records show the US private sector employment shed 32,000 jobs in November, with weak hiring in the manufacturing, professional services, information and construction sectors, which was partially offset by an 8,000 job gain in the mining sector.

The release shows that job growth in the US has stalled and without the release of official government data may be the last important indicator ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting set for December 9 and 10.

Given the news of a weak labor market, US analysts are predicting the Fed will make another 25 basis point cut, which would lower the Federal Funds Rate to the 3.5 to 3.75 percent range.

The expectations of cuts provided tailwinds for precious metals prices ahead of the central bank’s meeting, with the gold price trading up 1.03 percent on the week at US$4,200.53 on Friday at 4 PM EST, and the silver price up a massive 9.43 percent at US$58.42 after setting a new all-time high of US$59.28 per ounce during morning trading on Friday.

For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

Markets and commodities react

Canadian equity markets posted modest gains this week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 0.25 percent over the week to close Friday at 31,311.41.

Meanwhile, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) rose 1.04 percent to 939.76, and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) increased 4.1 percent to close at 155.40.

In base metals, the COMEX copper price ended the week up 2.83 percent at US$5.45 per pound.

The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) gained 2.74 percent to end Friday at 564.72.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

1. Bayhorse Silver (TSXV:BHS)

Weekly gain: 73.33 percent
Market cap: C$31.13 million
Share price: C$0.13

Bayhorse Silver is a silver-focused company currently working to bring the Bayhorse silver, copper and antimony mine in Oregon, US, back online.

The mine was originally in operation until late 1984 and closed when the price of silver dropped to under US$6 per ounce. Historic sampling during the 1980s identified grades of 2,146 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver, and a bulk sampling program conducted by Bayhorse in 2014 found bonanza grades of 150,370 g/t silver.

The company has continued to explore the property and, in October 2018, produced a maiden resource estimate that showed the property hosts inferred resources of 6.33 million ounces of silver from 292,300 US tons of ore with an average grade of 21.65 ounces per US ton.

Bayhorse anticipates receiving complete operating permits for the mine in mid-2026 and achieving full production in 2027.

Although the company did not release news this week, shares surged alongside the silver price, reaching new all-time highs.

2. Omineca Mining and Metals (TSXV:OMM)

Weekly gain: 72.73 percent
Market cap: C$14.42 million
Share price: C$0.095

Omineca Mining and Metals is a gold exploration and mining company working to advance its Wingdam project in British Columbia, Canada.

The project, a 50/50 joint venture with D&L Mining, consists of 61,329 hectares of hard rock and placer claims within the Cariboo mining district. The site currently hosts mining operations focused on extracting placer gold from gravels 50 meters beneath Lightning Creek.

According to the company, the mine is extracted through gravity separation, which uses an existing reusable water supply without chemicals, mill waste or tailings.

On Thursday (December 4) the company announced it had mobilized for an eight-hole, 4,000 meter, winter drill program at Wingdam. Exploration will focus on following up on mineralization discovered during the 2024 program and at depths below the Wingdam underground placer workings.

The company stated that drilling will continue until the end of December and that results will be released early in 2026.

Shares surged after Omineca’s Friday news that it restarted underground placer gold recovery at the site, with gold recovered via the company’s water wash plant and shaker table.

3. Selkirk Copper Mines (TSXV:SCMI)

Weekly gain: 57.3 percent
Market cap: C$74.56 million
Share price: C$0.70

Selkirk Copper Mines is a gold and copper exploration and development company working to advance the Minto mine project in the Yukon, Canada.

The property covers 26,850 hectares of mineral tenure centered around the past-producing Minto copper-gold-silver mine. The mine was abandoned in 2023, but was purchased by the Selkirk First Nation earlier in 2025, becoming the first Indigenous nation in Canada to own a mine.

On July 7, Selkirk Copper Mines released an updated mineral resource estimate for the project demonstrating a total indicated resource of 333.8 million pounds of copper, 186,600 ounces of gold and 1.73 million ounces of silver from 12.59 million metric tons of ore with average grades of 1.2 percent copper, 0.46 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold and 4.3 g/t silver.

Shares in Selkirk Copper posted gains this week after a pair of news releases.

The first came on Monday (December 1), when the company released initial drill results from exploration activities at the North West Zone. Highlighted assays included one hole with 2.39 percent copper, 0.32 g/t gold and 11.61 g/t silver over 23.4 meters, which included an intersection with 5.21 percent copper, 0.47 g/t gold and 26.68 g/t silver over 8.7 meters.

The results are part of a larger 50,000 meter campaign, the first to be carried out by Selkirk Copper Mines at the property, which has been designed to test the size and continuity of the North West zone. The company said that results have met and exceeded expectations.

The second release came on Tuesday (December 2) when the company announced that it had appointed Selkirk First Nations citizens Kevin McGinty as Vice President of Lands and Environment, and Morris Morrison as Manager of Community Relations.

4. Iconic Minerals (TSXV:ICM)

Weekly gain: 52.94 percent
Market cap: C$18.66 million
Share price: C$0.13

Iconic Minerals is an exploration company focused on its New Pass Gold property in Nevada, United States.

The project is a 50/50 joint venture with McEwen Mining and comprises 107 mining claims covering 2,140 acres in northern Nevada. According to the project page, New Pass hosts a gold equivalent inferred resource of 341,750 ounces.

In addition to New Pass, the company also owns the Midas South gold project, Smith Creek Valley, Grass Valley, and the Bonnie Claire lithium projects, all in Nevada.

Shares in Iconic posted gains this week, but the company has not released news since October 17, when it announced that it had entered into negotiations for a private placement to raise gross proceeds of C$2.55 million. The company said it intends to use the proceeds to fund exploration at New Pass and general working capital.

5. Scandium Canada (TSXV:SCD)

Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: C$43.52 million
Share price: C$0.135

Scandium Canada is a scandium exploration company working to advance its Crater Lake scandium project in Northern Québec, Canada. The property consists of 96 contiguous claims covering an area of 47 square kilometers. To date, the company has identified five primary zones of interest at Crater Lake.

An updated mineral resource estimate, released on May 12, shows an indicated resource of 16.3 million metric tons of ore at an average grade of 277.9 grams per metric ton (g/t) scandium oxide, plus an inferred resource of 20.9 million metric tons at 271.7 g/t. The MRE also included grades of other rare earths at the project.

Scandium was recently added to the list of eligible minerals under the Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit in the Canadian budget, which passed on November 17.

The most recent news from the company came on November 17, when it announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its La Roncière gold project to a subsidiary of Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B).

Under the terms, Scandium Canada will receive an initial payment of C$390,000, followed by an additional C$200,000 upon the condition that Barrick completes a pre-feasibility study with specific minimum gold content in the mineral resource.

Although it released no news this week, Scandium Canada’s share price jumped significantly Tuesday.

The gains may be related to the Wall Street Journal reporting on Monday that Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) was eyeing a sale of its scandium production facility in Sorel-Tracy, Québec, as part of a larger asset sale in the province. Rio Tinto confirmed these plans on Thursday.

The news came one month after a commitment by Canada to make a C$25 million royalty investment in the site through the Canada Growth Fund to shore up domestic supply of the critical mineral.

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 mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

As of May 2025, there were 1,565 companies listed on the TSXV, 910 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,899 companies, with 181 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

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Copper Quest Closes $1,927,000 Private Placement

Investing 8 Mins Read

// Not for distribution to the United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States //

Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX,OTC:IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) (‘ Copper Quest ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 1, 2025, it has issued an aggregate of 10,142,104 flow-through shares of the Company (the ‘ FT Shares ‘, and each, a ‘ FT Share ‘) at a price of $0.19 per FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,927,000 in connection with its previously announced fully subscribed non-brokered private placement (the ‘ Private Placement ‘).

Each FT Share constitutes a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘ Tax Act ‘) and the gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used by the Company for exploration and related programs, which qualify as ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ and ‘flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures’, as such terms are defined in the Tax Act, in connection with Copper Quest’s projects in British Columbia.

Brian Thurston, President & CEO of Copper Quest, commented: ‘ The team has spent the last 12 months building Copper Quest to be a standout junior explorer holding seven quality projects including the recent acquisitions of Stars, Stellar, Nekash, and pending Kitimat and Alpine. It is now time for the Company to grow shareholder value through advancing these properties through work on the ground and drilling. These funds will allow us advance multiple properties in 2026 while we continue vetting quality partners to help advance the rest. ‘

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid cash finder’s fees totaling $130,199.98 and issued 685,261 finder’s warrants (the ‘ Finder’s Warrants ‘) entitling the holder thereof to acquire one non-flow-through common share at an exercise price of C$0.19. The Finder’s Warrants will expire on December 5, 2027.

All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a statutory four month hold period expiring April 6, 2026.

To accommodate increased interest in the Private Placement, the Company also announces that it may further issue up to 255,264 FT Shares under the same terms as above stated, no later than December 15, 2025. All securities to be issued thereunder will be subject to a statutory hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Related Party Participation in the Private Placement

Jason Nickel, Director of the Company, participated in Private Placement by purchasing 50,000 FT Shares for $9,500. The participation by Mr. Nickel, as an insider of the Company, constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61-101’). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the FT Shares purchased by Mr. Nickel, nor the consideration for the FT Shares paid by Mr. Nickel, exceeded 25% of the Company’s market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances as the details of insider participation in the Private Placement were not settled until shortly prior to closing the Private Placement and the Company wished to complete the Private Placement in an expeditious manner.

The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘ U.S. Securities Act ‘), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Copper

Copper is an essential industrial metal at the heart of the global energy transition and modern infrastructure. It plays a critical role in electrification, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, data centers, and smart technologies. With global demand rising and new supply challenged by declining grades, complex permitting, and underinvestment, the copper market faces persistent deficits and growing geopolitical scrutiny. Recent U.S. policy announcements, including import tariffs and initiatives to secure domestic and allied supply chains, underscore copper’s strategic importance and the need for resilient, localized resource exploration, development, production and processing capacity.

ABOUT Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Copper Quest (CSE: CQX,OTC:IMIMF; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) is focused on building shareholder value through project acquisition, and exploration and development of its North American Critical Mineral portfolio of assets. The Company’s land package currently comprises five projects that span over 40,000+ hectares in great mining jurisdictions as well as the Kitimat Cu-Au Project and the past-producing Alpine Gold Mine that are both pending acquisition following due diligence.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Stars Property, a porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery, covering 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt. Contiguous to the Stars Property, Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the 5,389 hectare Stellar Property. CQX also has an earn-in option up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the 4,700 hectare porphyry copper-molybdenum Rip Project, also in the Bulkley Porphyry Belt.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Nekash Copper-Gold Project, a porphyry exploration opportunity located in Lemhi County, Idaho, along the prolific Idaho-Montana porphyry copper belt that hosts world-class systems such as Butte and CUMO. The project is fully road-accessible via maintained U.S. highways and forest service roads and currently consists of 70 unpatented federal lode claims covering 585 hectares.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern BC which spans over 20,658 ha with 10 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.

Copper Quest’s leadership and advisory teams are senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong track record of discovering, financing, developing, and operating mining projects on a global scale. Copper Quest is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which it operates. The Company’s common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘CQX’. For more information on Copper Quest, please visit the Company’s website at www.copper.quest.

On behalf of the Board of Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Brian Thurston, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 778-949-1829
For further information contact:

Investor Relations
info@copper.quest

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘ forward-looking statements ‘) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the terms and completion of the Flow-Through Offering, the payment of finder’s fees and issuance of Finder’s Warrants, the anticipated closing date and the planned use of proceeds of the Flow-Through Offering, and future operations and activities of Copper Quest, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘could’, or ‘should’ occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to obtain regulatory approval of the Flow-Through Offering, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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